Dance As Sport: Optimizing Performance, Prevention, and Longevity
November 7, 2026
Date: November 7, 2026
Time: 10am-1pm
Location: Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center
Join us at Dance As Sport: Optimizing Performance, Prevention, and Longevity, a premier morning conference co-hosted by Cedars-Sinai / USC Glorya Kaufman Dance Medicine Center.
As Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, join leading experts in sports medicine and dance science for a dynamic exploration of how athletes and dancers can perform at their highest level, recover more effectively, and extend their careers.
Through presentations from leading physicians, researchers, and specialists, attendees will gain practical, evidence-based insights that can help enhance performance, reduce injury risk, and support lifelong participation in dance and sport.
We invite dancers, athletes, students, teachers, and coaches of all ages and backgrounds to join us to gain valuable tools and knowledge to support health, performance, and longevity.
Ticket Registration Link to Follow!
For more information, please contact dance.science@usc.edu.
Featured Speakers
Margo Apostolos, PhD
Dr. Apostolos has authored and presented numerous articles on her research and design in robot choreography. In addition to her PhD and post-doctoral studies at Stanford University, she earned an MA from Northwestern University. She has served as visiting professor in the Department of Psychology at Princeton University and has taught in Chicago, San Francisco, Stanford University, Southern Illinois University and California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. Dr. Apostolos previously worked for NASA at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Cal Tech as a research scientist in the area of space telerobotics and is the recipient of the prestigious NASA/ASEE Faculty Fellowship.
Jena Bailey
Jena Bailey is a physical therapist in the Cedars-Sinai Dance Medicine Program. She studied at the Alonzo King/LINES Ballet BFA program and became a certified Gyrotonic instructor, before going on to receive her doctorate in physical therapy from USC and becoming an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist.
David Kruse, MD
David Kruse, MD, attended medical school at the University of California, San Diego, after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He did his residency in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. After residency, he obtained a second board certification in Primary Care Sports Medicine with the completion of fellowship training at the University of Notre Dame.
Melodie Metzger, PhD
Melodie Metzger, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and is the Director of the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, where she has led translational research for more than 16 years. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, completed graduate study in Management of Technology and Innovation at Berkeley, and received her doctorate from the University of California, San Francisco.
Guy D. Paiement, MD
Guy D. Paiement, MD, is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and Founding Director of the Orthopaedic Residency Program at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. His primary clinical interests are adult joint reconstruction and orthopaedic trauma. Dr Paiement’s research is mainly focused on infection, biomechanics and gait analysis.
Natasha Trentacosta, MD
Natasha Trentacosta, MD, FAAOS, is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and the care of pediatric, adolescent, and adult athletes. She practices at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and has particular expertise in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of dance-related injuries, including overuse conditions, growth plate injuries, stress injuries, hip and knee pain, and return-to-performance planning. Dr. Trentacosta is passionate about helping dancers understand the unique physical demands of their art while promoting strength, longevity, and safe participation. Through her clinical work, team coverage, and community education, she emphasizes evidence-based injury prevention and individualized care that allows performers to remain healthy, confident, and active throughout their careers.