215. Season Reflections: How Dancers Get Mentally Stronger in the Off-Season
Release Date: 06/26/2025
233. Nourishing Dance: Conversations on Food, Body Image, and Wellness with Monika Saigal
Passion for Dance
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...
info_outline
232. A More Positive Convention Experience: Perfectionism, Confidence & Body Image with Ashley Mowrey
Passion for Dance
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...
info_outline
231. Ballet’s Harsh Beauty and the Life Lessons we Learn, with Emily Sayre Smith
Passion for Dance
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...
info_outline
230. How to Be a Mentally Tough Dancer Using The Power of the Four Cs
Passion for Dance
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: Episode Resources: More on the 4Cs from the creators: ...
info_outline
229. Cultivating Accountability and Work Ethic in Dance Teams: Insights from 3 Coaches
Passion for Dance
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: Releve: Dance Coach...
info_outline
228. Self-Compassion in Dance: How to Balance Ambition with Kindness
Passion for Dance
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...
info_outline
227. Filling Buckets: A Simple Team Exercise for Connection and Kindness
Passion for Dance
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...
info_outline
226. Why Your Dance Team Has Cliques and 5 Ways to Handle It
Passion for Dance
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: Please Leave a Review! https://passionfordancepodcast.com/rate Episode Resources: ...
info_outline
225. Building Lasting Confidence in Dance: It Takes More than Affirmations
Passion for Dance
In 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 simply repeating affirmations but is grounded in the consistent practice of growth mindset principles through actionable habits. Dr. Chelsea addresses common challenges dancers face, such as overthinking and stage nerves, and offers practical tools to help dancers build confidence. Rate and Review the Podcast! Episode Resources: Episode Breakdown: 00:31 The Truth About Confidence 01:33 From...
info_outline
224. Motivation Vs. Discipline: Winning the Battle Against Procrastination
Passion for Dance
In 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 importance of self-discipline over motivation and introduces 2 practical tools to help you stop procrastinating and see real progress. By following these strategies, dancers can build consistency, confidence, and self-trust. Thank you to our sponsor Apolla Performance: Episode Resources: Episode Breakdown: 00:30 Welcome to Passion for Dance 00:37 Understanding Procrastination 02:42 The Importance...
info_outlineIn 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