When former professional ballerina Carolina Pais hung up her pointe shoes, she knew her love of movement wasn’t ending – it was simply evolving. Today, as a physiotherapist, Carolina helps others move with confidence and rediscover the joy of pain-free movement.
“The transition from university to work was definitely a steep learning curve,” she admits. “But almost 1000 hours of placement throughout my degree facilitated that transition. Following experienced physios and then treating patients under supervision gave me a real understanding of what the job truly involves.”
Her time at La Trobe gave her the opportunity to explore a range of physiotherapy specialisations before finding her own niche – from musculoskeletal to women’s health and even dance-specific rehab. “Physio is such a broad field, which is exciting because it gives you room to explore,” she says. “My advice would be to keep an open mind on placements and shoot for what genuinely interests you.”
That curiosity was matched by the support she found in her mentors. “My placement supervisors and Uni lecturers were incredibly approachable and generous with their time,” she recalls. “La Trobe has such an amazing pool of experts. Sometimes great nuggets of wisdom come from starting a conversation after class.”
While her understanding of anatomy once came from perfecting pirouettes, Carolina now sees the human body through a new lens. “The main change for me has been a deep appreciation for just how extraordinary dancers’ bodies need to be to perform at a professional level,” she reflects. “When you’re dancing every day, it starts to feel normal. Now, I can step back and truly admire the incredible skill and athleticism required.”
She’s also found that her physiotherapy training has given her a new perspective on movement challenges. “When a step doesn’t feel or look right, there’s less frustration or emotion. I now have the tools to identify what might be happening and how to address it, which allows me to help dancers in the clinic correct and improve their technique more effectively.”
Carolina’s advice to others is to find joy in the movement that keeps you going. “Pilates is my non-negotiable – it makes me feel strong and grounded,” she says. “To no one’s surprise, I still love a casual dance class, and my next goal is to add two regular strength-training sessions each week.”
For Carolina, every patient’s story is unique, just as every dancer’s journey is. “For clients, it really depends on where they are in their movement journey and what they are trying to achieve.”
Having stepped into a new career, Carolina’s story is a testament that every chapter of our journey matters, as the closing of one curtain makes way for another to rise.
