When My Butt Kicked Me

A Former Dancer Learns to Work Out Again After a Puzzling Injury

The Norman Rockwell neighborhood where my husband and I live in Washington, D.C. is a new experience for me, although I’ve lived in a lot of places. One of those was New York City, where I was a professional dancer on Broadway.

I sang, played small parts, and served as understudy until stage fright struck me. I became paralyzed at the idea of performing. It was an abrupt change. Until that time, I had danced from the moment I was able to walk.

You don’t dance professionally without becoming an athlete. It’s …