In this episode of 'Passion for Dance,' Dr. Chelsea emphasizes the importance of reflection for dancers, especially during the off-season. She provides science-backed tools to help dancers develop self-awareness, mental toughness, and resilience. Dr. Chelsea introduces four practical reflection tools: post-event reflection, personal growth journaling, SWOT analysis, and collaborative reflection with coaches or peers. She also shares tips to make reflection a sustainable habit and invites listene...
Jun 26, 2025•14 min•Ep. 215
In this episode of Passion for Dance, host Dr. Chelsea sits down with accomplished dancer, choreographer, and educator Alexandra Beller. Alexandra shares invaluable advice for dealing with negative self-talk, building body awareness, and fostering authenticity in your performances. She details her journey from being a young dancer to a world-touring professional and celebrated choreographer. Alexandra also discusses the importance of understanding one's creative process and offers practical stra...
Jun 19, 2025•43 min•Ep. 214
In this episode of Passion for Dance, host Dr. Chelsea interviews Julie Opiel, Director of Education and Community Engagement at Body Traffic, an LA-based contemporary dance company. They discuss overcoming career challenges, the importance of community engagement, and the benefits of experienced teachers working with beginners. Julie shares insights on Body Traffic's whole dancer approach, which nurtures dancers as artists and humans, and talks about finding a balance between rigor and compassi...
Jun 12, 2025•39 min•Ep. 213
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea speaks with Lesley Logan, a mindset and breathwork coach, and co-founder of onlinepilatesclasses.com. They discuss the connections between dance and Pilates, emphasizing the importance of mind-body connection, dealing with imposter syndrome, and embracing the beginner mindset. Lesley shares insights from her own journey and offers valuable teaching strategies for addressing varying skill levels in classes. This conversation provides practical adv...
Jun 05, 2025•49 min•Ep. 212
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea tackles the pervasive issue of favoritism in dance studios and teams. She explains what favoritism looks like, why it happens, and how it impacts dancers emotionally and socially. Dr. Chelsea also shares actionable strategies to mitigate favoritism, including advice for teachers on creating a fair and inclusive environment, tips for dancers on how to handle perceived favoritism and seek constructive feedback, and guidance for parents on supportin...
May 29, 2025•17 min•Ep. 211
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea interviews Rhee Gold, an esteemed dance professional with over four decades of experience. Rhee shares his journey, emphasizing the importance of mental toughness, resilience, and staying true to one’s values in the dance industry. He discusses the evolution of his career, the significance of community and passion, and offers practical advice for dance studio owners and teachers on building a successful dance business. The conversation also touch...
May 22, 2025•48 min•Ep. 210
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea discusses the common issue of performance slumps in dancers. She explores the causes, including physical, environmental, and psychological factors, and provides evidence-based strategies for overcoming them. Dr. Chelsea emphasizes the importance of realistic goal setting, maintaining an optimistic mindset, utilizing social support, and employing mental skills like imagery and reflection. Listeners will learn actionable steps to bounce back from a...
May 15, 2025•14 min•Ep. 209
In this episode of 'Passion for Dance,' host Dr. Chelsea talks with high-performance coach Amber Fahey about the benefits of integrating meditation, breath work, and journaling into dance practices. Amber, who has worked with nationally ranked dance teams, shares practical strategies for dancers to maintain focus and confidence during high-pressure moments. They explore specific visualization techniques, breathing exercises, and journaling prompts that can transform a dancer's mental fitness. Am...
May 08, 2025•50 min•Ep. 208
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea addresses jealousy and teammate tension. She discusses the common causes of jealousy, including social relationship threats, competitive environments lacking emotional support, and low self-esteem among dancers. Dr. Chelsea offers three actionable strategies to manage jealousy: fostering deep friendships, creating a positive team culture, and building individual self-esteem. Tune in to learn how to shield yourself from jealous feelings, and handl...
May 01, 2025•13 min•Ep. 207
In this special episode of 'Passion for Dance,' host Dr. Chelsea reveals her proven process for cultivating a dance team with a strong sense of purpose and lasting motivation. Joined by guest Coach Ali James, they discuss setting team values and goals at the beginning of the season and how this practice fosters accountability and peak performance. Coach Ali shares her hands-on experiences in implementing these strategies, including the success of her team's unique 2-1-2 mantra. Dr. Chelsea also ...
Apr 24, 2025•44 min•Ep. 206
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea explores the evolving landscape of leadership within dance teams in both school and studio settings. She highlights how the traditional role of a team captain is changing, with a shift towards shared leadership models where multiple dancers contribute to leadership roles. Dr. Chelsea discusses five key trends in athlete leadership, emphasizing the importance of both formal and informal leaders. This episode is for coaches and studio teachers who ...
Apr 17, 2025•14 min•Ep. 205
In this episode of 'Passion for Dance,' host Dr. Chelsea explores the complexities of choosing a career in the performing arts. Joined by master certified life and career coach Cheryl Polk, they discuss holistic approaches to finding fulfilling careers, practical advice for overcoming limiting beliefs, and the importance of self-discovery and support systems. Cheryl offers insights into transitioning careers, setting life goals, and the unique challenges faced by those pursuing careers in the ar...
Apr 10, 2025•36 min•Ep. 204
In this episode of Passion for Dance, host Dr. Chelsea explores the phrase "leave it at the door" in the dance industry and its relevance in 2025. Joined by guest expert Dr. Audrey Schnell, a psychologist and coach with over 40 years of experience, they discuss handling emotions, building resilience, self-sabotage, and the fine line between pushing oneself and taking necessary breaks. Together, they offer valuable insights on teaching dancers to manage negative emotions without letting them inte...
Apr 03, 2025•44 min•Ep. 203
In this episode, host Dr. Chelsea talks to distinguished dance educator Anabella Lenzu about the shifting focus in the dance community from artistic expression to technical perfection and competitive achievements. Anabella, originally from Argentina and now a teacher in New York City, shares her perspectives on dance education shaped by her multicultural experiences. They explore the importance of incorporating emotional connection in dance training, and how cultural adaptation influences teachi...
Mar 27, 2025•45 min•Ep. 202
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea addresses the growing pessimism among teenage competitive dancers. She emphasizes the importance of optimism for competitive success and mental resilience, differentiating it from toxic positivity. Dr. Chelsea shares practical strategies for cultivating optimism, including self-awareness, positive self-talk, visualization, and gratitude. She also discusses the impact of an optimistic mindset on performance and recovery from setbacks, using real-l...
Mar 20, 2025•14 min•Ep. 201
In this milestone episode, host Dr. Chelsea reflects on 200 episodes of the Passion for Dance podcast, sharing key insights and lessons from the four pillars of the show: mindset, motivation, resilience, and community. She emphasizes the need for emotional regulation, the importance of balancing discipline with empathy, training resilience, and fostering a supportive dance community. Join in to learn actionable strategies for building happier, more successful dancers. Be a guest on the show! htt...
Mar 13, 2025•14 min•Ep. 200
In this episode of Passion for Dance, host Dr. Chelsea is joined by professional dancer Nia Lonette. The two dive into Nia's journey from Maryland to becoming an acclaimed dancer in LA, featuring her work with prominent artists and appearances at major events like the Grammys. Nia shares valuable tips on handling nerves, staying present in auditions, managing negative thoughts in class, and preparing for a move to LA. They also discuss elements from Nia's new book, 'Industry Survival Guide,' whi...
Mar 06, 2025•43 min•Ep. 199
Dr. Chelsea tackles the challenges dancers face during the intense competition season including losing and offers valuable insights into three aspects worse than losing: regret, blame, and lack of improvement. Dr. Chelsea shares personal stories and actionable strategies to help dancers and educators focus on growth, accountability, and effort, redefining success beyond competitive outcomes. Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/198 NEW TO THE SHOW?! Check out this New Listener R...
Feb 27, 2025•14 min•Ep. 198
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea speaks with Jared Redick, a third-generation professional ballet dancer and current Dean at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Mr Redick shares his extensive dance journey and expertise as a leader in the dance community offering valuable insights on the balance between hard work and discipline. He also shares his approach to leadership in dance education, emphasizing empathy, communication, and individualized goal setting to bu...
Feb 20, 2025•43 min•Ep. 197
In the third installment of 'Emotional Intelligence for Dancers,' Dr. Chelsea delves into coping strategies for managing emotions over the long term, helping dancers recover from disappointment and frustration. She emphasizes the importance of reflection, after-action reviews, and maintaining a balance outside of dance. Practical tips include journaling, non-screen relaxation routines, and ensuring physical wellness. Dr. Chelsea advocates for the integration of these practices to foster resilien...
Feb 13, 2025•14 min•Ep. 196
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea continues her series on emotional intelligence for dancers, focusing on strategies for managing negative emotions. She provides five proactive techniques including mindfulness, building a support system, practicing gratitude and self-affirmations, simulating high-pressure situations, and developing a pre-performance routine. Additionally, Dr. Chelsea offers in-the-moment tips for dealing with negative emotions during performances and stresses the...
Feb 06, 2025•13 min•Ep. 195
In this episode of 'Passion for Dance,' Dr. Chelsea, discusses how emotions impact a dancer’s ability to focus, move, and connect with the audience. With competition season in full swing, she delves into the importance of understanding and identifying both positive and negative emotions. Dr. Chelsea explores how emotions like anxiety, frustration, and determination can affect performance, concentration, movement quality, and authenticity on stage. This is part one of a two-part series, so tune i...
Jan 30, 2025•15 min•Ep. 194
In this episode, guest artist Galit Friedlander shares her personal dance journey from starting her professional career as a young teen to working as an assistant choreographer for Prince. She discusses the impact of being highly sensitive and empathetic as a dancer and a teacher, the importance of creating positive energy in rehearsals, and strategies for maintaining professionalism. Galit also provides advice from her experiences interviewing successful dancers on the 'DanceSpeak' podcast, emp...
Jan 23, 2025•41 min•Ep. 193
In this episode of Dr. Chelsea delves into the benefits of mindfulness for dancers. She clarifies the difference between mindfulness and meditation and discusses how mindfulness can improve both mental well-being and dance performance. Dr. Chelsea offers practical mindfulness exercises, while emphasizing the importance of being present and non-judgmental. She also shares resources for new listeners and encourages the dance community to explore mindfulness as a tool to regulate emotions, improve ...
Jan 16, 2025•14 min•Ep. 192
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea addresses the common struggle dancers face with comparison. From defining why we compare ourselves to others to exploring its psychological impacts, Dr. Chelsea provides a deep dive into this common challenge. She discusses four main reasons we compare, how it affects dancers' confidence and mental health, and shares actionable strategies to shift from comparison to personal growth. Listeners can learn to identify their comparison triggers, set p...
Jan 09, 2025•15 min•Ep. 191
Dr. Chelsea announces updates for the Passion for Dance podcast in 2025, including a slight shift in focus towards more dancer-focused episodes while maintaining content for dance educators and coaches. There's also a new website: PassionForDancePodcast.com , for easier access to episode resources, notes, and player links. Thank you for sharing your passion for dance with the world!
Jan 02, 2025•4 min
Would you want to know that your last time onstage was the last time? Would that knowledge bring closure or would it be too difficult to perform if you knew it was your last time? My guest in today’s episode was a professional dancer who battled serious injuries throughout her long career, and she's here today to share some incredible words of wisdom for dealing with injury, finding a purpose again, and how she handled it when it was suddenly her last chance to perform. Hannah Teutscher, whose p...
Dec 19, 2024•37 min•Ep. 190
Today’s episode is all about making it as a professional dancer. My guest, Justine Menter, has over 15 years of experience in LA's entertainment industry as a choreographer, educator, and entrepreneur. She hosts her own podcast, Dance Careers Unfiltered, and she's the founder of MNTR MGMT, career coaching for dance artists. Justine has so much insight into what it takes to make it as a professional. In this episode, she shares the pros and cons of being a freelance dancer, how she works through ...
Dec 12, 2024•41 min•Ep. 189
We are entering the thick of dance competition season where dancers start to feel more pressure and there are some big wins and some very hard days. Dancers who train their mental skills are not only able to increase their chances of success onstage but they also can use those mental skills to help reach the demands of their training schedules. If you want to be more resilient in the hard days and enjoy the wins along the way, mental skills can help. In today’s episode, I'll be sharing the six m...
Dec 05, 2024•13 min•Ep. 188
It's Nutcracker season, and today I want to pull back the curtain on what life is really like as a professional ballet dancer. My guest today is Janine Kovac who was a professional dancer for 12 years in Iceland, Italy, San Francisco, and her hometown in El Paso, Texas. In today’s episode, Janine and I talk about how you can take whatever role you're given in the ballet, even if it's not your favorite, and truly make it your own. She shares her pre-performance ritual as a professional dancer, wh...
Nov 21, 2024•45 min•Ep. 187
