In the Spotlight – Dance Clinic – specialists in Dancers Industry Solutions

M7PR has been working with Dance Clinic to help create media awareness of the work they do to help dancers progress their career.  Based in Birmingham, one of the UK’s biggest dance hubs outside London, they are specialists in Dancers Industry Solutions and work with a variety of dancers who perform various dance styles from hip hop, Irish dancing, ballet, contemporary dance to ballroom and beyond.

We caught up with Dance Clinic’s co-founder Phil Birch, a respected soft tissue injury specialist, with over 35 years experience in the fields of dance and performing arts, including 24 years with the acclaimed Birmingham Royal Ballet.

You opened Dance Clinic several years ago, can you tell us what inspired you to start your business?
Actually it was the legend himself Darryl Canham of the Kaizen Performance Centre, Birmingham and his inspiration for us both to open a specialist training and treatment centre for elite athletes which we did in 2016. We had so much interest in the concept that we decided to open the Dance Clinic in 2017 specialising in the treatment, training and management of young dancers of the future.

What are the services you provide and what makes Dance Clinic unique?
The Dance Clinic provides  a full spectrum of specialist services exclusively for dancers and those in the performing arts which include;

• Soft Tissue Dance Injury Treatment and treatment management programmes
• Specialist Dance Strength, Stability and Conditioning exercises and programming
• Specialist Ballet and Contemporary Dance teachers that still or have danced professionally
• Sports and Performance Psychologist
• Pain Management Consultant

With such a great team of specialist professionals, mostly from the world of dance offering a bespoke service for dancers,  we believe that this makes Dance Clinic unique in its approach to the prevention and management of dance injuries.

You work with many clients from different areas of dance can you tell us how your work makes a difference to their performance?
Our work makes a difference to many clients in the world of dance by the way we manage their goals by increasing their strength stability and conditioning. Manage their Dance Injury Prevention Programmes and reinforce positive performance focussing.

Do you work with clients from other sectors or is it dance focussed?
YES. Absolutely. We are also currently working with The Edgbaston Priory Tennis and Racquets Club, Edgbaston, Birmingham with their epic squash programme for Junior Players

Confidentially is utmost but do you have any memorable moments you can share?
Of course, working at Birmingham Royal Ballet for 26 years, I definitely have a few memorable moments to share. I am not too sure which one to choose though!!
I could talk about the time I met Princess Diana, Prince Charles, Darcy Bussell or even the legendary Rudolph Nureyev. But of course, that would be telling!!

It’s an unusual time and we are in and out of Lockdown and Tiers – what measures are you taking to make Dance Clinic Covid safe?
Yes, agreed. Unprecedented times for us all at this time in our lives, but ‘THE SHOW MUST GO ON’ as they say in the world of performance. As always, all appointments are strictly timed with no client crossover. The Clinic is sanitised between clients with PPE worn while treating. On entry to the Clinic, all clients must wear masks, sanitise on entering and undertake temperature testing.

You are based in the Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter do you have any favourite places you like to visit?
Yes, we are. It is quite an amazing place to be part of this historic area so close to the city centre. Amongst all of the amazing listed buildings in the JQ, I must admit my favourite places to visit are the Hive café on Vittoria street and Coffee Tales on Warstone Lane (lockdown permitting!).

Lastly, with most theatre’s temporarily closed due to the pandemic, dancers have been particularly hit hard because they cannot perform. What advice would you give them?
My advice to all dancers who are having a very frustrating time trying to stay fit and conditioned through these unprecedented times, is STAY FOCUSSED. Keep your eyes on the prize!! It certainly won’t be forever and already some theatres have/are announcing Christmas performances whether online or live subject to safe distancing.

If you want to find out more about Dance Clinic or would  like to book an appointment click here for further information