ADVICE FOR DANCERS.

Q Last year I made a major decision to leave my dance company and start a whole new life at the age of 33. I had a few job prospects lined up and was ready to go, although I admit feeling a little conflicted about taking the leap. Now, the company has given me a pink slip and I'm a complete mess! Am I nuts?

Lost Without Dance

A I know exactly how you feel. When I left NYCB, it was almost like landing on another planet. Even though I had chosen to retire from ballet after graduate school, I had no idea about life after dance. Dancers who are pushed out of the profession may find it harder to adjust. Fortunately, it is possible to create a meaningful life outside of dancing, including finding another career In fact, many high-achieving dancers go on to be top-notch lawyers, physical therapists, doctors, and teachers. To prepare for another career, check out Career Transition for Dancers (212/581-7043), a nonprofit organization that provides services for professionals, ranging from career counseling to scholarships, and a nationwide hotline [phone]). [See Capezio Award story on page 63.]

Q I'm outraged that my daughter is being left back when most of her peers are going on to a more advanced division. I have tried to talk to her teachers, but they all say that she needs this time to build up her strength and technique. Isn't it wrong when dance schools discriminate?

Arnie From Fort Lee, NJ

A No! In fact, it's in your daughter's best interest if a dance school promotes her based on her performance. The reality is that every student develops at a different rate. If you push your daughter before she's strong enough to handle the curriculum, the result may be a host of physical problems ranging from tendinitis to stress fractures. I've also seen girls who lose their self-confidence when they're forced to compete with more advanced students. The bottom line is, either trust your daughter's dance school or find another school with the same level of expertise.

Q A few weeks ago, a fellow student complained that his teacher was blaming him for his bowlegs. The exercises that she gave only made him hurt and did nothing to correct the problem. Am I wrong, or is it stupid for teachers to be focusing on problems that can't be fixed?

Anonymous

A The fact is that many anatomical problems cannot be fixed, whether it's poor turnout or flat feet. Yet the dance world continues to promote the idea that willpower can conquer anything, making dancers without the proper bodies feel guilty and confused. What's the answer? Education! Teachers need to know basic anatomy so that they're in a better position to judge what they can change. Otherwise, they may mistakenly urge dancers to focus on problems that are out of their control, setting them up for injuries and mental stress down the road.

Q As a mother of a young dancer, I've always made it a point to keep abreast of the latest information on risk factors for injuries. Recently, I was surprised to learn that boys are as much at risk as girls for stress fractures. Can you explain why?

Muriel From New Haven, CT

A Research shows that stress fractures occur most often in young athletes who've had a significant increase in training. While girls who don't menstruate are especially vulnerable to these problems, boys who are extremely active are also at risk. Specialists in the area believe that the best protection for adolescents engaged in athletic activities is to take calcium/vitamin D supplementation and increase their calf strength.

Q Right now I'm injured and unable to do anything more than watch class or do a few sit-ups. It's killing me because I know every day that goes by is another day when I do not make progress. I don't expect you to have any answers, but I thought it might help to talk about when dancers get injured.

Albert From San Francisco 

A You've touched on a major problem for dancers. Injuries are a fact of life. Yet the culture often makes you feel guilty, as if you're somehow to blame, while leaving you out in the cold. Rest assured, I haven't met any dancers who wanted to be "out." Instead, the hardest part is holding back so you don't set yourself up for a re-injury. My advice is to find a support system, whether it's a special teacher, therapist, family member, or friend.

Q I need your help! Last night my parents told me to consider not dancing anymore because my bad knee has kept me out more or less for the last few months. I tried to explain that every dancer gets injured and even my doctor, who specializes in dance, doesn't think I have a big problem. It's just that my dance school is really tough. I also think they need to remember that I haven't had a major injury for six years at this school, which should count for something. Please try to make my parents understand. I read your column all the time and find your advice really helpful.

14-Year-Old Dancer From New York City 

A MY advice to your parents is try not to panic. Why? First, your doctor hasn't detected any major problems that might curtail advanced ballet training. While it never hurts to get a second opinion, you've already seen a specialist in dance medicine, giving me confidence that you're basically OK. Even more telling, however, is the fact that your injuries started to crop up when most girls go through a growth spurt. Research shows that even slow growth spurts at your age can last a year or more, increasing the risk of injuries in areas such as the knee where strong tendons attach. The good news is that this problem is temporary. Once your growth plates have closed, you'll be less vulnerable to injuries.

So, what do you do until you've reached your full height? Unfortunately, there's no clear answer While the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science has recommended making dance classes less physically stressful for dancers during the adolescent growth spurt [see Presstime News, Dance Magazine, April, page 37], I don't know of any dance schools that have eliminated stressful movements to the knees, such as grand plies. Still, dancers who are growing can offset injuries, to some degree, by adding floor barres and other body conditioning activities (such as Pilates) to increase strength.

Send your questions to her at 2000 Broadway, PH2C, New York, NY 10023 and read her answers exclusively in Dance Magazine.

An associate professor at Fordham University, Linda Hamilton, Ph.D., is also a psychologist in private practice, a former dancer with New York City Ballet, and author of Advice for Dancers (Jossey-Bass).