One year, I was told to lose weight by my teachers. This left me completely lost and devastated, but then I found Jess.

I remember one of my friends told me about the free webinars and how great an opportunity they are to learn tips and tricks from a former professional dancer, so I decided to sign up. I was completely hooked and at the end when Jess talked about The Whole Dancer Program, I immediately asked my mom if I could sign up.

Being a part of The Whole Dancer Program for two rounds has been absolutely amazing! I have learned so much from Jess, not only about how to be a better dancer but also how to become a better person.

This past year has been extremely difficult for me because as a high school senior I was dealing with the question of how to move forward after graduation. I was torn between going to college for dance (which would have made my parents happy) or auditioning for traineeships (which is what I really wanted to do).

I emailed Jess throughout the program and she gave me advice on basically everything and would get back to me so soon! My all time goal was to become a trainee with the Nashville Ballet, because I had been there for a couple of summers and fell in love with the environment.

Jess helped me keep a level head when it came to auditions and my mindset while waiting to hear if I had gotten in. When I found out I was accepted into the Nashville Ballet Professional Training Program for the 2016-2017 season, I immediately emailed Jess to let her know.

Without this program, I wouldn’t know as much as I do know about food and nutrition, stress management, organizing my goals, and how to properly cross train.

Because of Jess, I feel more comfortable in my own skin, and my height doesn’t bother me as much anymore.

I recommend this program to all dancers, even if they aren’t struggling and no matter where they are in their training!

Abby Zinsser trained at the Richmond Ballet. She is headed to Nashville to pursue her dream of a traineeship with the Nashville Ballet. Abby is a founding member of The Whole Dancer Program and took part in the program twice!

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No matter how involved the parent or encouraging the friend, those who have never experienced the tumultuous life of a ballet dancer will never truly know what it feels like. For those who do know, your colleagues, providing this support can often only go so far.

To reach one’s fullest potential as an artist, a certain amount of guidance is essential, and though teachers and mentors can certainly be helpful, their efforts often fall short. The Whole Dancer Program, for me, has provided this support system.

The Whole Dancer Program is a community of ballet dancers who are pursuing both the elevation of their craft and that of their well-being. Sadly, all too many dancers believe these two things are mutually exclusive.

The Whole Dancer Program proves this notion wrong. Lending a safe space to share concerns and victories, this wellness program is the first of its kind.

Directed specifically toward ballet dancers, The Whole Dancer appears to be an endless supply of well-curated tips concerning everything from nutrition to cross training to advancement of technique.

Jess’ educated curriculum equips members with a wealth of knowledge and tools, all immediately applicable to the unique world of ballet.

One of my favorite aspects of the program is the week focused on self-assessment. A skill ballet dancers begin practicing at the commencement of their training, evaluating one’s self may seem like an inherent skill to many of us at the professional level. TWD proves this to be untrue, in the best way.

The program teaches dancers to practice a more effective form of self-assessment, through which they are able to locate the source of a weakness and create an attainable plan to overcome it.   Also worth noting, the program has been known to properly identify a supposed ‘weakness’ as the asset it truly is, and help the dancer not only accept but embrace it.

The Whole Dancer Program in an enriching, informational, life-changing experience. It is guaranteed to take you to the next level in your dance experience.

Trust me, I love the program so much I’ve completed it twice!

Kirsten Evans dances with Festival Ballet in Providence, RI and is also the writer/creator of the beautiful and inspiring Setting the Barre blog. She is a founding member of The Whole Dancer Program and took part in the program twice!

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