Healthy Dancer Summer Feature
Carly Herrmann
Share a bit about your journey in dance…
Hi guys! My name is Carly Herrmann, and I am the owner of Instagram account @carlysplate. On my account, I post all things from what I eat on a daily basis being vegan, workouts, healthy habit tips, and my ballet life! I’m 21 years old, and have been dancing for 19 years now.
I just finished being a trainee with the Charlottesville Ballet this past season, and will be going back to school in the ballet department this fall at the University of Cincinnati, I will be starting my junior year! Before dancing at Charlottesville, I trained locally in the Chicago suburbs at Dance Academy of Libertyville, the Joffrey Ballet Chicago’s Pre-Professional Division, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s High School Full-Time Program, and then started my first two years of school at UC.
What’s a challenge you’ve faced in pursuing dance professionally? How did you overcome it?
I’ve faced challenges over the years including tracking food, or getting “nervous” about foods that I would eat. Though I never eat unhealthy and am conscious about what healthy and fueling foods I put in my body, I would sometimes get antsy or anxious seeing numbers start to get higher on the app that I track my food on.
I ended up overcoming it by reminding myself that even though the number of calories might be higher on other days than others, as dancers we use our bodies everyday for hours. In order to power through long days of rehearsals, tech weeks, performance days, it is crucial to refuel your body and give it the right, nutritious foods that it deserves!
Food is fuel, and is so yummy, we shouldn’t have to get nervous over silly numbers! I always remind myself how important it is to listen to your body, and if you are hungry you should indulge in some yummy food! After being paleo for almost 2.5 years to now going vegan since the start of January, I have absolutely loved it so much, and I overall feel so much “cleaner” body wise, and have loads of energy! Plus, it is always so much fun finding new recipes.
What do you think it means to be a “whole” dancer?
To me, being “whole”, means finding a balance with ballet, food, cross-training, and also being a “normal” human and having a life! It is so easy to get caught up in so many things, but taking the time for yourself, and finding other things you enjoy are so important, mentally and physically. It is very easy to get caught up in the ballet world, being a bunhead.
Do you have any special self-care rituals that help you feel balanced?
Some special self-care rituals that I enjoy (besides drinking my coffee with almond milk everyday *winkwink) are practicing yoga when I have time in my busy schedule! Since it is so easy for us to get tight, hurt, etc, in ballet, it is so important to treat your body with the respect and love it deserves.
I also take Apple Cider Vinegar every night before bed. It’s almost like a gut “resetter” and I always feel a lot better in the mornings! Going to the gym is also so important to me, and I love blocking an hour out of my day to just focus on myself, jamming out to some music and making myself stronger!!!
What role does cross-training play in your life?
Cross-training is a HUGE part of my life! If I could be a personal trainer, I absolutely would. I have an Apple Watch, and I am so obsessed with it, and love tracking all my activity on there!
I try to go to the gym every day, either before of after rehearsals. Typically, I do about 30-45 minutes of cardio on the elliptical or treadmill, followed by some sort of functional training. I love doing internal training like HIIT or anything body related, where I am able to use my own body weight for my workout.
However, on days that I am really tired, or sore, I won’t push myself and will only walk on the treadmill just to get my steps in, or Pilates! I always remind myself that as a dancer, my body is my tool and that if I push it too hard one day, I need to take it easy then next, and listen to my body and what it is saying to me.
Do you have a favorite recipe?
On my Instagram, I post a ton of yummy vegan recipes! If you guys have been following me for a while, you’ll know that this is one of my favorite combos ever! With Silk almond milk vanilla alternative yogurt, I love to throw in some sort of fruit like blueberries, a banana, or an apple, with some peanut butter, broken up pieces of a Cliff bar, topped off with some cinnamon!
The peanut butter mixed in with the vanilla alternative yogurt is hands down one of the best tastes ever, which is why I’d say that this is one of my favorite meals ever! Usually, I have something sweet like this in the mornings or for lunch because I usually crave savory meals like a stir fry and big nourish bowl for dinner!
