Physical Therapists
Emma Faulkner, PT, DPT, OCS
Dr. Faulkner is a lead physical therapist for the Atlanta Ballet and head physical therapist for multiple modern dance companies in the Atlanta Metro where she provides both in-clinic therapy services as well as backstage care.
Mandy Blackmon, PT, DPT
Mandy is the lead physical therapist at Atlanta Ballet, a partner in Atlanta Dance Medicine, and runs her own private practice, MandyDancePT, LLC. She teaches in the Physical Therapy program at Mercer University and for Myopain Seminars in their dry needling curriculum. Mandy regularly presents on dance medicine topics at local, state, national, and international conferences.
Maggie Scheessele, PT, DPT
Maggie Scheessele is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist who specializes in orthopedics and sports medicine. She has experience treating a variety of musculoskeletal injuries, and her specific interests include Dance and Performing Arts Medicine.
Ann MacDougall, PT, DPT, CMTPT
Ann is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist with a specialized interest in Dance and Performing Arts Medicine. She serves as an adjunct physical therapist for the Atlanta Ballet company members. Her clinical specialties include trigger point dry needling, myofascial release, return to sports rehabilitation, performance enhancement, and wellness/injury prevention.
Krysten Malcolm, PT, DPT, OCS
Krysten is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist who focuses on the treatment of performing artists and artistic athletes of all kinds. She has experience as the touring physical therapist with Broadway national tours, professional dance companies, and concert tours, but now lives and treats in Central Virginia. Her clinical specialties include dry needling, manual therapy, blood flow restriction training, and injury prevention.
Nutritionists
Emily Cook Harrison MS, RD, LD
Emily is a registered dietitian (RD) and holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nutrition from Georgia State University. She has worked with hundreds of dancers to encourage healthy eating and positive body image.
VAL SCHONBERG, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, NCMP, FAND
Val is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian with a master’s degree in Nutrition Science specializing in nutrition for recreational and professional athletes, dancers and performing artists, women in midlife and menopause, and individuals with disordered eating concerns. Val is Board Certified as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics, a NAMS Certified Menopause Practitioner, and a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Her experience and expertise come from years of practice in many settings including eating disorder treatment, college sports medicine, professional dance organizations, and in private practice.
Kristin Koshinen, RDN
Kristin Koskinen, RDN, LDN, LD, CD is a registered dietitian who grew up dancing. Her interest in nutrition began when she was in her teens and danced in a pre-professional ballet company. There was a lot of talk among the dancers about diets and weight loss, but not much understanding about nutrition to maximize performance or the disordered eating that too often results from dieting. She made it her mission to find the answers she needed when she was dancing and now, she is a resource for dancers and those who support them.
Pilates
Susan Davern
I found Pilates when I was dancing in New York at SUNY College at Purchase. Romana Kryzanowska was teaching us young dancers, and I now realize what value I had in my hands. Fast forward to my teaching dance at North Atlanta Dance Academy, and I realized Pilates was a combo to my dancers that assisted in core strength and injury prevention
Other Resources
Jess Spinner
Jess is a former professional ballet dancer turned health, nutrition, and lifestyle coach for dancers. She earned her BS degree from Butler University in Dance/Arts Administration. After graduation she danced with the Louisville Ballet and freelanced in Boston. Jess holds a number of health and nutrition certifications through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Precision Nutrition, and Nutritarian Education Institute to name a few. Her biggest goal is to support dancers in finding personal balance in their approach to food and their bodies. She hopes to empower them towards unshakeable self love so they can find true joy on their dance journey.