About this podcast
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.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 241 episodes
- A Note from Dr. Chelsea & the Future of the Show · 2 minWhile the show is on hold, you can check out all past 200+ episodes with all of the support and advice you expect from Dr. Chelsea. https://passionfordancepodcast.com If you have…
- 234: Feeling STUCK as a Coach and Navigating Career Transitions · 13 min · Episode 234In this episode of 'Passion for Dance,' Dr. Chelsea delves into career transitions… when do you know it's time for something new? She breaks down five key strategies to help…
- 233. Nourishing Dance: Conversations on Food, Body Image, and Wellness with Monika Saigal · 43 min · Episode 233In 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…
- 232. A More Positive Convention Experience: Perfectionism, Confidence & Body Image with Ashley Mowrey · 38 min · Episode 232In 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…
- 231. Ballet's Harsh Beauty and the Life Lessons we Learn, with Emily Sayre Smith · 38 min · Episode 231In 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…
- 230. How to Be a Mentally Tough Dancer Using The Power of the Four Cs · 18 min · Episode 230In 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…
- 229. Cultivating Accountability and Work Ethic in Dance Teams: Insights from 3 Coaches · 59 min · Episode 229In 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…
- 228. Self-Compassion in Dance: How to Balance Ambition with Kindness · 15 min · Episode 228In 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…
- 227. Filling Buckets: A Simple Team Exercise for Connection and Kindness · 7 min · Episode 227In 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…
- 226. Why Your Dance Team Has Cliques and 5 Ways to Handle It · 16 min · Episode 226In 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…
- 225. Building Lasting Confidence in Dance: It Takes More than Affirmations · 15 min · Episode 225In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea discusses the importance of building real, durable confidence in dancers. She explains that true confidence doesn't come from…
- 224. Motivation Vs. Discipline: Winning the Battle Against Procrastination · 14 min · Episode 224In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea discusses the common issue of procrastination among dancers and offers practical strategies to overcome it. She highlights the…
- 223. What High-Achieving Dancers Do Differently · 13 min · Episode 223In this episode of 'Passion for Dance,' Dr. Chelsea explores the science behind peak performance for dancers, and shares the science-backed tools that help you reach your…
- 222. Navigating College Dance Team Recruitment with Abbey Nugent · 34 min · Episode 222In this episode of Passion for Dance, host Dr. Chelsea discusses the college dance team recruiting process with Abbey Nugent, founder of Studio 2 Stadium. Abbey, a seasoned dance…
- 221. How to Create a Goal-Driven Culture Without Burning Out Your Dancers · 15 minIn 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…
- 220. Building Confidence That Lasts: Strategies Every Dancer Needs · 13 min · Episode 220Are 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…
- 219. 5 Trust Breakers Sabotaging Your Dance Team's Success and How to Fix Them · 13 min · Episode 219In 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…
- 218. Building Better Dancers: Cultivating Confidence and Individuality in Dance with Jason Pickett · 48 min · Episode 218In 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…
- 217. Beyond the Studio: 5 Life Skills You Learn from Dance · 15 min · Episode 217In 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…
- 216. Mental Traps Dancers Fall Into and How to Break Free · 12 min · Episode 216In 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…







