We are beginning our 24/25 season with two well-respected professionals now on the Backhausdance staff with the debut of our first ever Wellness Team. “Establishing the Backhausdance Wellness Team has been a dream of mine for a long time,” remarked Jennifer Backhaus, founder and artistic director. “Taking care of our dancers is essential for their longevity and strength. Having our highly regarded and in-demand Wellness Team in place is going to help us immensely!”

Watch our Video to learn more about our Wellness Team, and meet our Director of Performer Health, Sandra Harris!

Sandra Harris, director of performer health, is Backhausdance company’s first certified athletic trainer. Sandra completed both her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Master of Science in Athletic Training in a total of five years through Chapman University’s bridged program. She is currently attending Ohio University, where she will soon graduate with a Doctorate of Athletic Training as well as a Performing Arts Medicine certificate. In addition to her athletic training certification, Sandra also holds a Pilates certification with a dance specialization which provides a great foundation for rehabilitating injuries.

As a dancer herself - Sandra sought out different means to bring healthcare to performers. Her first opportunity to work with dancers was through an internship through the Dance Clinic at California State University, Long Beach. Soon afterwards, Sandra was contracted out to work with the entertainment department of a very large theme park in Southern California. There, she provided care and injury prevention to professional performing artists such as stunt performers, dancers, singers, musicians, and actors. Through this company, Sandra also provided care for cruise line performers.

In addition to Backhausdance company, Sandra concurrently works as a co-head athletic trainer at Fullerton College. She provides health care services across twenty-two traditional sport teams including football, basketball, baseball, and softball to name a few. Sandra also co-hosts, edits, and produces an athletic training podcast called AT Corner with her husband, Randy, who is also a certified athletic trainer.

Athletic trainers (ATs) are recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as an allied healthcare profession. ATs work in collaboration with a physician to provide services such as injury examination and clinical diagnosis, emergency care, therapeutic intervention, rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions, and injury and illness prevention. 

In 2008, Dr. Koutures fulfilled a lifetime dream by serving as the Medical Team Physician for USA Volleyball and Table Tennis in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. He is currently the team physician for the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Volleyball Teams, Cal State Fullerton Intercollegiate Athletics, Chapman University Dance Department, ABT Gillespie School of Dance, and Backhausdance.

Dr. Koutures is currently a mentor for pediatric residents and medical and athletic training students, and speaks at local, regional and national conferences on sports medicine topics.