220. Building Confidence That Lasts: Strategies Every Dancer Needs

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea discusses the delicate balance coaches need to create a goal-driven culture that promotes success without causing stress and burnout. She covers pitfalls of an outcome-focused culture, the importance of the type of goal you set, and advice for preventing burnout. Dr. Chelsea offers five practical strategies to maintain dancer motivation and wellbeing, including balancing outcome and process goals, prioritizing autonomy, celebrating small wins, normalizing rest, and modeling healthy ambition. She also highlights red flags that indicate a team might be slipping towards burnout and offers actionable steps to shift the culture towards a more positive and sustainable environment.   New to the show? Check out the Podcast Quiz to find out which episodes would be most helpful for you to listen to right now.   Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/221   Episode Breakdown: 01:19 The Challenge of Balancing Goals and Wellbeing 03:00 Understanding Goal-Driven Culture 04:37 Types of Goals and Their Impact 06:45 Strategies for Healthy Goal-Driven Culture 10:41 Recognizing Burnout and Perfectionism 12:47 Practical Takeaways for Coaches  

Are you ready to break the cycle of self-doubt and build lasting confidence? In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea reveals the secret to building confidence: the Confidence Loop. Discover why confidence isn’t something you’re born with, but a skill you can build every day through consistent effort, preparation, and self-trust. Whether you’re struggling with inconsistency or looking for actionable strategies to boost your confidence, this episode is packed with research-backed insights and practical tips you can use right away. Grab your Competition Confidence Checklist: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/checklist Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/220 Episode Breakdown: 00:00 – Introduction & why confidence matters 01:35 – The Confidence Loop explained 04:27 – Research-backed keys to building confidence 07:03 – How inconsistency affects your confidence 08:24 – Tangible ways to practice and grow your confidence 11:00 – Weekly challenge to fuel your confidence loop  

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea explores the importance of trust in building a positive dance team culture. She highlights five common trust breakers—playing favorites, not listening, inconsistency, competing instead of collaborating, and gossiping—that can undermine team dynamics. Offering actionable strategies, Dr. Chelsea emphasizes the importance of addressing trust issues promptly, revisiting team agreements, and fostering psychological safety. By identifying and mitigating these trust-destroying behaviors, dancers and coaches can cultivate a more cohesive and successful team. Additional resources, including a mental skills bundle, are available to help you get started.   Grab the Dance Coach Mental Skills Bundle: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/mentalskills   Other podcast resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/219   Episode Breakdown: 00:33 The Importance of Trust in Dance Teams 01:38 Identifying Trust Breakers 04:07 Common Trust Breakers in Dance Teams 08:14 Rebuilding Trust in Your Team 11:18 Final Thoughts and Resources

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea hosts Jason Pickett, a distinguished dance teacher, choreographer, and founder of No Starving Artists. They discuss their shared love for teaching, the evolving landscape of college dance, and the importance of individualism and improvisation in dancer development. Jason delves into the business side of dance, advocating for a collaborative and transparent approach to foster sustainable careers for artists. He also shares valuable insights on awareness, confidence, and the critical role of mental skills in a dancer's success. Listen in for  practical advice for dance educators and aspiring professionals to build confidence in the studio and on stage.   Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/219   New Listener Resource: https://passionfordancepodcast.com   Connect with Jason Pickett:  https://www.instagram.com/heyitspickett/ https://nsadance.com/   Episode Breakdown 00:09 Introducing Jason Pickett 01:30 Jason's Dance Journey 03:00 The Role of Teaching in Dance 05:05 The Impact of Filming Dance Classes 10:35 Challenges in Modern Dance Education 16:33 The Importance of Individualism and Improvisation 19:46 Awareness and Adaptability in Dance 24:17 The Struggle with Comparison 25:54 Building Individuality and Confidence 30:37 Teaching Awareness 32:40 Career Advice for Young Dancers 33:43 Making Decisions and Embracing Failure 39:01 The No Starving Artists Ethos 44:14 Lessons Learned from Dance    

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea explores the top five life skills dancers develop and how these skills transfer to other areas of life. She delves into emotional regulation, leadership and self-control, grit, communication and respect, and responsibility and time management. Dr. Chelsea offers practical advice for dancers and coaches to implement these skills outside the dance studio. Tune in to learn actionable strategies for applying your dance-based skills to enhance your personal growth, relationships, and professional success.   Leave a message: Because of dance, I… https://passionfordancepodcast.com/voicemail   Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/217   Time Management Episode with Kelly Noaln: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/171   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Welcome to Passion for Dance 00:52 Five Life Skills Learned Through Dance 02:58 Emotional Regulation: Staying Calm Under Pressure 05:15 Leadership and Self-Control: Influencing with Grace 07:10 Grit: The Power of Perseverance 08:50 Communication and Respect: Building Strong Teams 10:21 Responsibility and Time Management: Balancing It All 12:40 Recap and Reflection: Life Skills Beyond Dance 13:53 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps  

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea discusses common mental traps that hinder dancers' progress and success. Delving into traps like comparison, waiting for confidence, outcome-only goals, and injury identity, she provides actionable mental skills tools to help dancers shift their mindset and regain control. Learn how journaling, taking action, setting process goals, and rewriting your identity can foster confidence, growth, and joy in your dance journey.    Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/216   Download the Competition Confidence Checklist: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/checklist   Leave Dr. Chelsea a Voicenote: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/voicemail   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction to Mental Traps in Dance 01:48 Understanding the Comparison Trap 03:38 Overcoming the Confidence Barrier 05:31 Focusing Beyond Outcome Goals 08:12 Redefining Your Identity Post-Injury 09:51 Conclusion and Recap

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 listeners to share their progress. Challenge yourself this summer and try integrating reflection into your routine.   Grab your New Listener Resource Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/215   Episode Breakdown: 00:25 The Importance of Reflection for Dancers 01:52 Science-Backed Benefits of Reflection 03:35 Practical Tools for Personal Reflection 04:06 Post-Event Reflection Tool 06:52 Personal Growth Journal 07:57 SWOT Analysis for Dancers 10:38 Collaborative Reflection with Coaches and Peers 11:25 Tips for Maintaining a Reflection Practice 12:56 Final Thoughts and Encouragement  

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 strategies for dealing with inner critics and boosting confidence. Additionally, she gives a sneak peek into her upcoming book 'The Anatomy of Art: Unlocking the Creative Process for Theater and Dance.' This episode is packed with insights for dancers looking to cultivate a successful and authentic dance career.   Connect with Alexandra Beller and her book 'The Anatomy of Art: Unlocking the Creative Process for Theater and Dance’ : https://www.alexandrabellerdances.org https://www.instagram.com/alexandrabellerdances/ Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/214   Episode Breakdown: 01:14 Meet Alexandra Bellar 03:22 Navigating Transitions and Choices in Your Dance Career  16:18 The Importance of Body Awareness and Authenticity 24:24 Handling the Inner Critic and Building Confidence 39:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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 compassion in our training.   Learn More About Body Traffic: https://www.bodytraffic.com/   Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/213   Episode Breakdown 00:09 Introducing Julie Opiel and Body Traffic 01:36 Julie's Dance Journey 02:50 Overcoming Career Challenges 07:41 The Importance of Teaching Beginners 11:40 Finding Passion and Motivation 16:04 The Power of Community in Dance 17:33 Measuring Growth in Dance 19:34 Empowering Dancers with Leadership Opportunities 21:14 The Whole Dancer Concept 24:36 Balancing Rigor and Compassion in Dance 30:09 Practical Curriculum for Whole Dancer Approach 35:54 Advice for Dance Educators 38:16 Conclusion and Resources  

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 advice for dancers seeking to build confidence and cultivate a supportive learning environment.   Connect with Lesley: https://lesleylogan.co/ https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/ https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses   Try Lesley's Free Class: Full Body in 15   Other Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/212   Episode Breakdown: 01:41 Meet Lesley Logan: From Athlete to Pilates Instructor 03:30 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 06:13 The Importance of Being a Beginner 09:06 Building Confidence Through Action 23:11 Mind-Body Connection in Pilates and Dance 26:16 Adapting Self-Care to Your Body's Needs 26:38 The Importance of Mind-Body Connection for Dancers 27:01 Learning Through Feeling, Not Just Seeing 32:40 Understanding and Overcoming Fear in Learning 38:35 Effective Teaching Strategies for Dance Instructors 45:53 Starting a Pilates Practice for Dancers 47:41 Where to Find More Resources and Classes