Libsyn Directory

222. Navigating College Dance Team Recruitment with Abbey Nugent

Release Date: 09/18/2025

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...

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...

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...

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: ...

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...

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...

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...

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: ...

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...

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...

More Episodes

In 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 teacher and coach, offers valuable advice on preparing recruitment videos, effective communication with coaches, choosing the right program, and more. The episode also emphasizes the importance of transparency and resilience in the recruitment process, providing listeners with actionable insights to achieve their college dance team dreams.

Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/222

Connect with Abbey and Studio 2 Stadium!

https://studio2stadium.com/

https://www.instagram.com/studio2stadium_/

https://www.tiktok.com/@studio2stadium

Episode Breakdown:

00:15 Introducing Abbey Nugent and Studio 2 Stadium

01:42 Abbey's Dance Journey and the Birth of Studio 2 Stadium

02:34 How Studio 2 Stadium Works

05:52 The Changing Landscape of College Dance Recruitment

08:14 Finding the Right College Dance Program

12:29 The Importance of Clinics and Combines