For dancers, pain is a familiar companion. Aches, soreness, and the constant push through discomfort are part of the pursuit of artistry. But there is a delicate balance between the “good pain” of training and the “bad pain” that signals something deeper. For Lauren and Margot, both company dancers with Newport Contemporary Ballet, that line became painfully clear when, at separate times in their careers, hip pain began to interrupt not just their work—but their lives.
When Pain Becomes More Than Just Pain
Margot Aknin’s hip pain crept in quietly, building over the course of a month. At first, she could ignore it. But when it began waking her at night and made sitting unbearable, she knew something was wrong.
“It was when I started waking up at night in pain that was sort of a telltale sign of something wrong in the joint,” Margot said.
A quick search online pointed to a labral tear—an injury common among ballet dancers due to extreme turnout, rotation, and extension.
At the suggestion of fellow company dancer, Lauren Difede, Margot sought the help of Dr. Ramin Tabaddor, a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon and hip specialist at University Orthopedics.
“As a ballet dancer specifically, the ranges of motion that they get into are so extreme that it puts so much stress on the structures inside the hip joint. So, it’s actually very common for ballet dancers to have this type of tear in their joint,” Dr. Tabaddor said.
Finding the Right Surgeon
A few years before Margot’s injury, Lauren experienced a similar path. What she first thought was muscular groin pain soon escalated into stabbing, constant discomfort. “I couldn’t sit. I couldn’t sleep. Everything hurt.”
Lauren immediately knew Dr. Tabaddor, a specialist highly regarded for his work with Boston Ballet dancers and gymnasts, was the clear choice for her, citing his calm demeanor, attention to detail, and deep understanding of the extreme demands of ballet.
“For a surgeon working on such an important joint for my career, it mattered that he understood not just stability, but turnout, rotation, and high extensions,” Lauren said. “I didn’t feel like I needed a second opinion. I knew he was the one.”
“This is potentially a career-ending injury,” Dr. Tabaddor said. “We wanted to make sure Lauren could extend her career as long as possible. Surgery gave her that chance.”
A Delayed Appointment and a Surprising Connection
Despite encouragement from Lauren, Margot waited several months before seeing Dr. Tabaddor—and by then, she had developed a stress fracture in her opposite foot. As she hobbled into the office in a walking boot, he took one look and said, “You know that’s totally related, right?”
“I felt so seen,” she laughed. “He just got it.”
Soon after, she too made the decision to undergo surgery.
Hip Arthroscopy: A Small Procedure With a Big Impact
Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure using a small camera and tiny instruments to repair damage within the hip joint. Though just “two little poke holes” on the outside, the impact on a dancer’s ability to move freely is profound.
Recovery is gradual: slow and careful at first, then progressing rapidly toward the end. Most patients return to full activity within four to six months—and both Lauren and Margot were well on their way by month five.
“I came off crutches in a week,” Lauren said. “Then it was about rebuilding strength, retraining turnout, and getting the muscles to communicate again.”
More Than Physical Healing
Both dancers spoke about the emotional component of injury—a subject often overlooked.
“You’re going to have injuries,” Margot tells her students. “Feel the sadness of what you’re missing, but then shift your focus to recovery and how much stronger you can come back.”
Their resilience paid off. Returning to the studio, Lauren noticed something surprising: “My right hip felt rejuvenated—like I’d gone back 10 years.”
A Full-Circle Moment
Some patients are unforgettable, and for Dr. Tabaddor, Lauren and Margot are among them. Their positivity and drive left an impression—and their invitation for him to attend The Nutcracker meant the world.
“To see them doing what we worked so hard to get them back to—it’s incredibly meaningful,” he said.
For the dancers, having him in the audience symbolized just how far they’d come.
“Thank you for your directness, your patience, and for listening to us,” Lauren said.
“And thank you for giving us the confidence to return to dancing,” Margo added.