5, 6, 7, 8!

Though Red Rhythm lasts only during high school, the memory of it never leaves. Haley Hammons, a current Texas Woman’s University student and a Red Rhythm alumni, has returned to The Nest to conduct research on implementation of concussion education in high school performing arts athletes and coaches, observing Red Rhythm in particular.

“I chose Red Rhythm as my target population for my research… [because] dancers are not only athletes but performers who are at risk for injury and deserve to be treated as such,” Hammons said. “I hoped to conduct research on performing arts athletes to bridge the gap that exists in current literature.”

For Red Rhythm director Nicole Nothe, Hammons’ education and research spotlights the dancers and regards them as athletes, rather than solely fine arts.

“Unfortunately, we don’t get the care that athletes get because we’re not UIL,” Nothe said. “For someone to say that the dancers are important and the health of their body is important means a lot and we respect her education in regards to that.”

In addition to Hammons’ sitting in on Red Rhythm practices, she has hosted three teaching lessons that took place after those practices. 

“It has been really fun to have her with us these past few months. She has been a great helping hand, acting as trainer for our dancers,” captain and senior Mason Classe said. “Being a team which works year long, we inevitably have injuries from time to time, so knowing how to properly treat them and care for the student as they return to sport has been very helpful.”

Hammons’ years on Red Rhythm influenced not only her current research project, but other career-related endeavors that took place post high school.

“I was a member of Red Rhythm for four years and it made a greater impact on my life than I ever could have imagined,” Hammons said. “It set me up for success…[and] has led me to where I am today being just months away from being an Occupational Therapist where my whole career revolves around those things. Advocacy can go a long way, [and] by working on projects that serve under-represented populations, you are able to make a difference.”