Louisville Ballet partners with Norton Sports Health

LOUISVILLE BALLET PARTNERS WITH NORTON SPORTS HEALTH TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL AND SPORTS MEDICINE CARE FOR DANCERS

LOUISVILLE, KY – June 25, 2026 – Louisville Ballet today announced a comprehensive partnership with Norton Sports Health, expanding its healthcare network to deliver an elite program of sports medicine, primary care, mental performance training, dietary resources, and integrated rehabilitative medical resources directly to the company’s dancers.

"Our dancers face arduous physical schedules, and treating them like the elite athletes they are requires an equally elite healthcare strategy," said Anthony Krutzkamp, Artistic Director of Louisville Ballet. "Bringing Norton Healthcare’s vast medical network together with our long-standing partners at KORT Physical Therapy (KORT) means our artists have a complete, seamless ecosystem of care. This ensures they stay healthy, recover faster, and can focus entirely on their artistry."

Dancers are elite, world-class athletes who subject their bodies to extreme physical demands. To support their specialized needs, this partnership brings a full range of medical services directly into the dancers’ intensive training environment. The program includes annual physical exams, on-campus primary care and sports medicine, rapid injury intervention, and streamlined follow-up care. By bringing top-tier clinical attention directly to the training facility, the partnership aims to maximize wellness, minimize recovery timelines, and proactively prevent long-term injuries.

“As a sports medicine physician, I’m trained to help people continue doing what they love at the highest level,” said Kristian A. De Nagel, M.D., medical director, Louisville Ballet. “That’s what makes this opportunity so exciting. These performers are elite athletes, blending strength, precision, and artistry in ways that require a specialized, holistic approach to care. I’m especially looking forward to building strong relationships with the company while applying my expertise in biomechanics and movement analysis to support both performance and long-term health.” 

While KORT has served as Louisville Ballet’s trusted physical therapy resource for years, this program brings ballet into the existing, well-established joint venture between Norton Sports Health and KORT. By seamlessly applying this proven sports medicine model to the performing arts, the partnership deepens the integration between NortonSports Health’s extensive care and KORT physical therapists directly within the dancers' training environment. Every artist will benefit from a highly coordinated, personalized care plan that supports them entirely from initial treatment through full-stage recovery. As an added benefit, Louisville Ballet dancers, staff, and faculty will also receive full access to the Norton Sports Health Performance & Wellness Center, allowing them to access elite sports-science resources and athletic conditioning. 

The new medical services and integrated care model will take effect on August 1. The studio company dancers return on August 17, and the company dancers return to the studio on September 8. 

About Norton Sports Health
Norton Sports Health, a part of Norton Healthcare, is one of the Louisville area’s leading sports-related injury prevention and treatment programs. From professional, collegiate, and high school competitors to those who simply want to stay fit, Norton Sports Health provides advanced care for athletes and active individuals of all ages. The Norton Sports Health specialists have expertise in minimally invasive procedures and advanced surgical techniques that allow patients to return to their sport, activity, or job with minimal downtime. In addition to treating sports injuries, these specialists are involved in research to gain a better understanding of why athletes become injured. The Norton Sports Health team consists of a diverse group of highly trained sports medicine specialists who work together to design customized programs to meet each patient’s specific needs. The team includes orthopedic surgeons, fellowship-trained nonsurgical sports medicine physicians, a sports neurologist, certified athletic trainers, nurses, a performance dietitian, a licensed clinical social worker, an administrative team, and certified strength and conditioning coaches. Norton Sports Health is the official sports health provider for many local high school and college sports teams. More information is available at www.nortonsportshealth.com.

KORT Physical Therapy
Kort Physical Therapy is Kentucky's premier provider of outpatient physical and occupational therapy services, specializing in orthopedics, sports medicine, and specialized rehabilitation. For decades, KORT has provided compassionate, cutting-edge care to help patients and athletes across the region return to peak physical health and performance.