Massage Therapy Diploma students gain hands-on experience with Alberta Ballet

Mount Royal University's (MRU) massage therapy students are enjoying a unique opportunity to gain practical experience through an outreach placement with Alberta Ballet this year. This initiative, which started in January, allows students to work directly with professional dancers, enhancing their skills in a high-performance environment.

The Massage Therapy Diploma program is accredited by the Canadian Massage Therapy Council for Accreditation and meets the highest standards for professional massage therapy training. As part of their education, students complete 330 hours of supervised massage therapy treatments through the on-campus student practicum clinic and community outreach, working with various clients and special populations.

Mike Horne is a licensed massage therapist and instructor in the program, and facilitated this collaboration. Having been involved with the ballet’s volunteer medical team for over 15 years, Horne saw an opportunity to integrate students into the company's healthcare framework. A discussion with Alberta Ballet’s artistic director led to the revival of student placements, which had previously taken place in 2013.

The outreach program involves weekly sessions, with two students per session providing treatment to dancers. The setting is unlike a traditional clinical space, as treatments occur in rehearsal studios between or after intense training sessions. This gives students first hand exposure to the physical demands of ballet and a deeper understanding of the needs of professional dancers.

“We are practicing in, and treating in, the space where the dancers are doing classes and rehearsals. It's definitely an interesting, niche opportunity for our students to see what it's like in the theatre and being in the studio gives them more of an understanding as to what's going on in the background,” Horne says. 

This experience is particularly valuable because it broadens students’ perspectives on career paths within massage therapy. While many enter the program with a focus on sports therapy, exposure to different populations, such as dancers, helps them refine their interests. The outreach also aligns with MRU’s commitment to community engagement, reinforcing the diverse applications of massage therapy beyond conventional clinic or spa settings.

Alberta Ballet dancers have responded positively to the program, appreciating the availability of on-site care. Despite the inherent challenges of the dancers’ limited free time and long rehearsal days, participation has been growing as awareness of the treatment opportunities increases within the company.

“This all came about because our artistic director really wanted to be able to offer the dancers more opportunities for treatments and thought that partnering with a school would be an amazing way to connect with the community and have it be something that is mutually beneficial,” says Rebecca Fauser, company manager at Alberta Ballet.

The outreach placements will conclude in April. Discussions are ongoing regarding future placements, with the possibility of aligning the program with the ballet’s seasonal schedule to ensure continued opportunities for students. “We are very excited to be collaborating with MRU and hope to continue the relationship,” says Fauser. 

This partnership exemplifies how experiential learning enhances professional training, providing students with practical skills while supporting a community of elite performers. As MRU continues to foster connections with organizations like Alberta Ballet, its Massage Therapy Diploma program remains a leader in offering unique development experiences for learners.

Visit the Massage Therapy Diploma program page to learn more.