Shaw Bronner

Shaw Bronner’s first career was as a dancer, performing nationally and internationally with several modern dance companies. Dr. Bronner earned her PhD at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now Rutgers University) in rehabilitation and movement sciences, earned an EdM in biobehavioral studies at Columbia University's Teachers College, and did her physical therapy entry level work at SUNY Downstate. She is certified as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS).

Dr. Bronner directs Physical Therapy Services at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Foundation, where she created and coordinates the in-house program for the two companies, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II, and The Ailey School students. Her research on the Ailey program was able to demonstrate that an in-house program with emphasis on injury prevention and timely treatment reduces injuries, time loss, and is cost effective. She currently teaches Anatomy-Kinesiology to the Ailey-Fordham BFA Freshman.

Dr. Bronner is also Director of the ADAM Center, co-owner of Synthesis Physical Therapy, and Visiting Professor at Yale University. The ADAM Center is a research laboratory dedicated to the study of human movement and dance, examining human movement from many perspectives including biomechanics, neuroscience, ergonomics, epidemiology, injury, and prevention and rehabilitation. Dr. Bronner has published over 100 articles and abstracts on these topics and presents frequently at national and international forums. Some of her research has included the kinematics and kinetics of breaking in hip hop dance, analysis of forces in tap dance, and optimization theory in motor learning in dancers. Recent work demonstrated that hypermobility, technique motor control, tight muscles, and previous injury are key predictors of musculoskeletal injury in pre-professional dance students. She serves on Editorial Board of Medical Problems of Performing Artists and Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, where she is also Associate Editor.

Dr. Bronner uses a neuro-orthopaedic physical therapy treatment model incorporating the principles of motor learning and motor control combined with manual therapy. As a specialist in dance physical therapy, she has worked with dancers for over 20 years. This expertise benefits all her patients, from the athlete to those with neurologic problems.