Dance Medical Researchv. An interview with Prof Dr Dr Eileen Wanke

What happens to the joints of dancers who perform at the highest level every day? A research project at the Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine at Goethe University Frankfurt, led by Prof. Dr Dr Eileen Wanke, is investigating this question.

The study focuses on the use of state-of-the-art motion capture technology: movement data was precisely recorded on dancers from the Oldenburg State Theatre during training and rehearsals. This technology makes it possible to visualise stresses on joints and muscles that are neither visible nor measurable to the naked eye.

The study also investigates how different dance floors affect the body. To do this, the dancers perform identical movement sequences on two different types of floor – with and without pointe shoes.

The German Dance Film Institute Bremen accompanied the project on film and spoke to Prof Dr Dr Eileen Wanke about the background, aims and initial findings. Her interview forms the core of a new film that shows that dance and science can complement each other productively – for the health of artists on and off stage.