Table of Contents

SEP 2025, Vol 40, No 3

ARTICLES

Intra- and Inter-Rater Reliability of Pointe-Readiness Tests
 Annette Karim, Christopher Patterson, Michael Wong

OBJECTIVE: To investigate via video review the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of three pointe-readiness tests: the topple test, airplane test, and sauté test. METHODS: Ten ballet-trained pre-professional and professional dancers were videotaped performing the topple test, airplane test, and sauté test from the front and side views. The videos, written instructions, and rater score sheets were provided to the raters via individually linked electronic access over four sessions, with a washout period of 2 weeks between sessions. The videos were reviewed at slow speed and at real-time speed, with two sessions at each speed, assigned in random order. ... RESULTS: Twenty-two raters assessed the 10 dancers. Intra-rater reliability was good between session 1 and session 2 for the real-time speed (ICC range = 0.83–0.88), good for the slow speed (ICC = 0.83–0.85), good to excellent for the average of real-time vs slow speed (ICC = 0.88–0.94), and excellent for session 1 vs session 2 (ICC = 0.93–0.96).

College Marching Band Artists’ Access to and Satisfaction with Healthcare Providers
Andria L. Merrill, Zachary K. Winkelmann, Nancy A. Uriegas, Lindsey E. Eberman

OBJECTIVE: Approximately 27,000 college marching band (MB) artists in the United States could benefit from access to healthcare services and patient-centered care (PCC). The purpose of this study was to explore healthcare providers (HCPs) who MB artists have access to and the artists’ perceptions of PCC. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional, web-based survey to explore which providers MB artists had access to. In total, 751 MB artists (age 20±8 yrs) completed the survey. Respondents who reported no access or were unsure were prompted to complete an open-ended response describing what they would do if an injury or illness occurred. Participants who had access to an athletic trainer (AT) completed the Global Perceptions of Athletic Trainer Patient-Centered Care Tool (GPATPCC; a=0.90; 15 items [1 reverse-scored]; 4-point Likert scale [1=strongly disagree, 4=strongly agree, 0=unsure]; score=average). Participants with access to other HCPs completed the Consultation and Relational Empathy tool (CARE; a=0.97; 10 items; 5-point Likert scale [1=poor, 5=excellent]; score=sum).

Biomechanical Validation of a Dance-specific Heel Raise to Jump Progression
Catherine Haber, Andrea Schärli

BACKGROUND: In ballet, a single movement can be developed into multiple variations by changing factors such as direction or magnitude. Similarly, the Dance-Specific Graded Rehabilitation Program (DSGRP) is built on the progression of three factors: (1) movement (relevés, heel raises; explosive relevés [EXrelevé], heel raises with the intention to jump but not actually jumping; and sautés, small jumps), (2) leg support (double-leg and single-leg), and (3) barre support (two hands, one hand, and no hands). However, these factors are yet to be fully analyzed biomechanically. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the influence of movement, leg support, and barre support on mechanical load and impact characteristics of a dance-specific heel raise to jump progression.

Death Drop and Not Drop Dead: A Preliminary Examination of Drag Queen Health [Open Access]
Kathleen L. Davenport, Jennifer Marie J. Yang, Winlove Mojica, Esteban Padilla, John Noel Viana

PURPOSE: The health concerns of drag queens remain understudied. This paper examines the physical health and healthcare access of drag queens and reflects on ways to holistically promote their well-being. METHODS: Professional drag queens in the United States underwent the Dance/USA Task Force on Dancer Health Annual Post-Hire Health Screen, which assesses medical history, musculoskeletal metrics, and cardiovascular fitness. To discuss healthcare needs, this paper draws from the authors’ expertise in physiatry, dermatology, gender studies, mental health, and medical anthropology. [Open Access: Licensed under CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 Int]

The Footwear Gap in Marching Performance Artists: The Need for Research [Letter]
Samia Vanderkolff, Zachary A. Riley

Marching performers spend a significant amount of time on their feet practicing precise movements. Presumably, individuals choose footwear to practice in that is comfortable and suits their individual needs. However, when it comes to competition, there are a limited number of footwear options available, and they are not specialized to the individual. The purpose of this letter is to advocate for more research and the continued evolution of competitive footwear design for marching arts.