About
Dance Mechanics is a physical therapy and training facility helping dancers thrive through dance medicine and functional training. All of our instructors are certified health professionals.
The physical therapy side of Dance Mechanics offers assessment, diagnosis and treatment of sports injury, decreased range of motion, inflexibility, foot/arch support, scoliosis and more.
The training side of Dance Mechanics offers training classes by healthcare professionals who have a focus on high-level dance. We offers functional training classes in the form of flexibility, feet & power and dance training classes in the form of jumps & turns.
Dr. Shanna Sullivan
Owner & Chiropractor
Dr. Shanna Sullivan is a Toronto-based dance chiropractor, educator, choreographer and business owner. She believes that every dancer should have the opportunity to seek proper care, treatment, and training from a practitioner who understands what they put their bodies through each day.
Dr. Shanna Sullivan’s passion for dance started at the age of 2. She was quickly drawn into the competitive dance world throughout her childhood. After high school, she attended Dalhousie University where she studied Kinesiology (the study of the mechanics of body movements) and danced for the competitive university dance team.
She went on to receive her Doctor of Chiropractic degree at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. Throughout her education, she focused on the biomechanics of dancers and functional performance training for performing artists and started her first business Dance Mechanics.
Dr. Sullivan is now well-known in the dance industry for her revolutionary dance science program, Dance Mechanics. She trains dancers through dance medicine to attain their goals of strength, flexibility and mobility in a safe and very effective manner. For many years, she has been employed as a dance teacher at various studios and conventions. She focuses her time on running two clinics in Toronto as well as a dance training facility; and fills the rest of her time with all things dance!
Kaitlin Kawam
Athletic Therapist & Dance Trainer
Kaitlin Kawam is a Toronto-based Certified Athletic Therapist, dancer, educator, and choreographer with a passion for movement, athleticism, and injury prevention. With deep roots in the dance community, Kaitlin understands firsthand the unique physical demands dancers face and strongly believes that they deserve access to care that caters to these demands.
Kaitlin began her dance training at the age of 3 in Belleville (ON) where she trained extensively across multiple styles of dance, competing both nationally and internationally throughout high school. She then graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Life Sciences, majoring in Global Health and Nutrition. Kaitlin then went on to attend Sheridan College where she completed a Bachelor of Applied Health Science in Athletic Therapy, graduating with high distinction and as the recipient of the Dr. Wade Whitten Award for Clinical Excellence.
During her academic pursuits, Kaitlin remained heavily involved in the dance community by performing and training professionally, teaching at various studios across Toronto, and competing for U of T’s Varsity Blues dance team.
Her dual identity as both dancer and therapist allows her to support performers with insight, empathy, and a movement-informed approach to rehabilitation and performance enhancement. Kaitlin’s evidence-based approach to care is driven by a desire to help dancers move with confidence, reduce injury risk and unlock their full potential – on stage and in the studio.
Kendra Gowdy
Physiotherapy Resident & Dance Trainer
Kendra Gowdy is a Physiotherapy Resident, dance teacher, educator, and choreographer.
Growing up immersed in the dance industry, she recognized a gap in resources and support for dancers, which inspired her to pursue a career in healthcare to help bridge that divide. She is passionate about ensuring dancers receive treatment and care tailored to the unique demands of their art form.
Kendra began her dance training at a young age, competing in a wide range of styles including tap, jazz, ballet, acrobatics, pointe, lyrical, and contemporary. After high school, she earned her Bachelor of Health Science in Kinesiology with Honours from Ontario Tech University. During her undergraduate studies, she volunteered as a Student Athletic Therapist with the women’s field lacrosse and basketball teams, while also performing as a member of the varsity dance team.
After completing her undergraduate degree, Kendra received her Master’s of Physical Therapy from the University of Toronto, while continuing to teach dance and began integrating her growing physiotherapy expertise into her classes. This unique blend of clinical knowledge and artistic experience has shaped her holistic approach to both teaching and therapy.
Kendra’s passions lie in pediatric care and dance rehabilitation. Her creative and patient style fosters a safe, supportive environment that encourages clients to challenge themselves in a fun and motivating way. She values open communication and employs a whole-body and whole- mind approach, collaborating closely with clients and their families to create individualized care plans that help them reach their goals.