The physical, nutritional and mental demands of being a performing artist are similar to those of the athletic population.
ËÄ»¢Ó°ÊÓ’s Performing Arts Health and Fitness Program prepares you to be a leader in performing arts health and fitness whether you are a performing artist, a performing arts educator, an exercise physiologist, a certified personal trainer, a certified strength and conditioning coach, a massage therapist or other fitness professional.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics’ job outlook for fitness instructors has a projected 13% growth from 2018-28. The market size of the Dance Studio industry in the U.S. is $4 billion in 2020. These dancers need proper health and fitness instruction.
Graduates will be able to use program skills to enhance their own health and fitness as a performing artist, to improve teaching within performing arts that increases performance while mitigating injury risk, or to promote business opportunities as a fitness professional or massage therapist catering to the needs of a performing artist.
Program students will be prepared to present research at international organizations such as the Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) and the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS).
Career and Salary Possibilities
Fitness instructors, exercise physiologists and massage therapists have mean salaries from 39,820 to 49,270/year. PAHF training would add to the skill set of these professionals.
The fitness industry has a projected 13% growth from 2018-2028. Performing artists need health and fitness conditioning like their athlete counterparts.
Graduates will work in secondary and higher education, dance studios, sports performance centers, massage practices, and fitness studios.
We project that 90-100% of alumni will add their PAHF training to their current employment settings as a specialization.
Skills will you learn:
- Kinesiology of dance, music theater, and instrument playing
- Nutritional needs of the performing artist
- Strength and conditioning needs for the various genres of dance, for the various families of musical instruments, and for music theater performers
- Mind and body techniques for mental wellness and fitness for performing artists
- Use of current research and best practices for promoting health and fitness in performing artists
- How to implement health and fitness training programs for performing artists
Classes
This 15-credit graduate certificate program is delivered in a hybrid format featuring online programming across two years with two total on-campus live seminars on the Winchester campus.
Course Requirements
Year 1 – Summer Semester
PAHF 700 Musculoskeletal Terminology for Performing Artists (1 credit)
Year 1 – Fall Semester
PAHF 702 Anatomy & Kinesiology of Performing Artists (3 credits)
PAHF 703 Nutrition for Performing Artists (3 credits)
Year 1 – Spring Semester
PAHF 705 Health and Fitness for Performing Artists (3 credits)
Year 2 – Summer Semester
PAHF 706 Research Seminar (2 credits)
Year 2 – Fall Semester
PAHF 708 Internship (2 credits)
Year 2 – Spring Semester
PAHF 709 Capstone (1 credit)
15 Credit Total
Faculty
Our accomplished and caring faculty serve as mentors beyond the classroom. As a team, they prepare you to serve as a compassionate athletic trainer, critical thinker and ethical leader. You’ll benefit from small class sizes that enable faculty members to provide individualized attention and nurture your academic and professional development.
Michele Pye
Associate Director Performing Arts Medicine Program, Assistant Professor Division of Athletic Training
Full BiographyApplication Information
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in dance, dance education, musical theater, dance science, exercise science, kinesiology, music therapy, music (education or performance), health science, dance movement therapy, or a related degree approved by the program director. Required prerequisite courses include Anatomy I (4 credits) and Biomechanics, kinesiology, or exercise physiology (3 credits). Course substitution can be approved by the program director. The following credentials may be submitted in substitution of required prerequisite courses: Certified professional trainer (CPT), Licensed Massage Therapist, or NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS).