Recently relocated from the NYC area this past summer, I’ve been humbled by the warm welcome I’ve received in Gainesville. The move was inspired by close friends who settled here a few years ago, and I’m excited to begin this new chapter.
A little about me: After performing on stage and television as a child, I earned a BFA from the renowned Juilliard School and worked as a professional dancer in NYC. I became a Master Teacher in the dance and fitness industry teaching children to adult populations and training the teachers in the latest trends in fitness. After retiring from performing to raise a family, I pursued academics—earning a doctorate and multiple master’s degrees in Applied Physiology and Movement Science from Columbia University’s Teachers College. During that time, I conducted research at Columbia’s College of Physicians & Surgeons in women’s health, obesity, and the autonomic nervous system.
My career then shifted into medical writing, strategy, and education, working with top healthcare information companies and medical news organizations. Leading and developing content for Continuing Medical Education initiatives, I refined my expertise in cardiometabolic health (cardiology, endocrinology, diabetes). This path led me to manage and mentor educational field teams for several pharmaceutical companies. A lifelong learner, I earned an MBA from Walden University during COVID.
Seeing a need in the dance world, I founded Performing Health (www.PerformingHealth.com), a company dedicated to nutrition awareness and mindfulness for preprofessional dancers and athletes. I co-authored the Dance Nutrition Guidelines published by the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science and delivered invited lectures at conservatories in the U.S. and Europe on eating disorders and improving teacher-student conversations around weight and perfectionism. While I’m encouraged that more schools now address disordered eating and guide teachers on how to speak with students about weight, I am particularly interested today in the mental impact of high‑performance training on young performers.
I am thrilled to serve as Ambassador and member of the Board of Trustees at Dance Alive National Ballet Company here in Gainesville, helping to raise awareness about the new facilities under construction that will strengthen the company’s artistic and educational mission in the community.
Having served for over a decade on nonprofit boards spanning community development, arts education, and higher learning—championing inclusive governance, strategic growth, and high‑impact fundraising—I am looking forward to exploring opportunities to be part of mission‑driven organizations that value strategic leadership, community engagement, and sustainable growth.
The discipline, ensemble work, attention to detail, and communication skills I learned through dance have shaped my leadership roles as an executive director and board member across civic, religious, performing arts, and fitness organizations. My “superpower” is bringing people together to apply creative, collaborative methods to innovate and meet challenges.
This next chapter in Gainesville is about exploring where I can be of service—and building meaningful friendships along the way.
Adrienne Stevens, EdD, MBA | LinkedIn
