Strength Training for Dancers:
the fundamentals
Live Virtual group strength training for dancers
Learn the fundamentals of strength training in A SUPPORTIVE, ENCOURAGING ENVIRONMENT.
BEING STRONG = BEING CONFIDENT
You know your strength as a dancer needs to be physical AND mental, but you don’t know where to start. You’ve been told:
you need to cross train but also rest
you need to push hard and also take care of yourself
you need to rehab your injury and also get back on stage as soon as possible
With all these mixed messages and misinformation, how do you make sense of it all??
This is where I come in!
In Strength Training for Dancers: The Fundamentals, we’ll focus on de-mystifying strength training so you can seamlessly incorporate it into YOUR life. You don’t need to add another thing to your plate. You can train smart AND hard. You can become stronger and healthier after an injury!
This class is for dancers who want to access peak performance in a healthy, safe and sustainable way.
Part workout and part education with handouts, homework and accountability, we’ll focus on three principles:
Individuality - Every dancer is unique, and your strength training should reflect that! In the live classes, you will get specific feedback from me on form and learn how to listen to your body so you can make adjustments that feel good to you.
Community - Dancers need to connect, especially in our hyper-competitive industry. You will get to learn from and collaborate with each other, and we’ll hold each other accountable in between classes. It’s not uncommon for workshop attendees to end up forming friendships outside of class!
Agency - In an industry that tends to strip away your agency, you will develop the knowledge to make choices for YOUR body and YOUR goals. This class is not Simon Says. It’s a “choose your own adventure” so you get to have a say in your body and mind’s development.
“The knowledge you offered transformed me! I know so much more not only about the training but MY BODY. You have such a great energy, I highly appreciate you openly sharing your process, this is so valuable! I really appreciated the intimacy and time for individual feedback and corrections and the way we could learn from each other!”
-Fina, Professional Dancer
Each class will include:
Deep core work
Breakdown of 2 functional movement patterns and how they relate to your dancing
Individual attention
Personalized homework
PDFs with information of the exercises we do as well as progressions and how to choose them
Logistics:
When: February 8, February 15, February 22, March 1, 12:30pm-1:30pm EDT
*Because of the individual nature of strength training, if you have to miss a class, recordings will not be available, though you will have access to all PDFs and homework.
Where: LIVE on Zoom
Cost: $140 until February 1, $170 after February 1
Consistency is key for strength training. You WILL feel stronger in four weeks (provided you do the homework ;)), and you will have the basic information you need to confidently continue incorporating strength training into your life.
Here’s to strength, community and confidence.
I can’t wait to welcome you in!
Hi! I’m Wendy Reinert! I am a retired professional dancer and aerialist, personal trainer, life coach, world traveler, amateur rock climber and toddler mom (hi George!!) whose mission is to help dancers get stronger mentally and physically.
I earned my BFA from NYU-Tisch School of the Arts in 2003 and spent over 20 years as a freelance dancer in NYC. I performed with dozens of companies both small (Peridance Ensemble, Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers), and large (Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Mark Morris Dance Group), while working a myriad of non-dance jobs.
Soon after diagnosis of my first 2 injuries in 2006 (a stress fracture and a labral tear) I started my journey as a personal trainer at Equinox. Wanting to learn everything I could, I earned certifications in pre/post-natal training and kettlebells and trained in boxing and olympic lifting. My clients there were a mix of professional athletes, amateur golfers, marathon runners, desk sitters, models and everything in between.
After 4 years, I left Equinox to build my own private personal training business to better financially support my performance career. In 2017, I added a life coach certification to my arsenal and founded Being A Dancer specifically to help dancers navigate the emotional challenges of the industry. Upon retiring from performing in 2019, I decided to more fully integrate my coaching work and personal training experience and have shifted my whole focus to better serving the dance community. After a 20 year career, I simply don’t want younger dancers fighting the same fights I fought.
I have extensive experience working with people recovering from major injuries and surgeries as well as orthopedic issues and autoimmune disorders and hypermobility. I have personally had 3 orthopedic surgeries, labral tears in both hips and a shoulder, I’ve torn both calves, broke my 5th metatarsal twice, have had recurring neck spasms and am hypermobile. So when I say I get it, I mean, I literally get it. I know what it feels like to be injured (mentally and physically), and more importantly, I know what it feels like to COME BACK STRONGER from injury!!
I am currently the coach on staff for the Conservatory at Steps on Broadway, leading cross-training classes AND life skills and mindset classes. I have taught workshops at NYU-Tisch School of the Arts, The Juilliard School, Marymount Manhattan, Idyllwild Arts Academy, Irvine Valley College, the Hartt School, Peridance Center, School of American Ballet and many more. I divide my time training and coaching folks on the UWS and on zoom and being with my toddler and husband.