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 tackles the pervasive issue of favoritism in dance studios and teams. She explains what favoritism looks like, why it happens, and how it impacts dancers emotionally and socially. Dr. Chelsea also shares actionable strategies to mitigate favoritism, including advice for teachers on creating a fair and inclusive environment, tips for dancers on how to handle perceived favoritism and seek constructive feedback, and guidance for parents on supporting their children and empowering them to advocate for themselves. Tune in for a comprehensive guide to creating a positive, equitable dance culture.

New Listener Resource

Leave a review or ask a question! https://chelseapierotti.com/211

Episode Breakdown:

00:37 Understanding Favoritism in Dance

01:26 Forms and Impact of Favoritism

06:14 Addressing Favoritism: Strategies for Teachers

07:47 Advice for Dancers and Parents

15:47 Conclusion and Community Engagement

In last week's episode, we talked about the different types of goals and why dance competition goals can actually hurt your motivation. In today's episode, I'm going to add some more info about why goal setting works and how it works, so not only do you understand it better, but you can explain it to your dancers. We'll do a recap on outcome, process, and performance goals as well as discuss the four ways goal setting influences performance.

When you all understand the how and the why, commitment goes up, buy-in goes up, and the process is so much easier. This episode will fill you in on all you need to know about goal setting if you want to see your dancers improve onstage!

Goal Setting Workshops: https://chelseapierotti.com/workshop

Tell me about your goals: https://chelseapierotti.com/message

Other Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/124

Summary: Good goal setting improves confidence, motivation, and your actual performance. To be completely real with you, most people get this wrong. I spend a lot of time helping dancers set goals over the summer, and I hear a lot of goals like, "I want to get stronger this year," or "I want better turns," or "I want to place top ten in my solo at competition." I understand why those are common goals, but none of them are going to actually help motivate a dancer and help them be in a positive mindset.

In today's episode, we'll be talking about the different types of goals you can set to help you achieve your best. This episode is part one of a two-part series about goal setting. If you take goal setting seriously and actually implement these tools, you are bound to be ahead of the game this dance competition season!

Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/123

Grit is in the dancer who works so much harder than the naturally-talented dancer who slides by. Grit is in the dancer who doesn't quit on a new skill and in the dancer who gets back up every time she falls. Even if you're not familiar with this term, you've probably seen it as a coach and a teacher.

In today's episode, we'll be talking all about this mental skill of grit. We'll discuss the two key areas of grit: passion and persistence. We'll also touch on an equation for achievement, talent, effort, and skill. I believe we can teach our dancers to have more grit because no matter how much talent they start with, we have to help them take it as far as they can go!

Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/122

In today's episode, I'll be tackling one of the biggest issues I hear about all summer: accountability. I hear from teachers and coaches who feel like it's gotten so much harder to get their dancers to follow through on expectations lately. I hear from dancers whenever we talk about team values, talk about how much they need more accountability, responsibility, and self-discipline on their teams. Having accountability on a team is like collected self-discipline. It's when everyone is doing their part and holding every other dancer to the same expectation.

If both dancers and teachers want more but it's not happening, how do you teach accountability? Well, I've got you covered! In this episode, we'll define accountability and discuss six ways you can teach accountability to your dancers to help develop the self-discipline that will in turn lead to teamwork.

Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/121

In today's episode, I am back with Dr. Megan Babkes-Stellino to answer some of your questions about dance parents! If you missed part one, pause and go back and listen to Episode 115 (link below!). We had some great feedback and incredible questions come in regarding dealing with dance moms and sport parents that Dr. Megan graciously agreed to come back and share some more insight on.

In this episode, we'll talk about getting our dancers to give full effort and helping dancers and parents understand that effort and ability are not the same thing. You'll also be hearing from two dance teachers who have different assessments of a dancer's ability than the parent does, and how do you deal with that conflict. Dr. Megan will also be sharing the three M's of sport parenting, which you can then share with your dance parents to help create a better working relationship.

Because I like to help make things simpler for you, I took a lot of the great advice that Dr. Megan shared and put it into a download called How to be a Mindful and Supportive Dance Parent. The link is below for you if you want something concrete that you can give to dance parents to start this conversation about how they can be a supportive dance parent!

Download: https://chelseapierotti.com/parents

Other Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/120

Summary: Each year I set a word of intention rather than a New Year's resolution, and I usually stop and do a deep reflection on my intention at the end of the year. Like most of us, I'm always learning and growing, and I've learned if I don't do a deeper reflection in the summer, I usually get off track. That was one of my big reflections from last year.

Today's episode is going to be a mid-year reflection on my word of the year, which is purpose. I'll speak about my word of the year and how I set my vision for the year. I'll also summarize the five ways I wanted to live with more purpose this year. I encourage you to take time to either set your own word for the remainder of the year, or if you already have a word for this year, do a deeper reflection on how this year's word is going for you. I promise that you won't regret time spent in reflection!

Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/119

Summary: If you've ever talked to your dancers about taking the floor with a confident mindset or using visualization before a competition, you probably understand the importance of mental skills training. But do you have any beliefs about mental toughness that are holding you back from your personal best? In my experience, there are four major myths that keep coaches from implementing mental toughness training with their team, even when they know it will be the difference in the team's success.

In today's episode, I'll be discussing these four myths about mental toughness that I've heard around the internet, on social media, when I talk to dance educators, and in workshops that may keep teachers from training their dancers in mental skills. I don't want anything holding you back, so let's make sure these four false beliefs aren't getting in your way.

Episode Resourcees: https://chelseapierotti.com/118

Goal Setting Resource: https://chelseapierotti.com/goals

I was working with a group of dancers recently, and after our discussion about competition mindset, two dancers came up to me and asked, "What do I do if I'm standing backstage about to go on and the negative thoughts are just going crazy? How do I stop it?" Negative self-talk is probably one of the biggest issues that dancers talk to me about. Most dancers understand what negative self-talk is and how it's not helpful, but they can't always stop it from happening.

In today's quick-tip episode, I'm gonna give you one tool to stop the backstage negativity spiral. We'll discuss how to handle backstage nerves, helpful and unhelpful self-talk, taking control of your mind and body, and how to reverse unhelpful thoughts. I'll share a few examples of unhelpful thoughts and walk you through how to reverse them. I hope this gives you a new idea to test out!

Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com117

Leave a message for Dr Chelsea: https://chelseapierotti.com/message

I think we would all love a hack for peak performance, wouldn't we? Peak performance is when you are able to perform at your personal best to reach your full potential. Think of it like reaching your full potential. All of that work you've done in class, all the long practices and drilling routines is worth it, and you perform your personal best when it counts. When you're under pressure, you hit it. While there is no hack for reaching peak performance, if you understand what helps you achieve peak performance, like where it comes from, you can improve your chances of making it happen.

In today's episode, I'll be talking about the concept of peak performance. I'll explain a type of peak performance called clutch state and what to do to help make that clutch performance more likely, that way you can take control and reach your personal best onstage. We'll discuss the six things that lead up to a clutch state, and if you spend time working on these six things, you will be a clutch performer.

Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/116

Leave a voice note for the show: https://chelseapierotti.com/message

Summary: Do you have dance moms and dance dads at your studio or school that drive you completely crazy? I know crazy sport parents can be super challenging, and I've heard coaches say things like, "I love everything about teaching dance except the parents."

In today's episode, we'll be talking all about dance parents with my guest, Dr. Megan Babkes-Stellino. Megan is actually my academic mentor. She was my advisor when I was getting my PhD, and she was the one who encouraged me to research with dancers, which was still relatively new at the time. So much of my love and knowledge for sport psychology came from Megan, and I'm really excited to share her with you. Megan is an expert on sport parents. She has this incredible way of helping us understand where parents are coming from, but also give the coaches and the teachers some practical advice on how to develop positive relationships where those dance parents respect you as the coach but can stay firmly in their lane as the parent.

In the episode, Dr. Megan and I talk about how you can change your parent handbooks for the better, how parents often believe that winning and fun are the same thing, and they also believe that effort can only be seen through trophies and public recognition. Of course, we know better. As you'll hear, we had so much to share that this will actually be part one, and we'll come back with part two soon.

Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/115

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea interviews Rhee Gold, an esteemed dance professional with over four decades of experience. Rhee shares his journey, emphasizing the importance of mental toughness, resilience, and staying true to one's values in the dance industry. He discusses the evolution of his career, the significance of community and passion, and offers practical advice for dance studio owners and teachers on building a successful dance business. The conversation also touches on the challenges and changes in today's dance world, the importance of adaptability, and fostering a supportive environment for all dancers.

Connect with Rhee Gold:

https://rheegold.com

Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/210

Episode Breakdown:

00:07 Meet Rhee Gold: A Dance Industry Pioneer

02:28 Rhee's Early Entrepreneurial Journey

03:03 Building a Dance Business with Mental Toughness

08:49 The Evolution of Dance Competitions

11:03 Creating a Legacy and Community in Dance

15:41 Adapting to Modern Dance Education Challenges

18:54 Fostering a Positive Studio Culture

23:06 Reflecting on Personal and Business Values

26:21 The Magazine Business and Instincts

27:10 Trusting Your Instincts in Business

30:42 Adapting to Change and Avoiding Burnout

32:26 Balancing Family and Business

35:49 Defining Success and Overcoming Challenges

44:07 Final Thoughts and Advice

Summary: Do your dancers have the growth mindset it takes to really push themselves to improve? In today's episode, I'll be talking with the one and only Katie Groven of Dancer-Fitness.com about all things mental and physical flexibility for dancers. Katie was one of the first guests on the show way back in episode ten, and we both believe in challenging our dancers to be the best they can be while giving them the tools they need to achieve it.

In this conversation, Katie and I talk about the idea of getting comfortable being uncomfortable, because if you want to see growth, both in your physical skills and in your mental toughness, you have to learn to push your own boundaries. We also share theories for why dancers might cheat and roll out of dance warm-up stretches and what you can do about it, and stick around for the end where we share advice for how to challenge your dancers, both mentally and physically, so they learn to dig deep and really put in the work for themselves.

Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/114

Summary: When we think our dancers are being lazy or don't care, we tend to yell for full out and push for more energy because we assume the dancers aren't giving us their full effort. But what actually is effort? How do you know what someone else's 100% effort actually looks like?

Today's episode was inspired by Coach Alaina who sent me a voice note that really got me thinking. In the episode, we'll talk about effort, what full out really means, and how to help your dancers give more effort in practice. We'll also dive into answering what's really going on when your dancers appear to be lacking effort. If you have a topic you want to hear discussed on the show, please leave me a voice note at https://chelseapierotti.com/message!

Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/113

Summary: Healthy communication with our dancers starts with us dance coaches and teachers. We're the role models for how we want to communicate in our programs and our studios and our teams. We establish the rules and expectations for how to talk to each other and what healthy communication looks like. Good communication can improve motivation, can help dancers be more resilient, and can put them in the right mindset to persevere and have fun.

In today's episode, we're diving into the importance of effective communication, which is a huge topic both in its complexity and importance. I'll be talking about effective communication strategies and will give you seven distinct ways to communicate effectively from coach to athlete or teacher to dancer. As I always say, your language matters, so how you communicate to your dancers can make a huge impact in their lives.

Check out resources for this episode and more at https://chelseapierotti.com/112

Today's episode is an epic collaboration of six dance specialists and dance business owners. It's a re-release of an episode of my friend Jeanne's podcast, The Feis Fit Podcast. We all got together to record for her show, and she graciously gave me permission to release the episode here as well!

In this episode, you'll hear from Jeanne and I plus two other personal trainers you may know, Kendall and Katie, plus nutritionist Jenny, and Nina, an athletic trainer. We'll be talking about the best parts of our time as dancers, the biggest challenges, the life lessons we learned from dance. For those of you who are dance educators, I think you'll really like the part where we talk about what we would have changed about our own dance education, knowing what we know now about training, nutrition, dance science, dance medicine, and mental health.

Hearing how each of us approach this question differently was really interesting and definitely makes me rethink education in our industry right now. Even though we don't explicitly talk about it, listening back to this, I think it is really interesting how each of the six of us have created a career based in the dance industry and now have thriving businesses that allow us to use our expertise and continue to work with dancers through our dance science jobs.

Find out more on the episode resource page: https://chelseapierotti.com/111

Summary: Today's episode is part three of a three-part series on team building. In the first two episodes of the series, we talked about the two different types of cohesion that your dancers are striving for, and we covered the four different factors that influence your ability to bond and be aware of those important factors you may not be able to change but are still impacting your dancers' ability to form a strong connection.

In this episode, I'll be covering five specific strategies you can use to increase cohesion. I hope hearing more about the different types of cohesion and different aspects of a team that influence cohesion is all helpful to set the stage, but I also know sometimes we just need the practical advice, so if you're looking for a more practical approach, this episode is all for you!

If you'd like more specifics on exactly the kinds of team building activities you can play to create a united team, I have a free download that'll help with that. I know many of us are always looking for new and different ideas, so this download has 15 different team bonding games you can use with your dancers. If you'd like to see team bonding benefits play out with your dancers, go to www.chelseapierotti.com/110 to get your download.

Summary: Establishing cohesion and unity among a group of dancers is an ongoing process, and anyone who's been a teacher or a coach for more than one year will probably tell you every group is different. One big reason why each group is different is because there are four factors that influence your ability to create a cohesive group, and those factors will change with every group of dancers. 

Today's episode is part two of a three-part series on team building. In this episode, I'll explain those four factors and help you understand what it takes to create a cohesive team. I'll also answer the question of why some groups have an easier time working together and getting along compared to others. We know a more cohesive group of dancers is bound to be happier and more successful when they're on stage, plus it's a lot more fun to teach and coach a group of dancers who are one solid unit.

If you'd like more specifics on exactly the kinds of team building activities you can play to create a united team, I have a free download that'll help with that. I know many of us are always looking for new and different ideas, so this download has 15 different team bonding games you can use with your dancers. If you'd like to see team bonding benefits play out with your dancers, go to www.chelseapierotti.com/109 to get your download!

Team Bonding Series Part 1

Summary: Did you know there are two types of team bonding? I know many coaches believe that if dancers spend time together, both in and out of practice, they will bond. However, if you're not strategic about this, your team bonding activities will stay very surface level. Unless you encourage your dancers to learn to truly trust each other, they won't be able to get in the trenches and work together when it matters most later in the season. So, this episode kicks off part one of a three-part series on team bonding!

In this first episode, I'll be talking about what team bonding really is, team bonding benefits, and I'll discuss how to build that strong social culture for your dancers. I'll also clarify the two different types of team bonding (social cohesion and task cohesion) so that you can ensure you're focusing on both as we head into the start of our new seasons.

If you'd like more specifics on exactly the kinds of games you can play, especially around task cohesion, I have a free download that'll help with that. I know many of us are always looking for new and different ideas, so this download has 15 different team bonding games you can use with your dancers. Go to www.chelseapierotti.com/108 to get it!

Summary: As a dancer, are you following someone else's dream or your own? Do you have dreams of becoming a famous professional ballet dancer? Who do you think you need to be in order to be successful in the dance industry?

My guest today is Susanne Puerschel, a former professional ballet dancer and founder of Pointe to Rise, an empowerment society and online business platform for ballerinas and other dancers. Susanne is passionate about moving beyond old beliefs and systems that no longer serve dancers and dance teachers and finding new and better ways of doing things. In this episode, we'll take a look at these questions and talk about breaking down some negative beliefs that are probably not serving you, and instead finding your path to your own dreams. We'll also be talking about the concepts of being a well-rounded dancer and a starving artist, as well as three mindset tools that are helping Susanne that might help you too.

Susanne shares so much wisdom for dancers and artists alike who have big dreams. If you're considering a professional ballet or dance career, or if you're the one helping others along the journey to their professional dance careers, I invite you to listen to this episode! "Anything is possible as long as you believe in it."

Episode Resources:

https://chelseapierotti.com/107

Summary: Whenever an event or a season is coming to a close, I like to think back and notice what went well, what didn't go so well, and what lessons have I learned. As I usually do around this time of year, I was recently reflecting on past seasons. I coached for about 15 years, and so, this time I actually decided to take my reflection all the way back and think about lessons I've learned throughout my time.

In this episode, I'll be sharing with you my top ten mistakes I made as a new coach. We'll dive into these coaching mistakes and talk about what coaches should do, what coaches should not do, and I'll share a few leadership mistake examples. I was a very seasoned coach before I learned to take my own advice, so I hope hearing about my worst coaching mistakes helps spark some ideas for you. If you'd like to share your own lessons learned as a dance educator, I'd love to hear from you and put them together into an episode where I can share teaching and coaching lessons learned! Leave a voice note of your biggest lesson as a dance educator here: www.chelseapierotti.com/message.

Resources:

Episode website: https://chelseapierotti.com/106

Summary: As teachers, studio owners, and coaches, we often don't get credit when things are going well. If our dancers are doing well at competition, they are praised, and rightfully so. If we have a recital that goes off without a hitch, teachers might be praised but the studio owner is rarely recognized outside of the studio. 

I was recently working with a group of studio owners, and I heard from one of them how disheartening it can be when you're giving everything of yourself to your studio and no one seems to notice. That conversation inspired me to share a short message in today's episode about the importance of giving credit to others and how to deal with those negative emotions when you feel like no one notices how hard you're working, along with some leadership tips.

While I believe that passing on the compliment to others is a sign of a strong leader, a lot of times, many leaders also can afford to recognize they're allowed to take a compliment themselves, too. If you think this message might help another dance educator in your life, please share the episode with them. We could all use a little uplifting note now and then, so let's spread that message to other hardworking dance educators who need to hear it!

Resources:

This Episode's Website: http://www.chelseapierotti.com/105

Sign up to my Email List: www.chelseapierotti.com/email 

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea discusses the common issue of performance slumps in dancers. She explores the causes, including physical, environmental, and psychological factors, and provides evidence-based strategies for overcoming them. Dr. Chelsea emphasizes the importance of realistic goal setting, maintaining an optimistic mindset, utilizing social support, and employing mental skills like imagery and reflection. Listeners will learn actionable steps to bounce back from a drop in performance and continue their journey towards becoming happier, more successful dancers.

Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/209

New Listener Resource 

Episode Breakdown:

00:59 Understanding Performance Slumps

03:10 Causes of Performance Slumps

06:02 The Emotional Toll of Slumps

08:00 Overcoming Performance Slumps

11:20 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Building team culture takes hard work. The question is, what must we do in order to actually build a positive team or studio culture with our dancers or how do we turn a negative team culture around?

In today's episode, I'll be interviewing Jennifer Koonce who has been coaching for over 25 years, is a sought-after judge and choreographer, and currently owns a very successful all-star studio in Virginia. In our conversation, Jen shares her perspective on setting boundaries and creating a positive culture in the studio, plus some great ideas about empowering her coaches and how they end practices with The Finisher to boost team morale. Jen also has some great advice on how her coaches and dancers discuss wins and losses in a way that the athletes stay humble but motivated, and stick around for the end for a great idea to incorporate into your end-of-year banquet. If you're looking to learn more about how to build positive team culture, how to turn a negative team into a positive team, and hear a few positive team culture examples, tune into this episode with Jen!

Resources

Episode website: https://chelseapierotti.com/104

Adrenaline Studio's Website: https://www.adrenalinestudionova.com/teachers

Do your dancers get lazy sometimes? Do you not know how to motivate athletes as a coach? If your dancers are lacking motivation, there is something you can do about it!

Welcome to Part Three of my Framework Series. In today's episode, we'll be focusing on the motivation pillar. We'll talk about the three ways you can inspire fierce motivation in your female athletes: team culture, rewards and punishments, and goal setting. These are all tactics for motivating athletes to improve their performance. We'll break down why giving 100 percent 365 days a year is not sustainable, and how to cultivate steady motivation. These three skills we discuss in this episode will help you in motivating lazy athletes when they are having a harder time, because as the coach, there are things in your control that can make a difference in how your dancers show up to classes and practices.

I know these skills are easier said than done, and I want to help you help your dancers learn these skills. If you'd like to learn more about my Mental Skills Workshops, please visit www.chelseapierotti.com/workshop, and you'll see more information on both in-person and virtual options!

Resources

Framework Visual on This Episode's Website: http://www.chelseapierotti.com/103

This episode is part two of the Positive Coaching Framework Series where we'll discuss how to be a dance coach who truly makes a lasting positive impact on your dancers.

If you've been teaching for a while, you might agree with me that today's dancers are different. While there are some positives, being challenged and pushed outside of their comfort zone is more often met with shutting down and closing up rather than rising to the challenge. Being able to rise up to that challenge, though, is a skill of resilience.

In today's episode, we take a look at the resilience pillar where we'll focus on the power of resilience, why resilience is important, and how to build resilience in students and dancers. There are three skills to creating this foundation of emotional resilience that I'll walk you through: learning about emotional strength, learning to respond (not react), and being comfortable with the uncomfortable. As dance educators, I believe we can focus on building resilience in our students by teaching our dancers how to lean into the discomfort of being scared.

I know these skills are easier said than done, and I want to help you help your dancers learn these skills. If you'd like to learn more about my Mental Skills Workshops, please visit www.chelseapierotti.com/workshop, and you'll see more information on both in-person and virtual options.

Resources:

Episode Website: http://www.chelseapierotti.com/102

Summary: You may have heard there are four pillars to the Passion for Dance podcast: mindset, resilience, motivation, and community. All of the episodes revolve around those themes, and I chose that structure because it comes directly from my Positive Coaching Framework. To be a coach with impact, you have to teach your dancers how to have a tough mindset, fierce motivation, and steady resilience, and I believe the best way to accomplish that is with a community next to you. My goal as an educator is always to have a positive impact on the dancers and other teachers that I work with, and it's time I share that with all of you.

This episode is part one of a three-part series where I will show you how to be a dance coach who truly makes a lasting positive impact on your athletes by focusing on those three areas of mindset, motivation, and resilience. In today's episode, we'll start off with the mindset pillar. We break down the three tools of mindset: building confidence, establishing positive self-talk, and Controlling the Controllables. I'll also share a message from a member of the Relevé Membership and dive deeper into the tools available to you inside of the membership.

Resources -

Episode Website: http://www.chelseapierotti.com/101

The Relevé Dance Coach Membership is there to replenish your personal, mental, and emotional energy and help you create dancers who are mentally tough, resilient, and motivated. Join the Relevé Membership here: www.chelseapierotti.com/membership

Submit a question to be answered on the show: www.speakpipe.com/passionfordance

Join my email list here: www.chelseapierotti.com/email

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers

Word of mouth is still the best way the show can grow! If you have a dance friend out there who you think would benefit, please share this episode with them!

Welcome to the 100th episode of the Passion for Dance podcast! In honor of the 100th episode, I wanted to do something special. My passion has become a passion for so many of you who are listening, so thank you for continuing to tune in, listen, and send me all the messages about the podcast and how much it's helped you. It's all about building relationships and I love this community so thank you for being a part of it!

Today's episode is all about those small moments that shape who you are and the special people who are with you when you experience them. I asked a few different people who have been a part of my dance life at different stages to share a little story about a small moment they shared with me and what it meant to them. In the episode, I'll play four messages from these four people and give my honest immediate reaction to them.

I hope you find this interesting, getting a little glimpse into me and the different phases of my life, and I hope this episode encourages you to pause and think about those small moments in your life that have really meant something to you and who was with you during those moments.

Resources:

Episode Website: http://www.chelseapierotti.com/100

Join the Relevé Membership here: www.chelseapierotti.com/membership

Submit a question to be answered on the show: www.speakpipe.com/passionfordance

Join my email list here: www.chelseapierotti.com/email

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers

Word of mouth is still the best way the show can grow! If you have a dance friend out there who you think would benefit, please share this episode with them!

How do we improve our confidence? As teachers and as dancers, building our confidence is a big topic, and there's a lot to it. I chose to tackle this big topic with a fellow mental performance expert by my side. My guest today is a fellow mental performance expert who is also a dance expert, Lauren Ritchie. 

In this episode, we discuss how fake it 'til you make it is a life hack that neither one of us are a big fan of, we bust multiple confidence myths for dancers and dance educators, and we share those concrete tips that you can use for your own confidence or to support your dancers. Enjoy the episode!

Resources:

Episode Website: https://chelseapierotti.com/99

Lauren's website: https://withlauren.ca/

Join the Relevé Membership here: www.chelseapierotti.com/membership

Submit a question to be answered on the show: www.speakpipe.com/passionfordance

Join my email list here: www.chelseapierotti.com/email

Are you a perfectionist? Do you work with perfectionist dancers? I was a perfectionist dancer and a coach, but now I'm a recovering perfectionist. Perfectionism is still a regular battle for me, and it's really common in our dance industry. Dancers are trained to focus on the most minute details. A pinky finger out of place could change the results of a competition - sometimes literally, and sometimes it just feels that way. In this episode, I'll share the root cause of perfectionism, help you recognize your perfectionist dancers and learn how to support them so they can be the best possible dancer. I hope this episode gives you a way to talk about this with your dancers and help them overcome perfectionism.

Resources:

Episode Website: https://chelseapierotti.com/98

Submit a question to be answered on the show: www.speakpipe.com/passionfordance

Join my email list here: www.chelseapierotti.com/email

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers

Word of mouth is still the best way the show can grow! If you have a dance friend out there who you think would benefit, please share this episode with them!

Do your dancers like to close their eyes and visualize their routine before taking the stage? Does visualization help improve sport performance or is it just a popular thing dancers like to do? Did you know that visualization or imagery is not just about picturing yourself doing the dance? There is research that helps explain why it works and why it's worth your time, but it's also not as simple as just picturing yourself. There's much more to it. Today, we'll be discussing visualization. I'll explain what visualization is and share some visualization techniques including nine benefits of using imagery to improve your skills. 

Resources:

Episode website: https://chelseapierotti.com/97

Submit a question to be answered on the show: www.speakpipe.com/passionfordance

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers

Word of mouth is still the best way the show can grow! If you have a dance friend out there who you think would benefit, please share this episode with them!

Dancers, do you feel prepared for your next audition? Do you know what company or school you even want to audition for? Today's episode is for all the dancers out there who are getting ready to audition. Caitlin Sloan of The Brainy Ballerina comes back for this conversation because she is an expert in helping dancers decide which path is right for you and helping you feel prepared for auditions. In this episode, we'll dive into where a dancer should start when you're thinking about auditioning, how you know which company is right for you, and what to do when you have a hard decision to make.

I also wanted to say that this conversation became because of a listener question. So, I want to remind you that you can always submit your own questions, topic ideas, and guest requests. Let me know what you want to hear on the show.

Resources -

Episode Website: https://chelseapierotti.com/96

Work with Caitlin: www.thebrainyballerina.com / thebrainyballerina@gmail.com

Find Caitlin on Social Media: @thebrainyballerina

Listen to Caitlin's First Episode: https://www.chelseapierotti.com/29 

Join my Relevé Membership Here: www.chelseapierotti.com/membership

Submit a question to be answered on the show: www.speakpipe.com/passionfordance

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers

Word of mouth is still the best way the show can grow! If you have a dance friend out there who you think would benefit, please share this episode with them!

Summary:  The word "intention" is becoming a bit of a buzzword. There are so many influencers and psychologists alike who talk about all of the benefits setting your intention can have on your life, but what about setting an intention for a dance team practice or a ballet class? You can set an intention for the year like I do, or you can set intentions on a micro level for each day, each class, or each practice. These micro-level intentions help both dancers and teachers achieve more focus and structure within their classes. In this episode, I'll cover why intention directs your focus, how it's different from a goal, and how you can use it to have more present and attentive dancers.

I'd also love for you to join me inside the dance coach's membership, Relevé. The community is designed to help you create a team of committed, hard-working dancers that are a pleasure to coach every day. There is a whole vault of all the mental skills resources I've ever made. I make new ones if anything ever comes up that people need, and, plus, the community of all the other coaches who are going through the same thing. I truly believe the community is something special that allows dance coaches like you to find joy and success in coaching. The community is open. We'd love to have you!

Resources -

Join my Relevé Membership Here: www.chelseapierotti.com/membership

Submit a question to be answered on the show: www.speakpipe.com/passionfordance

 Did you enjoy today's episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers

Word of mouth is still the best way the show can grow! If you have a dance friend out there who you think would benefit, please share this episode with them!

In this episode of 'Passion for Dance,' host Dr. Chelsea talks with high-performance coach Amber Fahey about the benefits of integrating meditation, breath work, and journaling into dance practices. Amber, who has worked with nationally ranked dance teams, shares practical strategies for dancers to maintain focus and confidence during high-pressure moments. They explore specific visualization techniques, breathing exercises, and journaling prompts that can transform a dancer's mental fitness. Amber also introduces accessible methods for competitive teams to adopt these practices and shares a guided breathing exercise for confidence and positivity at the end of the episode. Tune in for actionable insights to create happier, more successful dancers.

Connect with Amber:

@shiftwithamber

https://shiftwithamber.com

Episode Breakdown:

00:11 Meet Amber Fahey: Meditation and High Performance Coach

05:53 Understanding Mindfulness vs. Meditation

11:27 Integrating Meditation into Dance Practice

17:08 Mindfulness Techniques for Competitions

25:15 The Power of Visualization in Dance

25:42 Guided Meditation for Competitions

29:12 The Importance of Mental Rehearsal

34:44 Breath Work Techniques for Dancers

39:48 Journaling for Personal Growth

42:06 Mindfulness Programs for Dance Teams

46:11 Confidence and Positivity Guided Meditation

Summary:  It can be difficult to help someone who is not motivated to work hard. Sometimes we feel pressure, as a teacher, to be the complete source of motivation. Motivation is a mental process that initiates or sometimes it sustains an athlete's behavior, but the important part I want to bring your attention to of that definition is that it's a mental process.

In today's episode, I'll be answering a question from a listener, Emily, who is struggling with a lack of motivation in her dancers. I'll also walk you through the three main reasons that motivation drops: fixed mindset, low autonomy, and fear or failure. I'll also talk about how to recalibrate dancers' goals and the difference between protecting dancers' mental health and dancers' mental toughness.

Resources -

Episode Webpage: https://chelseapierotti.com/94

Submit a question to be answered on the show: www.speakpipe.com/passionfordance

Did you enjoy today's episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers

Word of mouth is still the best way the show can grow! If you have a dance friend out there who you think would benefit, please share this episode with them!

 As a coach or a dancer, have you revisited the goals you set over the summer or at the beginning of your season? Have those big goals been on the forefront of your mind as you go to practice every week? There is no time like the present to get razor-focused on your goals!

In January, most people are trying to set big new goals for the year. But for those of us in the dance world, we're usually mid-season right about now, and it may not feel like the right time to set new goals. However, I say it's the perfect time if you take the right steps to do it well. Setting goals now will keep your mindset in the right place, help you be more resilient through this challenging season, and even give you that added motivation.

In today's episode, I'll fill you in on the six principles of a quality goal, how I approach mid-season goals, and I'll also share a free download (linked under "Resources") to guide you through the process. Pause and think about your goals now because there is still time to make them happen!

Resources -

Workbook Download: http://www.chelseapierotti.com/93

Did you enjoy today's episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers

Word of mouth is still the best way the show can grow! If you have a dance friend out there who you think would benefit, please share this episode with them!

Do you set New Year's resolutions or new goals this time of year, or are you like me and go through a reflection process to choose one word for the year that serves as a compass or a guide? While I do think goals can be very powerful when done correctly, I first have to know where my focus is. Because this focus will guide my mindset and help me course correct when I get off track, choosing my one word to focus on each year makes achieving my goals much more likely.

Since this is the first episode of 2023, I'll share about my own reflection process and what happened with last year's word. I'll also share with you how I chose my word for this year and offer some guiding questions and things to consider so you can choose your own word for 2023. My word is what I need in my life right now, and your word will be very different and should reflect what you need. I hope listening to this episode will help you find your own compass for the year. If you take the process seriously, and it's truly connected to you, the impact is incredible.

Once you have your one word for 2023, I'd love to hear about it! Send me a message on Instagram or email me to let me know what you've chosen and why it matters to you.

Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/92

Revisit Episode 43 - My One Word for 2022 And Why You Should Set One Too

Did you enjoy today's episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers

Word of mouth is still the best way the show can grow! If you have a dance friend out there who you think would benefit, please share this episode with them!

Summary: Do you ever pause and reflect on your day or your week as a dance educator or a dancer? The truth is, sitting down with your favorite journal and truly reflecting on the current state of things is a bit of a luxury, but it's one that's more than worth your time because the return is both powerful and verified time and time again in psychological research. Reflection is essential for learning and growth. Taking the time to pause and reflect on what we've learned improves our performance and that includes us as teachers and coaches.

In this episode, we're gonna dig into the mindset strategy of engaging in personal reflection. We're reaching the end of 2022, and New Year's planning and goals are the common theme this time of year, but I don't believe in planning or goal setting at all until you can get through the personal reflection part first. So, by the end of this episode, my hope is that you'll understand why taking time to reflect is worth your precious time, how often to do it, and where to get started. 

As a reminder, there will be no episodes for the next two weeks during the holiday season. A large part of why I do that is for my own deep-dive reflection. So, while I'll be gone for a couple of weeks, I hope you take the time for your own reflection and see what kind of growth you experience with it.

Resources:  https://chelseapierotti.com/91

Did you enjoy today's episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers

Word of mouth is still the best way the show can grow! If you have a dance friend out there who you think would benefit, please share this episode with them!

Summary: Have you heard the saying "get out of your head" when talking about athletes who are anxious for a competition or a performance? Oftentimes, dance teachers will say, "You're overthinking! Just get out of your head," to encourage dancers to be more present and just dance. I get it, but while that's generally good advice, it might not actually be helping your dancers the way you think it does. When you ask a dancer to get out of their head, is that considered mental toughness, is that mindfulness, or is that neither of the two?

In this episode, I'll clarify the difference between mental training and mindfulness, and I'll take you through an explanation of why "getting out of your head" isn't actually the best strategy. I hope this episode helps you understand the differences between the two and walk away with actionable strategies to help strengthen your dancers' mindsets.

Resources -

Did you enjoy today's episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Episode website: https://chelseapierotti.com/90

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers

If mindfulness is something you would like to learn more about, I'd love to hear from you - send me an email or hit me up on Instagram to let me know what you think.

Word of mouth is still the best way the show can grow! If you have a dance friend out there who you think would benefit, please share this episode with them!

Summary: Have you ever had to grieve the loss of your dream even if it was your choice to choose a different path in life? I know I've gone through that, and there were a lot of tears involved. My guest today, Natalie Orr, has been there too, but she turned her dance experience and passions into a coaching business that helps people understand those hard life transitions in a new way. Natalie is an ex-professional dancer, a teacher, and a dance and life coach with a background in dance anthropology. She works with dance teachers who want to break out of the restrictions of how things should be done, overcome perfectionism, and enjoy the dance journey.

 In this episode, Natalie breaks down what dance anthropology is and why music and dance connect us and create such a true sense of community. She also dives into how dance teachers and dancers alike shouldn't let ourselves lose sight of the origins of dance and music in our cultures.

Key Highlights -

[2m 26s] - Natalie's Dance Journey

[11m 35s] - Embracing the New Journey

[16m 49s] - Taking the First Step of Action

[21m 14s] - Natalie's Definition of Dance

[24m 14s] - Dance and Music as Part of Community

[28m 57s] - Natalie's Practical Advice for Dance Educators

Resources -

• Episode webpage: https://chelseapierotti.com/89
• Follow Natalie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliedanza/
• Follow Natalie on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NatalieOrr
• Natalie's Website: https://www.natalieorr.com/

_______

Did you enjoy today's episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers

Summary: Gratitude has become a bit of a buzzword lately with people everywhere telling you to start a gratitude journal, have a gratitude practice every evening, write down the top three things you're grateful for today. Expressing gratitude, either verbally or writing it down, on a regular basis can help rewire your brain. There's an old saying: "You can't live a positive life with a negative mind." However, we have to train for that positive mind, and practicing gratitude is one simple and very powerful way to train your brain to see more positives in your life.

In this episode, we'll focus on how gratitude can deepen our relationships and improve our mindset. I'll be sharing with you a little behind-the-scenes peek at some scientific findings that back up a new way to tap into the power of gratitude. I hope this episode encourages you to think about gratitude in a different way than you have before, especially during Thanksgiving. I hope that this episode serves as a reminder to tell the people in your life when you are grateful for something that they have done or the impact they have made. Happy Thanksgiving!

Key Highlights -

[1m 56s] - Training Your Mind with Gratitude

[3m 32s] - Gratitude is Finding Joy in the Little Things

[4m 20s] - Gratitude Lists 

[5m 59s] - Gratitude Research

[7m 11s] - Gratitude in the Form of a Narrative

[9m 21s] - Gratitude Prompts

Resources -

20 Gratitude Prompts for Dancers: https://www.chelseapierotti.com/88

Did you enjoy today's episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers.

Dr. Huberman's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/huberman-lab/id1545953110?i=1000542687520

Summary: Do you have big goals and dreams for the year, but when it comes to actually put in the work and practice, you find yourself feeling stuck, too tired, and unmotivated to push through? In this episode, we'll be talking about what to do when we need a mental reset as dancers or dance educators. Sometimes we can get stuck in a negative mindset, and we need a way to kick us back into a more productive mood. I will share with you ideas about how my favorite old mantra "control the controllables" isn't just about competition and those big events in our life. It's about all the small things, too. This mantra can help us find the motivation we want to get it all done or even just to show up at rehearsal tonight in a better mental space.

I'll also be sharing more about my membership, Relevé. This membership is all about building a community for dance coaches on the rise, and it's open for new members. I created this membership to help all of the dance coaches out there who want to rise up and make a difference for their team and help them through the new challenges that we've all been facing lately.

Key Highlights -

[1m 49s] - The Dance Coach Membership: Relevé

[2m 38s] - "Control the Controllables"

[4m 10s] - Getting Caught Up in the Negative Thoughts

[5m 30s] - How to Flip the Mental Switch

[5m 50s] - Set Your Intentions

[6m 44s] - Finding Joy in the Small Things

[8m 09s] - Choosing Kindness

[8m 20s] - Listening to Those Around You

[8m 41s] - Having Time for Reflection

[9m 13s] - Being Present in the Moment

[10m 35s] - Taking Action

[14m 09s] - What is In Your Control Today?

Resources -

The Dance Coaching Membership: Relevé - www.chelseapierotti.com/membership

Did you enjoy today's episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers.

Summary:

If you've ever used affirmations with your dancers, this episode introduces a tool for a different way to use them. My guest today is Dr. Noah, a former professional dancer and a peak performance executive mental coach to the stars, who speaks on the power of using AFFORMATIONS instead of affirmations. This might be a subtle change, but it might make a huge difference for you and your dancers.

Dr. Noah danced with the Richmond Ballet, the Boston Ballet, Hartford Ballet and is also a keynote speaker who's famous for helping people and companies take out their head trash and make more money while fulfilling their mission. He teaches his clients about the power of asking the right questions to help plant more positive thought seeds in your brain. Dr. Noah also teaches the Freedom Lifestyle Formula. Tune in to find out more!

Pull Quotes -

Dr. Noah: "So I said, "Wait a second. What if instead of saying statements we don't believe, why don't we just cut out the middleman, go right to the question, and that would instantly change the thought seeds we're planting and, thereby, enable us to change our habits, change our results, and change our life. And I said, "Holy cow. I think I just invented something!" 

Key Highlights -

[2m 40s] - What Getting Your Life Back Means to Dr. Noah

[5m 45s] - The Freedom Lifestyle Formula 

[7m 45s] - To Change Your Life, Change the Thought Seeds You're Planting 

[10m 01s] - Affirmations vs. AFFORMATIONS

[18m 23s] - Advice on Helping our Dancers Believe in Themselves

[26m 13s] - A Starting AFFORMATION

[29m 40s]c- More About Dr. Noah and His Work

Resources -

Dr. Noah's AFFOMRATIONS Method: https://afformations.com/get-afformations-secure

Dr. Noah's Website: https://noahstjohn.com/

AFFORM Wear: https://afformwear.com/

Millionaire AFFORMATIONS Book:  https://millionaireafformations.com/get-millionaire-book-secure

To submit a question, anonymously or not, head to www.chelseapierotti.com/podcast and you'll see a link to submit a question.

Did you enjoy today's episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers.

Summary:

Just imagine you get up on competition day and you are pumped and excited but actually not nervous. You know your dancers are ready to crush it today! Just imagine how good it would feel to know you did everything possible to support your dancers and no one is going to be a deer in headlights when they take stage or fall apart today. You'll be able to just exhale, relax, and enjoy competition day knowing it's all handled. That's truly what I want for all of you.

I put out a call for listeners to send in questions, and I picked two to answer. In this episode, you'll hear from two of our listeners who asked about making sure your new dancers are prepared and making sure we don't end up with that blank stare, panic look at our first event.

I'll also be sharing about my audio course, Confident Dancer Formula. If you're a part of this wonderful community, then I know you take your dancers' mindset seriously and you understand that it could be the thing that makes the difference for your dancers this year. If you know your dancers need some more help with confidence this year and you want to take that little extra step, then listen in and see if this is a good fit for you because saying most dancers struggle with mindset all season, but then they just hope it'll be okay when it's time to take the floor.

Resources -

The Course: The Confident Dancer Formula

To submit a question, anonymously or not, head to www.chelseapierotti.com/podcast and you'll see a link to submit a question.

Did you enjoy today's episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers.

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea addresses jealousy and teammate tension. She discusses the common causes of jealousy, including social relationship threats, competitive environments lacking emotional support, and low self-esteem among dancers. Dr. Chelsea offers three actionable strategies to manage jealousy: fostering deep friendships, creating a positive team culture, and building individual self-esteem. Tune in to learn how to shield yourself from jealous feelings, and handle it when they inevitably come up..

Grab the Confidence Checklist: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/cheklist

Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/207

Episode Breakdown:

00:46 Understanding Jealousy in Dance Teams

01:51 Common Causes of Jealousy

06:37 Strategies to Overcome Jealousy

09:41 Building Self-Esteem and Confidence

11:04 Conclusion and Call to Action

Summary:

We're going back in the archives today with an interview from 2020 with the amazing Dawn Walters of The University of Kentucky Dance Team. Dawn's approach to coaching is so relatable and refreshing. She has such genuine advice and a superpower as a coach. We talk about opening the door for more dancers of different genres and backgrounds to join a big university program. She really led us behind the curtain and shared how she runs practices, how she cleans her routines, and even how her coaching style has changed. She was really open with me when we got into some of the hard stuff and we talked about addressing race in the dance team industry and protecting yourself as a coach from that one angry parent who could tear it all down.

Dawn was a UK cheerleader and dancer, and she started coaching UK in 2009. She has a long list of accomplishments including national titles, starting her own all-star gym, judging for top competitions, and, of course, just impacting so many young lives through her program at The University of Kentucky. I hope this beautiful interview brings you a dose of motivation and inspiration as we head into competition season.

Pull Quotes -

Dawn: "So I'm hoping that coaches will now step back and go, "Wow, okay, I was being so strict on that," and not to be mean but just for sake of going everybody has to wear their hair in a ponytail and in a bun and whatever... Let's take that pressure off of those coaches that go, "But I have to or I'm gonna get a point taken off 'cause everybody's hair wasn't this way." ... It felt like I had to have a weave or I had to do this to my hair because otherwise I wouldn't have made the team or I wouldn't have been able to do things or whatever. Hopefully, those things go there. That's what I really hoped that the dialogue and the communication would be there so then your kids of color and your Black kids would feel like, "Wow. I'm accepted."

Key Highlights -

[1m 53s] Team Culture 

[7m 52s] Dawn's Two Teams: The White Squad and The Blue Squad

[11m 23s] How Dawn Runs Team Practice

[19m 27s] Dawn's Cleaning Style 

[25m 15s] Go with the Flow! 

[27m 01s] You Cannot Treat All Your Dancers the Same

[32m 10s] What Dawn Would Like to See Change in Our Dance World 

[37m 30s] Dawn's Biggest Challenge as a Coach

[42m 41s] Dawn's Favorite Memory as a Coach 

[45m 07s] Dawn's Advice for Coaches 

Resources -

To be a part of a future episode, visit: www.chelseapierotti.com/beontheshow

Transcript and further resources at:

www.chelseapierotti.com/84

Did you enjoy today's episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers.

Summary:

You may or may not yet know that I do a lot of coaching the coaches in my business. This is where I work with dance teachers and coaches to help them discover how they can best support their dancers' mental skills while improving their own skills. After doing this work for years, I've found that many people are struggling with similar situations, and I believe in the value of hearing how other people are dealing with these particular things.

Today, I am excited to share something new with all of you! We'll be doing a one-on-one coaching for dance educators episode with Coach Erin, a high school coach in Missouri. In this episode, we discuss personal mindset tips for dance coaches, how to build up intensity and excitement earlier in the season, the benefit of discussing possible obstacles and reflecting on performances with dancers, and more. 

These episodes will function as a way to come together in the community to support other dance educators, and this is the first of many episodes like these to come. These types of episodes will allow us to see that we're not alone and also help us gain insight into how things can improve when it comes to both our dancers' mental skills and our own skills as coaches.

Resources -

Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/83

To be a part of a future episode, visit: www.chelseapierotti.com/beontheshow

_______

Did you enjoy today's episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers.

Summary:

If I know our dance world, then I know that one thing you can count on every season is you're going to have to clean your routines. Whether your dance team is game-day focused, you're preparing for a championship, or you're performing the nutcracker this holiday season, we all want our routines to be as clean as possible. I always, personally, admire the routines that are exceptionally polished. It makes the artistic message easier to read and understand (and it's just plain impressive) but cleaning can get really monotonous.

From the mental side of things, I know that's one of the times where we really need our dancers to be more mentally tough. We need them to dig down and stick with us. Learning how to stick with a long, boring task is a good skill to have, so challenge your dancers to stay with you even if you're spending a long time on one small section. That said, sometimes we all need a break and a little motivation boost.

Today, I'm going to share a cleaning idea that I learned from fellow coaches who were using this a lot during the pandemic when they had to stay in small groups, but, truly, it's great anytime because of the mental break, the built-in leadership challenge, and that shift in focus.

Pull Quote -

Chelsea: "This Station Cleaning Method is a great way to take a mostly-clean routine that isn't quite consistent yet and give it that last polish. It allows your leaders some autonomy, each dancer has some time for more feedback, and it's simply just a way to change it up when cleaning monotony is just obnoxious and we can't do it anymore."

Key Highlights -

[3m 12s] The Station Cleaning Method

[3m 57s] Step One: Divide the Routine into Sections

[4m 28s] Step Two: Divide the Team into Four Equal Groups

[5m 28s] Step Three: Add Giant Sticky Notes to Each Section

[6m 36s] Step Four: Send Each Group to Their Station to Clean

[7m 35s] Step Five: Come Back Together and Run Each Section as a Whole Group

[8m 27s] Recap of The Station Cleaning Method

Resources -

Show Notes, Transcript, and Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/82

Submit your question for the upcoming Q&A episode about building confidence here: https://speakpipe.com/passionfordance

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Did you enjoy today's episode? Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Be sure to visit me on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti for more mental skills advice for dancers.