Passion for Dance
Dr Chelsea Pierotti
Dr Chelsea Pierotti
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.
3d ago
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea interviews Monika Seigel, MS, RD, CEDS-C, CDN a registered dietician, nutritionist and certified eating disorder specialist with a background in professional ballet. Monika discusses her holistic approach to nutrition for dancers, emphasizing the importance of a healthy relationship with food and body image. The conversation covers important topics like the impact of social media misinformation, the signs of disordered eating, and the role of educators and parents in fostering a supportive environment. Monika also shares insights from her new book 'Nourishing Dance,' a resource aimed at improving dancer health and wellbeing. Get Monika's Book: https://www.nourishingdance.com Learn more about Monika's workshops: https://msnutrition.com/ Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/233 Episode Breakdown: 00:08 Meet Monika Seigel 00:31 The Role of Nutrition in a Dancer's Life 04:02 Healthy Eating and Relationship with Food 07:25 Challenges and Misinformation in Nutrition 13:55 Guidance for Teachers and Parents 20:48 Understanding Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating 22:15 Common Triggers and Influences 24:31 Early Signs and Intervention 26:21 Behavioral and Physical Indicators 28:57 Supporting a Friend or Peer 30:01 Creating a Supportive Dance Environment 35:07 Positive Changes and Future Goals 38:46 Resources and Final Thoughts
Dec 11
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea speaks with Ashley Mowrey, a mindset coach, former dance teacher, and part of the Embody Dance Conference team. They discuss the mental and emotional challenges dancers face, such as perfectionism, body image issues, and performance anxiety. Ashley shares her journey from being a competitive dancer to becoming a mindset coach, and how her experiences fuel her passion for helping dancers thrive. She explains the unique approaches of the Embody Dance Conference, emphasizing mental health and whole-person training. Listeners will learn about practical strategies to improve self-awareness, emotional regulation, and self-compassion in dance. Embody Dance Conference: https://www.embodydanceconference.com/ Connect with Ashley Mowrey: https://www.ashleymowrey.com/ Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/232 Episode Breakdown: 00:22 Meet Ashley Mowrey: Mindset Coach and Dance Advocate 00:56 Diving into Perfectionism and Mental Health in Dance 02:20 Ashley Mowrey's Dance Journey and Mental Health Struggles 06:07 Addressing Perfectionism and Negative Self-Talk 12:06 Building Self-Awareness and Emotional Regulation 18:57 Supporting Younger Dancers and Body Image Issues 21:38 Embody Dance Conference: A New Approach to Conventions 36:16 Final Thoughts and Life Lessons from Dance 37:22 Conclusion and Contact Information
Dec 4
In this episode of Passion for Dance, host Dr. Chelsea interviews former professional dancer and author Emily Sayre Smith. They delve into Emily's memoir 'Smart Ass Memoir of a Mouthy Girl,' discussing how ballet's lessons of resilience and perseverance profoundly shaped Emily's life. The conversation covers tough themes like overcoming addiction and personal hardships, as well as the transformative power of dance. Emily and Dr. Chelsea reflect on the complexities of ballet culture, the importance of speaking up, and the evolution of ballet's demands and expectations. Emily's journey illustrates how the challenges in ballet prepare dancers to handle life's adversities and underscores the need for the dance industry to continue to evolve. Get Emily's Book - Smartass: Memoir of a Mouthy Girl Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/231 Episode Breakdown: 00:20 Interview with Emily Sayer Smith: Ballet's Life Lessons 00:59 Emily's Personal Journey: Addiction and Resilience 02:02 The Impact of Ballet Culture 06:09 Navigating Challenges and Speaking Up 16:33 Emily's Memoir and Final Thoughts 37:16 Conclusion and Podcast Outro
Nov 20
In this episode, Dr. Chelsea explores the concept of mental toughness in dancers by breaking down the Four C's: Control, Commitment, Challenge, and Confidence. She provides practical strategies for developing these skills to help dancers stay resilient under pressure, maintain motivation, embrace challenges, and build self-belief. Dr. Chelsea also discusses the importance of balancing commitment to avoid burnout and shares exercises to improve emotional and mental control. Competition Confidence Checklist: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/checklist Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/230 More on the 4Cs from the creators: https://aqrinternational.co.uk/ Episode Breakdown: 00:09 Defining Mental Toughness 01:11 The Four C's of Mental Toughness 02:40 Control: Mastering Your Emotions 06:12 Commitment: Staying the Course 09:08 Challenge: Embracing Growth 12:22 Confidence: Believing in Yourself 15:19 Putting It All Together 16:26 Conclusion and Resources
Nov 13
In this special episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea discusses strategies for fostering accountability and work ethic in dance teams with three distinguished coaches—Arianna from Washington, Jenna from Nebraska, and Edwina from New York. Each coach shares her approach to setting high expectations, maintaining motivation, and building a supportive culture where athletes take ownership of their goals. This episode will feel relatable to any dance coach, and will give you actionable strategies you can implement in your next practice. Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/229 Releve: Dance Coach Membership: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/membership Episode Breakdown: 00:17 Meet the Coaches 02:09 Defining Work Ethic 09:41 Establishing Expectations 16:24 Maintaining Motivation 23:30 Accountability Strategies 30:50 Reframing Fun and Goals in Dance 31:32 Coaching Philosophy and Personal Growth 32:52 Demerit and Merit Systems 34:01 Empowering Leadership and Accountability 40:05 Balancing Mental Toughness and Care 42:29 Building Team Culture and Legacy 50:01 Effective Coaching Strategies 57:37 Final Thoughts and Reflections
Nov 6
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea talks about self-compassion in dancers who are usually very hard on themselves. Inspired by a listener's question, the episode explores how treating oneself with kindness can improve performance, enhance resilience, and bolster overall mental health. Dr. Chelsea breaks down the concept of self-compassion into three key areas: self-kindness, mindfulness, and common humanity. She offers actionable strategies like reflective journaling, mindfulness, and visualization to help dancers develop this crucial skill. The episode emphasizes that self-compassion doesn't mean lowering standards but rather supporting oneself through challenges to foster continuous growth and motivation. Coaches and dance educators are also given tips on how to model and integrate self-compassion into their feedback. Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/228 Got an Episode Idea?! Send Dr. Chelsea a message: Voicenote: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/voicemail Written message: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/question Episode Breakdown: 00:59 The Importance of Self-Compassion 02:18 Defining Self-Compassion 02:47 Key Ideas of Self-Compassion 05:00 Why Self-Compassion Matters in Dance 08:23 Developing Self-Compassion 11:06 Tools for Coaches and Teachers 12:32 Conclusion and Takeaways
Oct 23
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea shares a team-building exercise inspired by the children's book 'Have You Filled a Bucket Today?' The activity focuses on fostering connection and kindness among dancers by teaching them to recognize and appreciate positive actions from others. Dr. Chelsea explains the three-step process: identifying what fills their own buckets, acknowledging those who fill their buckets, and learning ways to fill others' buckets. She also provides a free, customizable bucket filling worksheet available at passionfordancepodcast.com/bucket. This exercise is designed to enhance team morale and emotional awareness, promoting a healthier and more supportive dance team culture. Filling Buckets Worksheet: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/bucket Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/227 Episode Breakdown: 00:22 Today's Topic: Bucket Filling 00:38 Understanding the Bucket Concept 02:15 Step-by-Step Guide to Bucket Filling 05:11 The Benefits of Bucket Filling 06:02 Conclusion and Call to Action
Oct 16
In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea discusses the negative impacts of cliques within dance teams and offers strategies to foster a more inclusive team culture. She shares 5 practical strategies with real tools you can implement today. Dance coaches, you can establish a culture where every dancer feels respected, valued, and included, ultimately leading to a more motivated and cohesive team that's a lot more fun dance with. Dance Coach Mental Skills Bundle: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/mentalskills Please Leave a Review! https://passionfordancepodcast.com/rate Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/226 Episode Breakdown: 00:45 Understanding Cliques in Dance Teams 02:18 Building a Team-First Mindset 04:29 Mixing Up Groups to Prevent Cliques 07:23 Fostering Cross-Skill Interactions 09:20 Structured Conversations to Prevent Misunderstandings 10:58 Setting Clear Norms and Rewarding Inclusion 15:02 Conclusion and Additional Resources
