PAARTS Healthy Performer Fund
The unique training and workplace demands faced by dancers, musicians, actors, vocalist, circus artists and others, are known to influence health, wellness and quality of life. In fact, up to 70% of adolescent dancers, up to 95% of professional dancers and 75% of musicians and opera performers will experience an injury that takes them out of training and performance in any given year.
For many professional and aspiring performing artists, particularly those of smaller organizations, the average individual income falls at or below the poverty line, with most performing artists holding 3-5 jobs to make ends meet. Research informs us that there is a direct relationship between poverty, health and access to healthcare.
PAARTS strives to provide the highest quality specialized injury prevention and care to area performing artists and companies. PAARTS has been an annual donor to a number of organizations including San Diego Ballet, San Diego Dancer Theater, Malashock Dance among and has offered additional support and donations to programs such as others San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, San Diego Civic Dance Arts and Coronado School of the Arts.
In an effort to expand offerings to these programs as well as other individual artists and groups who seek our specialized services, PAARTS has founded the “Healthy Performer Fund.” Your donations will help support expert care and injury prevention to aspiring and professional performing artists in the greater San Diego, California area.
The money raised from this effort will go toward the purchase of supplies (i.e. braces, padding, taping, equipment, home care products – which can range in cost anywhere from $10-$700 per performing artist, per injury), to provide supplemental care, education, and practices to empower artists to reach their performance goals safely and healthily.
PAARTS will give back by matching any donation of $50.00 or more by 20%.
What’s being said about PAARTS’ Healthy Performer Fund
Sharmaine Perea
San Diego Ballet Company Dancer
“While rehearsing for San Diego Ballets “The Jungle Book” I stepped on a slick spot and rolled my ankle. The performance was one week away; I was immediately overcome by panic since I was unable to put weight on my foot. Luckily, Katy Ewalt provided me the care I needed to help alleviate my injury. After my first session with her I immediately noticed a difference in my recovery.
She assessed my trauma and created a proactive treatment plan, while also being mindful of my needs as a dancer. I had quite a bit of swelling, she provided options for reducing the inflammation and gave me exercises to begin rebuilding strength and mobility. Since I would be unable to wear an ankle brace on stage, Katy did a fantastic job of taping my ankle for dress rehearsal and the shows using techniques that provided a balance between support and necessary mobility crucial to a dancers function. With her background in dance, Katy was able to review my choreography with me to figure out what steps I should alter to prevent further injury.
Katy’s knowledge of treating ankle injuries and her mindfulness of my needs as a dancer helped me get through a time where, without either, I may not have been able to perform. I am genuinely thankful for her efforts and that her services were offered to me in support of the San Diego Ballet.”
Stephanie Maiorano
Principal San Diego Ballet Company
“As principal dancer for the San Diego Ballet, I have been so fortunate to be able to work with Katy to keep my body up to shape and injury free for 10 years now! We at San Diego Ballet have the luxury of having Katy in the same building and next door to our home studios at Dance Place, but what’s so great about her is she travels to whatever theater we are performing in for emergency treatments. One year I had a serious ankle issue right before my performance as the Firebird, and she fixed me in record time. Wrapping my injury during the opening music and finishing just in time for me to leap on stage!
I’ve seen many physical therapists during my life in ballet, (28 years) but Katy by far surpasses the rest. The combination of healing hands and strengthening exercises has helped not only keep me dancing, but improving.”
Zaquia Salinas
Freelance Modern Dancer
“As a professional dancer I often struggle with tight calves, but tightness has turned to pain and dysfunction and I was headed into an intense Trolley Dances performance weekend (17 performances of the same dance over the course of three days on a slick outdoor deck). I needed help to prevent a serious injury in the days leading up to the event. Katy’s treatment and self-care recommendations really made the difference; I completed a rigorous performance schedule with no major injury thanks to her. The ability to work with Katy through her support of San Diego Dance Theater expedited my return to full function and helped me avoid a more significant injury.”
Lily N.
Circus Artist
“Katy is truly doing something wonderful with her business PAARTS. My injury required treatment twice a week which is more than I could afford. By setting up the fund for artists and athletes similar to myself, not only is she making it possible for clients without the financial resources to pay for the treatment they need, she is making it possible for us to continue pursuing our passion. I would be nowhere near where I am today without Katy, she has given me a window into better physical health with her absolute expertise. Having a very short amount of time to work with her, Katy has transformed the state of my shoulder tremendously. She has made such an impact on my life over the last month and has given me the opportunity to work with her by graciously supporting a number of my sessions. This fund will absolutely make a difference in the lives of its recipients by providing the resources to make a full recovery.”