Emma Porter on her new Enlighten webinar, understanding REDs in dance 

At The Royal Ballet School, we are committed to spreading knowledge from across our teams, which is why we are thrilled to host our newest Enlighten webinar: understanding REDs in dance. Training and Access Healthcare Lead, Emma Porter, will give teachers background on REDs, how to prevent it, and how to support students who may be dealing with it. 

Emma Porter has been working at the School for three years and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience of musculoskeletal injuries. Her experience ranges from working with professional dancers at English National Ballet, elite athletes at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as on the battlefields of Afghanistan as part of the British Army.   

What inspired you to create this webinar? 

I created this webinar to raise more awareness of REDs among teachers. REDs is particularly prevalent in aesthetic sports such as dance, so I thought it was important to make sure we are spreading awareness and giving teachers the tools they need to mitigate more cases. With 67% of athletes at risk of REDs, I understand the importance of preparing dancers for success and equipping them with the tools to manage the demands of training, fuelling, and energy balance.   

This webinar is for dance educators of all levels, but is there a specific kind of teacher you think would benefit most? 

This webinar would be beneficial for all dance educators, as the sooner we begin to raise awareness and incorporate skills and techniques to mitigate REDs, the more we can proactively avoid it. However, it would be most beneficial for teachers who have students who are beginning to increase their class time and training in general. 

Could you share some of the techniques you’ll be exploring in the webinar? 

We will explore techniques based on nutrition, training adjustments and recovery time, to learn how we can increase the energy availability of someone suffering from REDs, as well as how to prevent REDs from happening at all. 

What are some key takeaways teachers can expect from this webinar? 

Teachers will come away with a better understanding of how REDs can manifest itself in dancers, how we can prevent it, and how we can support students who may have REDs now. At the School, we have a comprehensive team of over 20 leading healthcare professionals, and we work together to educate, support and manage our dancers to optimise their health and performance in both the short and long term. My hope is that we can pass on the knowledge we have learned to teachers who may not have as many resources, so they can ensure their students are healthy and happy. 

What are some benefits for students whose teachers attend this webinar? 

The more people we have that understand REDs and know the signs, the better it is for everyone. Perhaps the student may not be aware of all the signs, but if they have a teacher who does, they will be able to help prevent and treat REDs. This is also a great way for students to get a holistic dance education, as healthcare is a fundamental aspect of the athletic artform. 

The Healthy Dancer 3: Understanding REDs webinar is on 13 May 2025 at 10.00 BST, register here.