Top 5 books for male dancers
With so many books in our book club, it can be hard to know where to get started, so here are five books which male dancers might benefit from and enjoy.
This list is definitely not exhaustive, and we will update it with new releases and new thoughts. Have you got a recommendation to add to this list? We’d love to hear about it so please send us a message.
Hormones, Health and Human Potential by Dr. Nicky Keay
Dr Nicky Keay is a sports endocrinologist who works directly with dancers. In her book she offers explanations of how energy balance governs hormone function, bone density, and adaptive health. She extensively covers male endocrine health, detailing how REDs affects testosterone levels, bone recovery, and performance in male athletes.
Win the Inside Game by Steve Magness
Steve Magness is a world-renowned expert on performance and author of several best-selling books. Steve has served as a performance coach to numerous professional sporting teams, executives, entrepreneurs, artists, and more. He's worked with Olympians, athletes from every professional sports league, and the U.S. military. His focus is on performance holistically; whether that's developing mental skills to show up when it counts, or solving organizational or team problems.In this book, he offers mental frameworks for building resilience and emotional stability, which could help male dancers navigate the intense pressures of high-level performance without burnout.
Peak Performance by Brad Stulberg & Steve Magness
Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and New Science of Success is a practical guide that blends scientific research with real-world examples from elite athletes, entrepreneurs, and artists. It focuses on sustainable success and longevity, highlighting the importance of rest, stress, and recovery.
The Long Win by Cath Bishop
The book explores our obsession with winning and how it affects the way we approach work, sport, education and beyond. It challenges "win-at-all-costs" mindsets, and advocates for building a healthy relationship with success, competition, and career longevity. This book is helpful both from a dancer, parent, and teacher perspective.
Belonging by Owen Eastwood
This book explores team dynamics, culture, and shared identity. It emphasises the importance of long-term well-being, psychological safety, and identity beyond dance. It's in a similar vein to The Long Win, and a thought-provoking book for all dancers of all ages and genders.