Our work
The Present Tense Fitness approach to dancer cross training is rooted in the principle that dancers are people first. So everything we do is intended to be both healthy for the person and beneficial to the artist. We understand that every dancer might have unique needs, so every training program we write and coach is tailored to the unique circumstances of each individual.
Our work with artists isn’t “dance-specific,” it’s dancER-specific. We begin every engagement with dancers by asking these questions:
How can strength training improve specific areas of a dancer’s performance?
How can strength training mitigate the risk of injury stemming from gaps in movement quality, posture, or strength?
How can we support a dancer emotionally by providing a safe, non-judgmental environment in which the only priority is the dancer’s wellbeing, athleticism, performance, and endurance?
Training with Us
We offer several options for how to work with us, either in our Dayton, Ohio studio, METL Performance Training gym in New York City, or in your New York City apartment gym. Limited remote sessions via Zoom also are available. Contact us to talk about what option works best for your training needs and schedule. Not a dancer? Come train with the coaches professional dancers trust. Our individualized approach to this work is inclusive, non-judgmental, and intentional.
"I had multiple people tell me last night that I look strong, stronger than ever, stronger than last year, etc… I can’t tell you how much that means to hear and knowing it’s because of you!"
— Margot Aknin, Newport Contemporary Ballet
The Present Tense Fitness approach to dancer strength and conditioning–what dancers typically call “cross training”–assumes that movement artists deserve the same level of training that elite athletes in team sports get.
That means training plans are individualized and take into account individual dancers’ biomechanics, injury history, and performance needs. We ask dancers about the feedback they get from artistic directors and teachers, and then we tailor strength training programs that make them generally more adaptable dancers while simultaneously addressing individual artistic needs that are grounded in athleticism, strength, and endurance.
The usual approach to dancer strength training is centered on an à la carte approach. Dancers search the web looking for off-the-shelf programs that will help with extension height or arabesque or port de bras. What they’re missing with this hodge podge is a holistic program that is tailored to their individual needs. Artists can’t afford, for example, to develop greater extension height while sacrificing power–but that’s exactly what could happen by focusing too narrowly on just one aspect of the art.
What athletes in team sports do, and what we advocate for dancers, is a comprehensive training program that addresses injury concerns, performance, and individual artistic attributes simultaneously. We believe that how we train a dancer reflects what we think of them, and that’s why our human-centered approach, coupled with rigorous, science-backed strength and conditioning programs have helped dancers throughout the United States perform at their highest level.