One thing that separates good dancers from great dancers is their ability to believe in themselves. It's true for students, teachers, and professionals. When you're pursuing any dream at any stage of life, there is so much power in believing in yourself. But that's a lot easier to say than to actually do. It's hard to translate that into real progress. In today’s episode, I’ll be sharing about having faith in yourself and believing in your abilities so that you can take that first step towards your goals. We’ll talk about the importance of shifting  your perspective and how, spoiler alert, there really is no top of the staircase. If you've ever wished you had a little more confidence to get started at something new, I'm going to tell you how to take that first step! “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Leave a message for Dr. Chelsea: https://chelseapierotti.com/message Follow the show: https://followthepodcast.com/passionfordance Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/175  

Are you a flexible dancer or have easily hyperextended joints? Dancers with hypermobile joints might love the ability to show off tricks and skills as a dancer, but is it dangerous to be that hypermobile? I’ve been wanting to talk to a medical professional about hypermobile joints in dancers, so my guest today, a dancer turned doctor, is here to explain it all! Dr. Linda Bluestein is renowned for her expertise in hypermobility disorders. As the founder of Hypermobility MD, she offers specialized medical care to individuals grappling with all these kinds of conditions. And Dr. Bluestein is the driving force behind Bendy Bodies, a worldwide coaching practice aimed at empowering and supporting individuals with hypermobility, many of whom are dancers. Dr. Bluestein is also the founder and host of a wonderful podcast, Bendy Bodies with Hypermobility MD, where she shares valuable insights and resources. In this episode, I asked Linda all the questions I think dancers and dance teachers might ask. Dr. Bluestein clarifies the difference between hypermobility and flexibility, when hypermobility is concerning and when it's not, and when and how to get help. She also shared why gut health and flat feet are often related to hypermobility, which I found really interesting, and she has very practical, helpful advice for dance teachers as well. Listen into this crash course in hypermobility with Dr. Linda Bluestein! Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/174 Connect with Dr. Bluestein on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/ Hypermobility MD’s Website: http://www.hypermobilitymd.com Listen to Bendy Bodies with Hypermobility MD Podcast: http://www.bendybodiespodcast.com Follow the Bendy Bodies Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bendy_bodies/ Connect with Linda on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/  

For many teams, be it school teams or studios, we are entering a new season. Wouldn't it be great if we could establish strong, positive cultures from the beginning? When an athlete quits in the middle of the season, it usually causes drama, stress, and a lot of extra work. Generally speaking, as coaches and teachers, we strive to create a culture of team commitment where athletes stay invested all season, year after year. In today’s episode, I'll be sharing three specific strategies you can use to establish a resilient commitment in your dancers this year. Whether you coach a four-year school program or at a studio where your teams cross all ages, team commitment is vitally important. Tune into today’s episode to learn about these three simple steps to improve athlete-coach relationships and encourage genuine commitment from your dancers! Dance Coach Membership Relevé: https://chelseapierotti.com/membership More Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/173

We often label our dancers without even meaning to do it, even if it's only in our heads and we never say it out loud. You know who your solid turner is, who is lazy, who has style, and who you can depend on to know the counts. As we get to know our dancers, we inadvertently label them. We have a lot of power over our dancers’ journeys, and we carry a lot of influence on them, so let's make sure we aren't allowing our expectations and the labels that we assign to have too much sway in our dancers’ training. In today’s episode, I’ll be talking about how our expectations as teachers shape our dancers’ abilities. We’ll discuss the impact labeling has on your dancers, and I’ll talk you through both the positive direction and the negative direction of the four-step self-fulfilling prophecy process. Remember: your expectations and your labels matter, so let's talk about what to look out for and how to use this power to your advantage! Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/172 Podcast Quiz: https://chelseapierotti.com/podcastquiz Follow the show! https://followthepodcast.com/passionfordance    

Time management can be hard for all of us, dancers and coaches included, and we often beat ourselves up when we can't do it well. My guest today taught me the time-management strategy I use every day, so I had to bring her on to share it with all of you because it's not just another app or a planner; it’s an amazing stress-reduction tool. Today’s guest is Kelly Nolan. She's a former attorney, now a time management strategist who created a new system, The Bright Method. I am personally a walking five-star review, as you will hear in the show, because The Bright Method is the only way I survive two jobs I love plus life as a wife, a mother, and a woman with my own desires and goals. I’ve also taught pieces of this method to my college students, so if you're a teacher or a dancer, this will be right up your alley. Do you want to know the best part about The Bright Method? I don't have a to-do list anymore. It's gone! I go to bed every night feeling accomplished and able to relax without feeling like I'm missing something. So what do you say we learn how to get rid of these to-do lists, shall we? Connect with Kelly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_kellynolan_/ Get The Free Five-Day Program: https://kellynolan.com/reset-refresh  Connect with Kelly and The Bright Method: https://www.kellynolan.com/ Follow Passion for Dance: https://chelseapierotti.com/follow All Other Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/171  

If you are of a certain age in this dance industry, like me, you probably had to run laps when you were late to practice or would be kicked out of ballet if you crossed your arms in class. For many of us, we grew up with coaches and directors who used physical punishment for bad behavior and mistakes. It was the norm. It's what many of us were used to. If you're currently using any type of physical punishment on your team, even in the name of motivation, I want to challenge that practice today based on my time coaching and teaching as well as the science behind it and what psychology tells us about behavior change and motivation. In this episode, I’ll uncover the four reasons not to use physical conditioning as a form of punishment. I hope this episode encourages you to avoid punishing with pushups and instead try another approach! Podcast Quiz: Get a curated list of the top 5 episodes that will help you right now! https://chelseapierotti.com/quiz Other Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/170

Do your dancers struggle with face-to-face conversations or have a hard time handling their emotions? If you're like most dance educators I've talked to, having real, face-to-face conversations, that are productive but still kind and provide real benefit, is exceedingly challenging. Our dancers are used to communicating behind a screen. It's hurting their relationships, and I also think it's hurting their ability to perform well onstage. My guest today, Michelle Leagans, has found a solution to this problem! Michelle is a former professional dancer from Texas who currently owns and teaches for Power Intensives, and she's a sought-after choreographer and master instructor. Michelle’s solution was to create a journal for dancers called “Hey Dancers… Let's Talk About It!” This journal is different, and the way she explains how it works and why it works will make you want to give it a try.  In today’s conversation, Michelle talks about the power of journaling individually as well as in a team setting via groups. We also talked about addressing burnout and this wonderful idea of glimmers, which provides a much-needed dose of positivity when you need it. Trust me, you're going to want to try it. Tune in to learn how to help your dancers express themselves through journaling! Connect with Michelle on Instagram: www.instagram.com/michelleleagans Get “Hey Dancers… Let's Talk About It!”:  www.letstalkaboutdance.com Follow Passion for Dance: https://followthepodcast.com/passionfordance Other Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/169    

Whether you're a coach at a school or teach in a studio setting, your dancers likely need to build a tight-knit team if they're going to be successful this season. Traditionally, people think of connecting socially when they want dancers to be close, but there are actually four types of team building, and social connection’s only one way to build that tight-knit group. In today’s episode, I'll be sharing those four types of team building to work on this summer if you want to enhance team dynamics and have a group that gets along and works well together all season. Make sure to get the free download that goes along with this episode that covers lots of different team-building games at www.chelseapierotti.com/168. Tune into this episode to learn how to enhance your team dynamics this season so you can have happier, more successful dancers! Download Team Building Games Other Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/168  

Did you know there's a formula for creating a high-performance environment? Successful dancers know how to perform at their best, but that happens when you practice at your best. Being a successful dancer starts in rehearsal. It's about creating that high performance environment in every class, every cleaning rehearsal your dancers attend. Then, of course, it's up to them to do the work. In today’s episode, I’ll be breaking down the three key ingredients to a high-performance environment that allows our dancers to achieve their best.  The magic is that all three of these principles work together to create the environment that allows your dancers to find their internal drive and put more effort in each and every class. Tune in to learn all about these three ingredients in a high-performance environment! 15 Ways to Create a High Performance Environment: https://chelseapierotti.com/highperformance 5 Questions to a Curated Podcast Quiz: https://chelseapierotti.com/podcastquiz Other Episode Resources: https://chelseapierotti.com/167  

If you hire choreographers for your dance team, you’ll definitely want to listen to today's episode for some really helpful insights into that coach-choreographer relationship and how to work together to create championship-winning routines. Today's guest is Nicholas Kade Clement of NKC Choreography. After his own professional career, Nick started choreographing for dance teams all over the country, and his work has produced multiple national championships, world championships, and numerous teams finishing in top spots at Universal Dance Association, National Dance Alliance, and Dance Team Union National Championships. Behind his many accomplishments, I know him as a hardworking Southern boy who will always make you laugh. In today’s episode, Nick and I chat about his choreographic process, cultivating resilience as a choreographer, and what it takes to create that successful coach-choreographer relationship. Coaches, listen into this episode for the many gems Nick has to offer! Connect with Nick Clement on Instagram: @nkcchoreography Other Episode Resoures: https://chelseapierotti.com/167 Follow Passion for Dance podcast: www.chelseapierotti.com/follow