The hidden athlete: exploring work and performance ability of professional dancers through a mixed-method-approach

In order to integrate the importance of performance ability into existing company structures and adapt them accordingly, measures must be taken at both a structural and individual level. Contextual factors such as ensemble size and hierarchical structures need to be considered, with particular attention to vulnerable groups like demi-soloists when developing empowerment strategies. The model of integrated performance ability in professional dance reveals that performance ability is co-produced through continuous alignment between individual performers and institutional structures, necessitating interventions that address both personal capacity-building and organizational adaptation.