Episodes

While the show is on hold, you can check out all past 200+ episodes with all of the support and advice you expect from Dr. Chelsea. https://passionfordancepodcast.com If you have any questions or thoughts to share, you can always email Dr. Chelsea at hello@chelseapierotti.com or send a message on Instagram @dr.chelsea.pierotti

In this episode of 'Passion for Dance,' Dr. Chelsea delves into career transitions… when do you know it’s time for something new? She breaks down five key strategies to help navigate these pivotal decisions, including understanding emotional barriers, finding clarity through action, reframing fears, seeking support, and focusing on controllable factors. Dr. Chelsea also shares her personal journey through a career identity crisis. This episode offers actionable advice and personal experiences to...

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 edu...

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 Dan...

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 importan...

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...

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...

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,...

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, custo...

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: ​​ https://passionfordanc...

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! https://pass...

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: https://apollaperformance.com Episode Resources: http...

In this episode of 'Passion for Dance,' Dr. Chelsea explores the science behind peak performance for dancers, and shares the science-backed tools that help you reach your personal best. Dr. Chelsea shares 5 tools for training, recovery, and of course, mindset, to help you be the best possible dancer. These 5 things are what high achieving dancers do differently! Check out our sponsor Apolla Performance: https://apollaperformance.com Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/223 Episo...

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 colleg...

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, no...

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 insight...

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea explores the importance of trust in building a positive dance team culture. She highlights five common trust breakers—playing favorites, not listening, inconsistency, competing instead of collaborating, and gossiping—that can undermine team dynamics. Offering actionable strategies, Dr. Chelsea emphasizes the importance of addressing trust issues promptly, revisiting team agreements, and fostering psychological safety. By identifying and mitigatin...

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea hosts Jason Pickett, a distinguished dance teacher, choreographer, and founder of No Starving Artists. They discuss their shared love for teaching, the evolving landscape of college dance, and the importance of individualism and improvisation in dancer development. Jason delves into the business side of dance, advocating for a collaborative and transparent approach to foster sustainable careers for artists. He also shares valuable insights on awa...

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea explores the top five life skills dancers develop and how these skills transfer to other areas of life. She delves into emotional regulation, leadership and self-control, grit, communication and respect, and responsibility and time management. Dr. Chelsea offers practical advice for dancers and coaches to implement these skills outside the dance studio. Tune in to learn actionable strategies for applying your dance-based skills to enhance your pe...

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea discusses common mental traps that hinder dancers' progress and success. Delving into traps like comparison, waiting for confidence, outcome-only goals, and injury identity, she provides actionable mental skills tools to help dancers shift their mindset and regain control. Learn how journaling, taking action, setting process goals, and rewriting your identity can foster confidence, growth, and joy in your dance journey. Episode Resources: https:/...

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 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 listene...

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 awareness, and fostering authenticity in your performances. She details her journey from being a young dancer to a world-touring professional and celebrated choreographer. Alexandra also discusses the importance of understanding one's creative process and offers practical stra...

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, the importance of community engagement, and the benefits of experienced teachers working with beginners. Julie shares insights on Body Traffic's whole dancer approach, which nurtures dancers as artists and humans, and talks about finding a balance between rigor and compassi...

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 importance of mind-body connection, dealing with imposter syndrome, and embracing the beginner mindset. Lesley shares insights from her own journey and offers valuable teaching strategies for addressing varying skill levels in classes. This conversation provides practical adv...