Passion for Dance

By Dr Chelsea Pierotti

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Category: Performing Arts

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Subscribers: 1
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Episodes: 241

Description

You train extensively as a dancer, but what about mental training? Have you ever trained your mental skills like confidence, focus, or resilience? When you tune in to Passion for Dance, that mental training is precisely what you get. You can learn from a sport psychology expert who understands the dance industry and can teach you how to elevate your performance and truly thrive on and off stage. Welcome to Passion for Dance, where your host, Dr. Chelsea, will bring the science of sport psychology into the dance studio. Each week, you will learn actionable strategies and new mindsets to build happier, more successful dancers. Dance teaches us to push through the pain to reach our goals, and we are used to criticism, tears, bleeding toes, and sore muscles. But now, psychological research has taught us more about mental health and resilience than ever before, and it's time to change our industry for the better. Being a dancer teaches us critical life skills, but that doesn't mean we have to suffer before we can build ourselves back up. Dance can teach us self-discipline, teamwork, confidence, grit, and resilience without destroying our self-esteem. The path to personal growth is full of joy, self-discovery, and challenging roadblocks, but we don't have to figure it out alone. This podcast is for all of us to connect, learn, and share our passion for dance with the world.

Episode Date
A Note from Dr. Chelsea & the Future of the Show
Jan 29, 2026
234: Feeling STUCK as a Coach and Navigating Career Transitions
Jan 22, 2026
233. Nourishing Dance: Conversations on Food, Body Image, and Wellness with Monika Saigal
Dec 18, 2025
232. A More Positive Convention Experience: Perfectionism, Confidence & Body Image with Ashley Mowrey
Dec 11, 2025
231. Ballet's Harsh Beauty and the Life Lessons we Learn, with Emily Sayre Smith
Dec 04, 2025
230. How to Be a Mentally Tough Dancer Using The Power of the Four Cs
Nov 20, 2025
229. Cultivating Accountability and Work Ethic in Dance Teams: Insights from 3 Coaches
Nov 13, 2025
228. Self-Compassion in Dance: How to Balance Ambition with Kindness
Nov 06, 2025
227. Filling Buckets: A Simple Team Exercise for Connection and Kindness
Oct 23, 2025
226. Why Your Dance Team Has Cliques and 5 Ways to Handle It
Oct 16, 2025
225. Building Lasting Confidence in Dance: It Takes More than Affirmations
Oct 09, 2025
224. Motivation Vs. Discipline: Winning the Battle Against Procrastination
Oct 02, 2025
223. What High-Achieving Dancers Do Differently
Sep 25, 2025
222. Navigating College Dance Team Recruitment with Abbey Nugent
Sep 18, 2025
221. How to Create a Goal-Driven Culture Without Burning Out Your Dancers
Sep 11, 2025
220. Building Confidence That Lasts: Strategies Every Dancer Needs
Sep 04, 2025
219. 5 Trust Breakers Sabotaging Your Dance Team's Success and How to Fix Them
Aug 28, 2025
218. Building Better Dancers: Cultivating Confidence and Individuality in Dance with Jason Pickett
Aug 21, 2025
217. Beyond the Studio: 5 Life Skills You Learn from Dance
Aug 14, 2025
216. Mental Traps Dancers Fall Into and How to Break Free
Aug 07, 2025
215. Season Reflections: How Dancers Get Mentally Stronger in the Off-Season
Jun 26, 2025
214. Dancing with True Authenticity and Confidence with Choreographer Alexandra Beller
Jun 19, 2025
213. A Professional Dance Company's Whole Dancer Approach: Insights from Julie Opiel at Body Traffic
Jun 12, 2025
212. Embracing the Beginner's Mindset: Lesley Logan on Confidence, Imposter Syndrome, & Positive Habits
Jun 05, 2025
211. Addressing Favoritism in Dance Studios: Strategies for Teachers, Dancers, and Parents
May 29, 2025
210. Rhee Gold on Dance Education, Passion, Adaptability and Business Success
May 22, 2025
209. When it Feels Like You're Not Getting Better and You Don't Know Why
May 15, 2025
208. Using Meditation for Confidence and Competitive Success with Amber Fahey
May 08, 2025
207. When Jealousy Hits the Team: Understanding and Overcoming Teammate Tension
May 01, 2025
206. Building a Successful Dance Team Culture
Apr 24, 2025
205. Redefining Dance Team Leadership: From Captains to Collaborative Roles
Apr 17, 2025
204. From Passion to Profession: Finding Your Career Path with Coach Cheryl Polk
Apr 10, 2025
203. Should We Say "Leave It at the Door" in 2025? New Advice for Building Resilience with Dr Audrey Schnell
Apr 03, 2025
202. Blending Technical Excellence with Emotional Depth in Dance with Anabella Lenzu
Mar 27, 2025
201. Cultivating Optimism as a Teenage Competitive Dancer
Mar 20, 2025
200. The Four Pillars of Dance Excellence: Insights from 200 Episodes
Mar 13, 2025
199. Inside the Dance Industry: Nia Lonette's Path to Success in LA
Mar 06, 2025
198. No Loss, Only Lessons: Redefining Success in Dance
Feb 27, 2025
197. Empathy and Communication: Leadership Lessons with Jared Redick
Feb 20, 2025
196. Emotional Intelligence for Dancers: Part 3 Recovering and Maintaining Balance
Feb 13, 2025
195. Emotional Intelligence for Dancers: Part 2 Handling Negative Emotions
Feb 06, 2025
194. Emotional Intelligence for Dancers: Part 1 Understanding Emotions
Jan 30, 2025
193. Embracing Sensitivity as a Professional Dancer: Bold Advice from Galit Friedlander
Jan 23, 2025
192. Dance in the Moment: Harnessing Mindfulness for Performance Excellence
Jan 16, 2025
191. Overcoming the Comparison Trap
Jan 09, 2025
New in 2025: A Shift in Focus and a New Website!
Jan 02, 2025
190. The Gift of Injury: Lessons from Professional Dancer Hannah Teutscher
Dec 19, 2024
189. Making It as a Professional Dancer: Auditions, Branding, and Career Advice with Justine Menter
Dec 12, 2024
188. Mentally Prepare for Competition with These 6 Mental Skills
Dec 05, 2024
187. Nutcracker Chronicles: Touching Stories and Helpful Advice from Professional Ballerina Janine Kovac
Nov 21, 2024
186. Turning Pressure into Power: Helping Young Dancers Reframe Stress
Nov 14, 2024
185. Helping Our Dancers Mess Up Full Out, with Jennifer Bassage Bonfil
Nov 07, 2024
184. The 3 Daily Habits of Successful Dancers
Oct 31, 2024
183. Exploring Passion, Grit, and the Untold Stories of Corps de Ballet dancers with Dr Ruth Horowitz
Oct 24, 2024
182. How 1% a Day Can Significantly Improve Your Confidence
Oct 17, 2024
181. How Dancers Can Be More Focused and Successful in Class
Oct 10, 2024
180. Dancers: How to Be an Accountable & Positive Leader
Oct 03, 2024
179 When Telling Yourself "I've Got This" Feels Fake
Sep 26, 2024
178. The Dance Scientist Explains Cues for Better Balance and Turns: With Maria Haralambos
Sep 19, 2024
177 Some Dancers are Only Committed When It's Convenient
Sep 12, 2024
176. Shifting the "Tough Love" Narrative in Dance with Demi Agaiby
Sep 05, 2024
175. Confidence Comes from Taking the First Step
Aug 28, 2024
174. Hypermobility Concerns and Care for Dancers with Dr. Linda Bluestein
Aug 22, 2024
173. 3 Strategies to Guarantee Genuine Team Commitment
Aug 15, 2024
172 The Danger of Labeling our Dancers
Aug 11, 2024
171. Realistic Time Management for the Stressed Out Dance Teacher with Kelly Nolan
Aug 01, 2024
170. 4 Reasons Not to Punish with Pushups
Jul 25, 2024
169. Helping Your Dancers Handle Their Emotions Through Journaling with Michelle Leagans
Jul 18, 2024
168. Where to Start with Team Building: 4 Unique Strategies
Jul 11, 2024
167. Creating a High-Performance Environment in Rehearsals
Jul 05, 2024
166. How to Cultivate a Winning Coach-Choreographer Relationship on Your Dance Team with Nick Clement
Jun 27, 2024
165. 3 Reasons NOT to have Dance Team Captains
Jun 20, 2024
164. Are Your Dance Team Leaders Truly Committed?
Jun 14, 2024
163. How to Destroy Team Culture
Jun 06, 2024
162. The Sullivan Twins on Resilience, Pressure, Success and How to Love the Journey
May 30, 2024
161. The NEW Goal Setting Method that Sets You Up for Success
May 23, 2024
DANCER BONUS: Mindset of Effective Goal Setting
May 16, 2024
160. The Achievement Mindset: How Goal Setting Transforms your Performance on Stage
May 16, 2024
159. 3 Things I Wish I Knew About Saying Goodbye to My Dancers
May 09, 2024
158 Success in Dance is 20% Talent 80% Everything Else with Menina Fortunato
May 01, 2024
157. Why Our Dancers Should Celebrate Dance in Every Cutlure with Mickela Mallozzi
Apr 25, 2024
DANCER BONUS: Understanding Mental Health vs. Mental Toughness
Apr 18, 2024
156. Teaching Your Dancers Mental Toughness and How to Take Corrections
Apr 18, 2024
155. Unveiling the Power of Year-End Leadership Interviews
Apr 11, 2024
154: 3 Ways to Teach Mental Toughness to Young Dancers between 5 and 10
Apr 04, 2024
153. How I Plan a Dance Team Season
Mar 28, 2024
152. How to Unleash Your Roaring Resilience with Josephine Lancuba
Mar 21, 2024
151. Dancers: Growth Happens Outside Your Comfort Zone
Mar 14, 2024
150. Kelsey Nelson on Getting Dancers to Train with Fierce Intention, Go Full Out, and Hold Themselves Accountable
Mar 07, 2024
149. Understanding and Managing Your Brain's Alarm Response to Stress
Feb 29, 2024
148. Dancers: If you wan to reach the next level, develop GRIT
Feb 22, 2024
147. Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Praise?
Feb 15, 2024
146. "Dream On" with U of Minnesota Coach Amanda Gaines
Feb 08, 2024
145. To the Coach Who Will Settle for Nothing Less than Personal Perfection
Feb 01, 2024
144. Why Setbacks in Your Goals are Good for You
Jan 25, 2024
143. How Dancers Navigate Disappointment and Learn to Overcome
Jan 18, 2024
142. Team Dynamics: Motivating individual dancers to work together for their dreams
Jan 11, 2024
141. How Dance Teachers Can Find Harmony by Ignoring Work-Life Balance
Dec 21, 2023
140. A Message to Dancers Who are Afraid of Failure
Dec 14, 2023
139. Breaking the Chains of Fear: Empowering Dancers To Get Past a Fear of Failure
Dec 07, 2023
138. Leadership Challenges in Dance Teams: Navigating Lazy, Unmotivated, or Rule-Breaking Leaders
Nov 30, 2023
137. Hardworking Dancers Have Teachers Who Do These 3 Things
Nov 23, 2023
136. The Quick Solution to Prevent Dancers from Choking on Stage
Nov 16, 2023
135. How Authentic Values Help You Make Hard Decisions
Nov 09, 2023
134. The 3 Things In Your Control if You Want to Be Successful
Nov 02, 2023
133. How Dance Teachers Can Turn Comparison into Inspiration
Oct 26, 2023
132. How to Use Your Habit Brain to Reduce the Chances of Devastating Mistakes
Oct 19, 2023
131. The FIRST Mental Skill Your Dancers Need to Learn and Probably Never Did
Oct 12, 2023
130. Mental Skills of Auditioning and Performing in NYC with Courtney Ortiz
Oct 05, 2023
129. How to Break into the Confidence Cycle
Sep 28, 2023
128. My Top Lesson from Hamilton: Plant the Seeds of Your Legacy
Sep 21, 2023
127. Good Dancers Believe in Their Ability to Learn, Not Just Get it Right
Sep 14, 2023
126. The Mental Strength to Return to Dance with Miller Daurey
Sep 07, 2023
125. 8 Mistakes that Will Derail Your Dance Goals and Set You Back
Aug 31, 2023
124. Why Goal Setting Works and Why You Might Be Getting it Wrong
Aug 24, 2023
123. If You Want to Win, Winning Can't Be the Goal
Aug 17, 2023
122. Do Your Dancers have GRIT?
Aug 10, 2023
121. 6 Ways to Teach Accountability
Aug 03, 2023
120. How to Be A Mindful and Supportive Dance Parent
Jul 27, 2023
119. How to Use Summer Reflection to Achieve Your Personal Vision
Jul 20, 2023
118. 4 Mental Toughness Myths That Could Be Holding You Back
Jul 13, 2023
117. I'm Backstage, How Do I Stop My Negative Thoughts?
Jul 06, 2023
116. How to Take Control and Reach Your Personal Best on Stage
Jun 29, 2023
115. Dance Parents are Terrible! But here's how you can cultivate a positive relationship with your dance parents
Jun 22, 2023
114. You Have To Learn How to Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable - with Katie Groven
Jun 15, 2023
113. Don't Just Insist on More Effort From Your Dancers, There Is a Better Way
Jun 08, 2023
112. 7 Tips for Effective Communication Between Coaches and Athletes
Jun 01, 2023
111. 6 Dance Science Experts Share How They Would Change Dance Education
May 25, 2023
110. 5 Practical Tips for Team Building like Creating a 5-Star Practice
May 18, 2023
109. 4 Simple Factors that Influence Your Dance Team's Unity
May 11, 2023
108. The 2 Types of Effective Team Bonding You Need This Summer
May 04, 2023
107. From Fear to Intuition: How to find your own path to success
Apr 20, 2023
106. My Top 10 Worst Coaching Mistakes and What to Do Instead
Apr 13, 2023
105. Why the Best Leaders Always Share the Credit
Apr 06, 2023
104. How to Build Positive Team Culture in Your Studio
Mar 30, 2023
103. 3 Tools to Increase a Dancer's Motivation [Framework Part 3]
Mar 23, 2023
102. 3 Tools to Increase a Dancer's Resilience [Framework Part 2]
Mar 16, 2023
101. 3 Tools to Increase a Dancer's Mental Toughness [Framework Part 1]
Mar 09, 2023
100. Small Moments and the Important People You Share Them With
Mar 02, 2023
99. Confidence Myths You Should Avoid and What to do Instead
Feb 23, 2023
98. How to Strive for Excellence Without Being a Perfectionist
Feb 16, 2023
97. 10 Miracle Benefits of Effective Imagery
Feb 09, 2023
96. Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Next Audition with Caitlin Sloan
Feb 02, 2023
95. Why You Need a Daily Practice Intention for Growth and Focus
Jan 26, 2023
94. My Dancers are Being Lazy and Wont Work Hard, What Do I Do?
Jan 19, 2023
93. Why Setting Goals During Competition Season Can Be Harmful and What to Do Instead
Jan 12, 2023
92. I May Have Failed in 2022 but I'm Finding my Purpose in 2023
Jan 05, 2023
91. How to Feel Happier and Achieve More with Reflection
Dec 15, 2022
90. Why You Shouldn't Tell Your Dancers to Get Out of Their Head
Dec 08, 2022
89. Why Do Human Beings Dance? With Natalie Orr
Dec 01, 2022
88. Why Gratitude Lists Don't Work
Nov 24, 2022
87. How to Flip that Mental Switch from Negative Thoughts to Positive Actions
Nov 17, 2022
86. The Power of Asking the Right Questions with Dr. Noah St. John
Nov 10, 2022
85. Confidence Q&A
Nov 03, 2022
84. University of Kentucky Dance Coach Dawn Walters
Oct 27, 2022
83. [LIVE COACHING] Personal Mindset, Honesty, and Reaching Goals without Pressure
Oct 20, 2022
82: 5 Steps to Cleaning Your Dance Routine While Building Leadership
Oct 13, 2022
81. Increase Joy and Motivation When You Celebrate Small Wins
Oct 06, 2022
80. How To Easily Shut Down Your Brain At Night
Sep 29, 2022
79. Why Genetic Testing Can Be A Valuable Tool For Dancers
Sep 22, 2022
78. 3 Steps to Make Sure You Can Compete in Any Context
Sep 15, 2022
77. How Focused Mental Skills Can Support You After Injury
Sep 08, 2022
76. Functional Nutrition: The Important Advice You Didn't Know You Needed
Sep 01, 2022
75. Toxic Positivity and What To Actually Say Instead
Aug 25, 2022
74. From World Renowned Dancers to Children's Book Authors: Stories of Resilience
Aug 18, 2022
73. "I Can't Do Left" and Other Lies We Tell Ourselves
Aug 11, 2022
72. How To Handle Those Big Life Changes
Aug 04, 2022
71. The Most Important Conversation You Need to Have With Your Assistant Coach
Jul 28, 2022
70. Developing a Confident Dancer Off the Marley (Part 2)
Jul 21, 2022
69. Developing a Confident Dancer Off the Marley (Part 1)
Jul 14, 2022
68. My Teaching Philosophy and How it Changed Me
Jul 07, 2022
67. Finding Your Unique Professional Path with Caroline Liviakis
Jun 30, 2022
66. Supporting Our Dancers' Mental Health
Jun 23, 2022
65. Team Building with Champion All-Star Coach Stephanie Westbrook
Jun 16, 2022
64: 5 Simple Ideas for Continued Personal Growth
Jun 09, 2022
63. When Do I Teach My Dancers About Mental Skills?
Jun 02, 2022
62. How I Plan My Dance Season
May 26, 2022
61. The Positive Coaching Framework
May 19, 2022
60. Do You Know How to Give Tough Love Without Hurting Your Dancers?
May 12, 2022
59. Advice from Passionate Dance Educators Joe Nickel & Michelle Tolson
May 05, 2022
58. Never Regret a Day
Apr 28, 2022
57. How to Prepare your Captain to Become an Influential Leader
Apr 21, 2022
56. 3 Key Qualities of an Effective Dance Team Captain
Apr 14, 2022
55. Coaching Advice Inspired By My Darkest Moments
Apr 07, 2022
54. How to Stay Motivated After Competitive Success
Mar 31, 2022
53. 1 Big Reason Team Conflict Isn't A Bad Thing
Mar 17, 2022
52. The Mindset of a Dance Boss with Erin Pompa
Mar 10, 2022
51. Hard-Working Dancers have Teachers Who Do These 3 Things
Mar 03, 2022
50. My Dance Story and How it Shaped Me: The Birthday Episode!
Feb 24, 2022
49. LSU Tiger Girls: The Coach's Story
Feb 17, 2022
48. Fueling for Competition: Advice from Registered Dietitians Melisa and Yasi of MY Dance Nutrition
Feb 10, 2022
47. Coaching and Mentoring for Professional Dance Teams featuring Sabrina and Amira of the Cultivate Code
Feb 03, 2022
46. Love Languages for Dance Team: How to emotionally connect with your dancers in record time
Jan 27, 2022
45. 5 Mindset Lessons from Dance Team Nationals
Jan 20, 2022
44. Confidently Amplify Your Personal Brand with Sonja McCord
Jan 13, 2022
43. My One Word for 2022 and Why You Should Set One Too
Jan 06, 2022
42. 4 Dance Coaches Share Their Best Mindset Lessons
Dec 10, 2021
41. Developing a Pre-Performance Routine for Confidence
Dec 02, 2021
40. How to Encourage Mental Toughness in our Dancers with Chelsie Hightower
Nov 18, 2021
40. How to Encourage Mental Toughness in our Dancers with Chelsie Hightower
Nov 18, 2021
39. Is Your Passion Making You Better or Weighing You Down?
Nov 11, 2021
38. The Shame of Failing at Work-Life Balance
Nov 04, 2021
37. Why Don't Some Dancers Take Accountability for Their Bad Choices?
Oct 21, 2021
36. The Upside of a Dancer's Stress
Oct 14, 2021
35. How to Win Without Losing Your Soul with Chasta Hamilton
Oct 07, 2021
34. How to Start Journaling with Your Dancers
Sep 30, 2021
33. Why You Shouldn't Tell Tour Dancers to "Leave it at the Door" with Ali Phillips
Sep 23, 2021
32. Why Do I Always Focus on the Negative Side of Things?
Sep 16, 2021
31. Thinking about High School Dance Team Alternates? 5 different perspectives
Sep 09, 2021
30. How to T.A.R.G.E.T. Your Dancers' Motivation
Sep 02, 2021
29. Finding Intention for Your Dance Career with Caitlin Sloan
Aug 26, 2021
28. 3 Mindset Lessons I'm Glad to Take With Me into the 2021 Dance Season
Aug 19, 2021
27. Nutrition and Mindset for the Retired Dancer with Jenny Accettura
Aug 12, 2021
The Confident Dancer Summit
Aug 05, 2021
26. The Cycle of a Dancer's Confidence
Jul 29, 2021
25. Bringing Stats and Analytics to Dance Team - with Erin Manske
Jul 22, 2021
24. The Danger of the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Jul 15, 2021
23. You Don't Have to Punish Your Dancers - The Power of Positive Reinforcement
Jul 08, 2021
22. Accept that Technology Changed Our Gen Z Dancers... Here's what you can do
Jul 01, 2021
21. 7 Proven Steps to a Successful Goal Setting Meeting
Jun 24, 2021
20. Ten Doubts Every Dance Coach Has About the New Season
Jun 17, 2021
19. Mental Toughness, Success, and Confidence with Kelsey Nelson
Jun 10, 2021
18. Want Stronger Dancers? Change Their Mindset
Jun 03, 2021
17. Why You Should Be a Mentor and Have a Mentor at the Same Time
May 27, 2021
16. Ask Chelsea Anything: Motivation, Mindset and More!
May 20, 2021
15. How to Measure Success
May 13, 2021
14. How to Choose the Best Leaders for Your Dance Team
May 06, 2021
13. What is Sport Psychology and How Can It Help Dancers?
Apr 29, 2021
12. What Every Tired Dance Teacher Needs to Know About Burnout
Apr 22, 2021
11. To the Sensitive Dance Coach with an Aching Heart During Tryouts
Apr 15, 2021
10. Uncovering Your Dancer's Strengths with Katie Groven
Apr 08, 2021
9. 5 Specific Strategies to Boost Your Confidence as a Dancer
Apr 01, 2021
8. Mental Toughness Training: How to Overcome Mental Blocks
Mar 25, 2021
7. The Quick Breath Training Solution to Calm a Dancer's Nerves
Mar 18, 2021
6. Want to create a culture of devoted dancers you adore and want to work with?
Mar 11, 2021
5. The simple motivational mindset you need to accept uncertainty
Mar 04, 2021
4. How to make Sure Your Punishments aren't Destroying Your Dancers
Feb 25, 2021
3. Six Steps for Dealing with Sizable Disappointment
Feb 21, 2021
2. How to build resilient dancers who fight
Feb 21, 2021
1. Do you wish you had more motivated dancers?
Feb 18, 2021
Trailer
Feb 18, 2021