“Those times where you’re in so much pain and you have to push… it’s so frustrating. It feels like you have no control, but it’s remembering for yourself the things you do have control… and relying on those.”

– Erin Park

This episode is not about reducing health to a checklist. It is about what it means to carry yourself through the world as a dancer and a human.

I had the privilege of sitting down with Erin Park for this episode of DANCE|PREHAB Dialogues. Selfishly, this is special to me because Erin and her family have been a part of the DANCE|PREHAB story since Day 1. I was literally renting a small space out of a pilates studio in the corner of a plant nursery in Orange, CA. Their trust and faith is what allowed DANCE|PREHAB to thrive in those early days, and I have continued to take those lessons with me to this day. At some point, this is no longer about just about mobility, strength, or the usual health topics. They are about the bigger picture, about how caring for your body allows you to express, create, and respond to what is being asked of you on stage and in life.

Hanging on in the studio in 2018.

I catch Erin during the summer in between her two years at Arts Umbrella and prior to her start at Nederlands Dans Theatre II. Erin shares what it feels like, anticipating the professional space: the demands of 80 shows a year, the weight of expectations, and the real question of how you sustain yourself when the schedule does not slow down. What comes through is her clarity. Health is not something separate from artistry. It is how you respect your craft, how you preserve your freedom, and how you keep showing up with the ability to give.

These dialogues matter because they remind us that sustainability is not optional. It begins with how we care for dancers today so they can continue to thrive tomorrow.