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Episodes

June 26, 2025

215. Season Reflections: How Dancers Get Mentally Stronger in the Off…

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 tough...

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June 19, 2025

214. Dancing with True Authenticity and Confidence with Choreographer…

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 aw...

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June 12, 2025

213. A Professional Dance Company’s Whole Dancer Approach: Insights f…

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,...

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June 5, 2025

212. Embracing the Beginner's Mindset: Lesley Logan on Confidence, Im…

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 i...

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May 29, 2025

211. Addressing Favoritism in Dance Studios: Strategies for Teachers,…

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 socia...

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May 22, 2025

210. Rhee Gold on Dance Education, Passion, Adaptability and Business…

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,...

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May 15, 2025

209. When it Feels Like You're Not Getting Better and You Don't Know …

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...

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May 8, 2025

208. Using Meditation for Confidence and Competitive Success with Amb…

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...

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May 1, 2025

207. When Jealousy Hits the Team: Understanding and Overcoming Teamma…

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...

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April 24, 2025

206. Building a Successful Dance Team Culture

In this special episode of 'Passion for Dance,' host Dr. Chelsea reveals her proven process for cultivating a dance team with a strong sense of purpose and lasting motivation. Joined by guest Coach Ali James, they discuss setting team values and goals...

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April 17, 2025

205. Redefining Dance Team Leadership: From Captains to Collaborative…

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea explores the evolving landscape of leadership within dance teams in both school and studio settings. She highlights how the traditional role of a team captain is changing, with a shift towards shared...

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April 10, 2025

204. From Passion to Profession: Finding Your Career Path with Coach …

In this episode of 'Passion for Dance,' host Dr. Chelsea explores the complexities of choosing a career in the performing arts. Joined by master certified life and career coach Cheryl Polk, they discuss holistic approaches to finding fulfilling...

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April 3, 2025

203. Should We Say “Leave It at the Door” in 2025? New Advice for Bui…

In this episode of Passion for Dance, host Dr. Chelsea explores the phrase "leave it at the door" in the dance industry and its relevance in 2025. Joined by guest expert Dr. Audrey Schnell, a psychologist and coach with over 40 years of experience,...

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March 27, 2025

Blending Technical Excellence with Emotional Depth in Dance with Anab…

In this episode, host Dr. Chelsea talks to distinguished dance educator Anabella Lenzu about the shifting focus in the dance community from artistic expression to technical perfection and competitive achievements. Anabella, originally from Argentina...

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March 20, 2025

Cultivating Optimism as a Teenage Competitive Dancer

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea addresses the growing pessimism among teenage competitive dancers. She emphasizes the importance of optimism for competitive success and mental resilience, differentiating it from toxic positivity. Dr....

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March 13, 2025

200. The Four Pillars of Dance Excellence: Insights from 200 Episodes

In this milestone episode, host Dr. Chelsea reflects on 200 episodes of the Passion for Dance podcast, sharing key insights and lessons from the four pillars of the show: mindset, motivation, resilience, and community. She emphasizes the need for...

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March 6, 2025

199. Inside the Dance Industry: Nia Lonette's Path to Success in LA

In this episode of Passion for Dance, host Dr. Chelsea is joined by professional dancer Nia Lonette. The two dive into Nia's journey from Maryland to becoming an acclaimed dancer in LA, featuring her work with prominent artists and appearances at...

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Feb. 27, 2025

198. No Loss, Only Lessons: Redefining Success in Dance

Dr. Chelsea tackles the challenges dancers face during the intense competition season including losing and offers valuable insights into three aspects worse than losing: regret, blame, and lack of improvement. Dr. Chelsea shares personal stories and...

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Feb. 20, 2025

197. Empathy and Communication: Leadership Lessons with Jared Redick

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea speaks with Jared Redick, a third-generation professional ballet dancer and current Dean at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Mr Redick shares his extensive dance journey and...

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Feb. 13, 2025

196. Emotional Intelligence for Dancers: Part 3 Recovering and Mainta…

In the third installment of 'Emotional Intelligence for Dancers,' Dr. Chelsea delves into coping strategies for managing emotions over the long term, helping dancers recover from disappointment and frustration. She emphasizes the importance of...

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Feb. 6, 2025

195. Emotional Intelligence for Dancers: Part 2 Handling Negative Emo…

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea continues her series on emotional intelligence for dancers, focusing on strategies for managing negative emotions. She provides five proactive techniques including mindfulness, building a support...

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Jan. 30, 2025

194. Emotional Intelligence for Dancers: A Pathway to Success Part 1

In this episode of 'Passion for Dance,' Dr. Chelsea, discusses how emotions impact a dancer’s ability to focus, move, and connect with the audience. With competition season in full swing, she delves into the importance of understanding and...

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Jan. 23, 2025

193. Embracing Sensitivity as a Professional Dancer: Bold Advice from…

In this episode, guest artist Galit Friedlander shares her personal dance journey from starting her professional career as a young teen to working as an assistant choreographer for Prince. She discusses the impact of being highly sensitive and...

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Jan. 16, 2025

192. Dance in the Moment: Harnessing Mindfulness for Performance Exce…

In this episode of Dr. Chelsea delves into the benefits of mindfulness for dancers. She clarifies the difference between mindfulness and meditation and discusses how mindfulness can improve both mental well-being and dance performance. Dr. Chelsea...

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