Brandon didn't always plan on being a professional dancer-artist. "I took a left turn in my life," he says with a smile. After spending ten years in the Army National Guard, his goal was to get a four-year degree and become a police officer.
It's funny how a whim can change one's destiny forever. While Brandon admits that he has always been artistic, he actually discovered his passion through a class that he took because he needed to fill a credit requirement and thought it would be fun. He was right, and he was really good at it to boot. He started signing up for more dance classes. "At the time I was majoring in anthropology, but because you don't have to have a specific degree to become a police officer, I decided to change my major." So dancing became his life, and before he had even graduated he was offered a full-time position with a modern dance company in San Francisco--and he accepted. He took the proverbial "road less traveled" and indeed, it has made all the difference. His wife is a dancer in the Colorado Ballet; a special performance brought her to San Francisco--that is where they met. They found a common ground in their Colorado roots and became friends. They started dating a year later, and according to Brandon, the rest is history.
So what is Brandon up to these days? His most recent production was called "A Gothic Folk Tale: A Fool's Journey," and wouldn't you know it, Brandon played the fool. He says that it was something of a vaudeville show with characters based on Tarot cards. In this case, the fool was the janitor, the guy everyone consorted, but is never taken seriously. Brandon's excitement for the production is apparent--he says it is the most complicated production Artistic Director Garrett Ammon has ever created. Along with amazing choreography and a fantastic plot line, it featured video installations, a live band, a real illusionist and lots of opportunities for audience participation. "At some point, I had to escape from a straightjacket," he says proudly. One can only imagine how many hours he has spent (looking like a madman) trying to get that routine down.
Brandon was not a stranger to chiropractic care when he first came to our office. He says that most professional dancers see a chiropractor regularly, and he is no exception. Brandon has been seeing Dr. Dave since the beginning of 2013. He was referred by his wife who has been getting adjustments though SFC ever since Dr. Dave became the official chiropractor for the Colorado Ballet in August of 2012. As someone who uses their body as a tool and their livelihood, he says he is faced with small injuries all the time; it's really frustrating, he says, because most of those little tweaks might come with some minor aches and pains. More importantly, they are indicators of a higher risk of injury--which mentally inhibits him from pushing the envelope as a performer. "Chiropractic care helps to alleviate those pains so you can focus on your job and your artistry and not have to worry as much about hurting yourself."
Dr. Dave's specialization in extremity adjusting, he says, is particularly helpful to him as an athlete, "My talus comes out of place and he has to adjust it every week. It's frustrating when it happens because I am doing jumps and my ankle gets all jammed up, and I have to deal with it through the whole day or until I can get in to see Dr. Dave." But once he gets that little bone in his foot adjusted, it's game on. And that's just the retroactive care--when it comes to preventative care Brandon says that chiropractic care ultimately helps him worry less, which means less distractions and better performance. He also believes it will help him extend the life of his career. His advice to athletes considering chiropractic: "Find someone you are comfortable with, there are many different kinds of chiropractors out there and some are rougher than others, some have a little more finesse--I think Dr. Dave has a lot of finesse."
Thank you Brandon, we are sure you have finesse too, and we are so thankful to include you in our family.