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Episodes

March 16, 2023

102. 3 Tools to Increase a Dancer's Resilience [Framework Part 2]

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...

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March 9, 2023

101. 3 Tools to Increase a Dancer's Mental Toughness [Framework Part …

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...

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March 2, 2023

100. Small Moments and the Important People You Share Them With

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...

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Feb. 23, 2023

99. Confidence Myths You Should Avoid and What to do Instead

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...

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Feb. 16, 2023

98. How to Strive for Excellence Without Being a Perfectionist

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....

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Feb. 9, 2023

97. 10 Miracle Benefits of Effective Imagery

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...

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Feb. 2, 2023

96. Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Next Audition with Caitlin Sloan

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...

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Jan. 26, 2023

95. Why You Need a Daily Practice Intention for Growth and Focus

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...

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Jan. 19, 2023

94. My Dancers are Being Lazy and Wont Work Hard, What Do I Do?

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...

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Jan. 12, 2023

93. Why Setting Goals During Competition Season Can Be Harmful and Wh…

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...

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Jan. 5, 2023

92. I May Have Failed in 2022 but I'm Finding my Purpose in 2023

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...

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Dec. 15, 2022

91. How to Feel Happier and Achieve More with Reflection

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...

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Dec. 8, 2022

90. Why You Shouldn't Tell Your Dancers to Get Out of Their Head

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...

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Dec. 1, 2022

89. Why Do Human Beings Dance? With Natalie Orr

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...

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Nov. 24, 2022

88. Why Gratitude Lists Don't Work

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...

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Nov. 17, 2022

87. How to Flip that Mental Switch from Negative Thoughts to Positive…

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...

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Nov. 10, 2022

86. The Power of Asking the Right Questions with Dr. Noah St. John

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...

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Nov. 3, 2022

85. Confidence Q&A

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...

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Oct. 27, 2022

84. University of Kentucky Dance Coach Dawn Walters

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...

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Oct. 20, 2022

83. [LIVE COACHING] Personal Mindset, Honesty, and Reaching Goals wit…

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...

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Oct. 13, 2022

82: 5 Steps to Cleaning Your Dance Routine While Building Leadership

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...

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Oct. 6, 2022

81. Increase Joy and Motivation When You Celebrate Small Wins

We naturally bond over shared complaints rather than shared wins. Why do we find a better connection with people when we share our frustrations? Why do we simultaneously feel like we aren’t allowed to share a win or it’s boastful? Research even...

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Sept. 29, 2022

80. How To Easily Shut Down Your Brain At Night

Imagine this, you’re lying in bed, exhausted from a long day. You start thinking about the email you need to send to that one parent. Then you start to fix the opening sequence to your jazz routine in your head because it isn’t reading the way you...

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Sept. 22, 2022

79. Why Genetic Testing Can Be A Valuable Tool For Dancers

Do you have more slow twitch or fast twitch muscle fibers? Does your body process B vitamins quickly making you more sluggish sometimes? Maybe you’re like me and you have no idea. So what if a genetic test could tell you specific information like...

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