Med Student Bridges Gap Between Dance And Medicine: 'I'm Just So Grateful'

HEMPSTEAD, NY — Aria Moreno is hoping to raise awareness and help educate dancers on how to best take care of their bodies from the taxing sport.

The 22-year-old has been dancing since she was eight years old — tap, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, hip hop, musical theatre, acrobatics, and more. She danced competitively for years, and although she doesn't compete anymore, she still dances recreationally and teaches dance classes, all while studying in her first year of medical school at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.

She is looking to pursue a career in dance medicine to bridge her research and dance skills, and it all started with her first dance teacher: "Beth Johnson really fostered my love for the sport."

Moreno added that there were a few others who inspired her along the way.

"My mom was a dancer, and she's a chemistry teacher, so she had an impact on my love for the two," she said. "I always had a calling to science."

Moreno said that dancers see a doctor to receive clearance to begin wearing pointe ballet shoes. At about 13 years old, Moreno was fitted for pointe shoes by Dr. Ronna, who was also a dancer. She said it was then that she realized she could merge her two passions into a career.

"She inspired me to pursue this field of dance medicine," she said. "I realized I didn't want dance to be my professional career, but I didn't want to lose it either, so I found a way to incorporate both."

Dancers put their bodies through a lot, especially professional dancers. Some ballet dancers have to switch to new pointe shoes every day due to the wear and tear on them, she said.

"I want to educate dancers about their bodies and how to take care of them," she said. "Even with kids, they start wearing pointe shoes too early, and they'll get hurt."

Moreno majored in dance and pre-medical studies during her undergraduate studies at Hofstra University, and it gave her even more perspective on her career path.

"I saw how taxing dancing is on your body," she said. "So many of my classmates were getting injured every week. I felt like there wasn't enough good education and care for dancers who have to use their bodies for their job. That only fueled my love for dance medicine, and here I am, in medical school."

She said that so many dancers have back issues, stress fractures, and sprains: "I can't think of a single dancer that has never been injured."

"When I sprained my ankle," she continued, "I felt like the doctors didn't fully understand how I did it. They didn't really understand dance and how ballerinas go on their toes and how our ankles are in a completely flexed position. I want to help educate and help dancers."

Being the best dancer doesn't have to mean sacrificing your health, she said. There needs to be a balance.

Dance is more than a hobby — it's a sport, and it can be grueling on your body, she said.

"Dancers, take care of your body," she said. "You'll have it for the rest of your life. If you want to be able to dance as long as possible, then do not push your body, especially when you have an injury."

Dancing has taught Moreno important skills, such as a strong work ethic and time management skills.

"Every night, I would practice in my basement after going to school and doing homework or dance class," she said. "I learned how to set goals and work towards them. Dance and medicine are both such cut-throat worlds because of how competitive they are."

As a kid, Moreno said she did so many activities, from dance to ice skating to color guard, and she wanted to be perfect at everything.

"I would tell my younger self to just enjoy it," Moreno said. "With dance, and with anything, perfection is not the goal,"

Moreno dances recreationally in classes, as well as on her own in studios on campus. She also teaches young kids the sport.

"I love watching these kids grow and do something that I found love in," she said. "And I hope they will, too."

Moreno said that her parents were always rooting for her, no matter what path she chose, whether it was dance or medicine, or both.

"I have a lot of gratitude — I'm just so grateful that they supported me no matter what I wanted to do," she said.

The medical student said she feels like the dance medicine field is on the smaller side, and she hopes that she can pave the way for others to follow in her footsteps.

"I feel like my calling in life is a dance medicine physician," she said. "I want to treat dancers. I want to be able to educate them on how to take care of their body."