The Royal Ballet School is proud to announce its participation in the International Youth Dancer Health Alliance (IYDHA), a global network of health professionals, educators, and researchers committed to improving dancer health through knowledge sharing and education.
This collaboration marks another significant step in the School’s ongoing commitment to supporting student well-being and implementing evidence-based health practices.
International Youth Dancer Health Awareness Week 2025
The inaugural International Youth Dancer Health Awareness Week will take place from March 3 to March 7, 2025, focusing on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport and Dance, or RED-S a significant health challenge affecting many pre-professional dancers.
This free, virtual event unites leading international dance schools, healthcare experts, and dance educators in a shared mission to foster a healthier and more sustainable future for young dancers. Through a series of webinars, expert panels, and educational resources, the initiative aims to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, and provide science-backed strategies for dancers, educators, and families worldwide.
Wayne Kitchener, Head of Healthcare at The Royal Ballet School, shared his enthusiasm for the initiative:
“The Royal Ballet School has invested in creating its own RED-S awareness week last year, which was a huge success. Having collaborated with the International Youth Dancer Health Alliance on this project has been of great importance to us, to be able to globally demonstrate awareness and education in the dance community on this important topic.”
Building on a Foundation of Health Education
This collaboration builds upon The Royal Ballet School’s established commitment to dancer health and well-being. In November 2024, the school hosted its first-ever RED-S Awareness Week, dedicated to educating students about the physical and psychological impacts of energy deficiency.
RED-S occurs when there is an imbalance between caloric intake and energy expenditure, causing decreased bodily functions and negatively impacting overall health and performance. For dancers who are highly active and often under intense physical demands, insufficient energy can affect multiple bodily systems — from bone health to hormonal balance — and significantly impact performance.
During the School’s awareness week, students participated in educational sessions with healthcare professionals, nutritionists, and mental health experts. Approximately 67% of athletes are at risk of RED-S, making education and prevention critical for young dancers, an alarming statistic brought to light during the event.
The School’s comprehensive approach was highlighted in articles exploring the impact of RED-S on performance and mental health, as well as real-life case studies demonstrating how early detection and multidisciplinary support can help dancers recover and thrive.
A Global Collaborative Approach
The IYDHA brings together an impressive coalition of dance training institutions, including:
- American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School (United States)
- Australian Ballet School (Australia)
- Ballet Academy of the Vienna State Opera (Austria)
- Canada’s National Ballet School (Canada)
- Codarts University of the Arts (The Netherlands)
- English National Ballet School (Great Britain)
- Palucca Hochschule Fűr Tanz Dresden (Germany)
- The Royal Ballet School (Great Britain)
- Royal Danish Ballet School (Denmark)
- Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (Australia)
- Zurich University of the Arts — Department of Dance (Switzerland)
The Programme in Detail
The International Youth Dancer Health Awareness Week will feature a comprehensive programme of educational content designed to reach various stakeholders in young dancers’ development. The week will begin with a keynote address featuring Karen Sheriff, former head of healthcare at The Royal Ballet School and current executive director of Project RED-D, alongside Dr. Jo Larking, a consultant in sports and exercise medicine, and Steven McRae, principal dancer at The Royal Ballet. This session will highlight the risks, long-term effects, and preventative measures for RED-S.
Throughout the week, three on-demand webinars will be available, specifically designed for dancers, parents, and artistic staff. Each session will feature leading experts offering practical strategies, nutrition insights, and evidence-informed practices for maintaining dancer health. Participants will also have the opportunity to submit questions through an online survey, with follow-up video responses from panelists available on the IYDHA YouTube Channel after the event.
The alliance has assembled an impressive panel of experts spanning multiple disciplines, including Daan van den Akker, physiotherapist at Zurich University of the Arts; Dr. Rachel Bar, director of research and health at Canada’s National Ballet School; Maja Berry, sports dietitian at English National Ballet School; and Jaimie Tapper, organisational and coaching psychologist and head of performance coaching and development at The Royal Ballet. This multidisciplinary coalition reflects the complex nature of RED-S and the importance of addressing the condition from various angles — physical, nutritional, and psychological.
The Importance of Health Education in Elite Dance Training
For young dancers pursuing vocational training, understanding how to maintain optimal health is just as crucial as perfecting technique. RED-S can have particularly severe consequences for adolescent dancers, potentially affecting their growth, development, and long-term bone health. By addressing these issues openly and proactively, The Royal Ballet School aims to dismantle the harmful stereotypes and practices that have historically plagued the dance world.
The School’s integrated approach to healthcare is reflected in its daily practices. Students have access to a team of over 20 healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists, nutritionists, psychologists, and medical doctors. The team works collaboratively to monitor students’ wellness through the Smartbase Teamworks app and adjust training loads to ensure adequate recovery. This comprehensive support system helps identify potential RED-S cases early, allowing for timely intervention before significant health problems develop.
What’s Next for Students
The alliance’s educational resources will be made available to Royal Ballet School students following the soft launch in March 2025. These resources include five pre-recorded educational videos designed to provide valuable insights into RED-S prevention, identification, and management.
Emma Porter, Training and Access Healthcare Lead at The Royal Ballet School, has also developed a new Enlighten webinar on understanding RED-S in dance, extending the School’s commitment to sharing knowledge beyond its immediate community. This webinar, part of the School’s professional development offerings, provides dance educators with practical strategies for supporting dancer health.
Through its participation in the International Youth Dancer Health Alliance, The Royal Ballet School continues to demonstrate that excellence in dance training goes hand-in-hand with promoting dancer health and wellbeing. By equipping young dancers with the knowledge and resources they need to maintain healthy approaches to training, nutrition, and recovery, the School is helping to ensure they can pursue long, sustainable careers in dance.
For more information about the School’s healthcare initiatives and approach to student wellbeing, visit The Royal Ballet School’s website.
