Dealing with casting in dance can be a challenge…

We’ve all been there. The cast sheet goes up and you walk over feeling hopeful. Then, you read the list and are totally disappointed with your roles.

At just about every level, dancers experience the doubt and insecurity that comes with casting decisions by artistic staff. Dealing with this can be difficult.

As you move along as a dancer from pre-professional training to (sometimes) college to company life, casting sheets can be a big source of anxiety.

All too often, we begin to quantify our value based on what roles are bestowed upon us.

Managing casting, friendships, and comparison.

In college, my best friend Alice was consistently cast in better roles than me. Beyond being close friends, we were the same height with similar body shapes. It got to a point where I expected that outcome and reinforced the story in my head: “She’s just better than me, there’s really nothing I can do about it.”

When we started auditioning for companies, I began to realize that I was basing my thoughts about myself on the opinions of one group of people: my college professors. What I failed to notice is that the artistic staff at every company Alice and I auditioned for assessed our abilities in totally different ways.

When they made cuts throughout auditions, we were rarely kept for the same length of time. Sometimes she made it to the end, and sometimes I did. We each got different offers. I finally realized that while we were the same height with similar body types, we were different people and had different strengths.

Feel empowered even when you’re unhappy with your roles.

Even if you work to cultivate a healthy perspective shift when it comes to your strengths, you may still face casting disappointment. That’s when it’s important to take your power back and boost your confidence. 

Boost confidence before the cast list goes up.

Dancers tend to see what’s wrong. For many years, or even decades, you’ve been training your brain to use the mirror as a tool to tell you what you need to fix. Rarely does a dancer look in the mirror with joy and admiration for what they’re capable of.

That’s a great place to start…

The next time you’re in class or rehearsal, rather than constantly nitpicking, make it your goal to pick out the things you’re doing well. Where’s the beauty in your movement? What is unique about you?

Recently, a client was telling me that she just didn’t have anything that might draw someone’s eye. When we discussed it further, she was able to connect with the fact that she is a unique person and has a unique joy for dance that she can communicate through her movement. 

Connecting with your joy for dance is what gives you that intangible quality that is enjoyable to watch. 

Remember that every role, no matter how small, is an opportunity to grow.

It sounds cheesy, but it’s true. Are you playing the maid in the Nutcracker? Even that small part can have a story. How will you convey that story to the audience? How can you make this character role your own? Is there a way to hone some acting skills?

Use this as an opportunity to start a discussion.

If you’re disappointed with the casting decisions, you can use this as an opportunity to start a discussion on your growth. Set up a meeting with someone on the artistic staff who you trust and know has your best interest at heart.

Ask them if there’s something more you could or should be doing to improve. Is there a way they’d like to see you develop technically or artistically that would lead to bigger roles or more responsibility? 

Having these talks can be scary, but they can also bring to light things you would have otherwise stayed in the dark about. It also might lead to more opportunities. Consider asking to understudy something you weren’t originally cast to understudy.

Reassess the energy you bring to the studio.

Are you too comfortable in your current environment? Are you relying too heavily on your talent or facility and not taking things to the next level on your own? Would you benefit from setting more goals around your dancing?

Remember that you can’t control the roles and opportunities you’re given, but you can control the energy you bring with you. Casting may be out of your hands, but the work you put in is very much up to you. Start approaching your corrections with more fervor and focus, and see if things shift.

Create supportive routines to facilitate your best dancing.

Making adjustments to your approach to food or cross-training could have a huge positive impact. These adjustments are not about changing how you look, but rather, they’re about increasing your confidence so you dance more freely.

Some food swaps and cross-training switch-ups can make a big impact on how you perform. Have you started relying on too much sugar or caffeine for energy? Instead, put some attention on increasing the length and quality of your sleep. Incorporate lots of simple and complex carbs for consistent energy throughout the day.

If you’ve been doing the same cross-training for years, you might benefit from trying something new. Experiment with weight training or employ a trainer who works with dancers to see if there’s a weakness you haven’t addressed.

Taking better care of yourself will give you a better experience in your dancing regardless of casting. 

You might not be dancing at the best company for you.

If you’ve been plugging away at the same company for a few years and haven’t been getting the response you had hoped for or the roles you were promised, it might be time to move on. I’d encourage you to open up a conversation first, but then be willing to accept that maybe you haven’t found the right fit yet.

Be honest with yourself about the company environment you’re in. If they reward weight loss or constantly give you feedback on your body shape or size, it might be time to look elsewhere. Even if you are getting desired roles, it’s worth considering what sort of environment you’re in and how that impacts you. Roles should be determined based on your skill and hard work. 

Unhealthy extremes to fit the mold of a particular company is not a sustainable approach to a dance career. If you’re struggling to find a healthy approach to your career, or you’re unsure if you’ve found it, it may be time to seek help. Many dancers benefit from support in nutrition, body image, and even career mentorship to confidently determine when they’re at their healthiest. 

Check in with your mental well-being.

Has dance left you feeling drained? Have you been in the trainee or apprentice spot for a while and started wondering if you’ll ever move beyond it? Check your mental well-being.

If you’re constantly telling yourself you’re not good enough or that all the other dancers are so much better, it will feel nearly impossible to progress. Once your thoughts start to improve, I guarantee you’ll feel changes within yourself and your dancing. 

As I was able to connect with the fact that my friend Alice and I had different things to offer, it afforded me some freedom in my approach. I started my first company job believing I was meant to be there. 

Ultimately, you need to retrain your mind for confidence and expect success! Those shifts in mindset aren’t an overnight endeavor or a quick fix. It takes time, dedication, and support from someone who understands the industry specific challenges you’re faced with. 

Don’t forget, it all takes time.

Pursuing dance at the professional level is a process — and an arduous one at that. Every dancer develops at a different rate. Your friend might skyrocket to principal while you’re working away in the corps. It’s helpful to trust the timing of your life.

Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. You’ll learn so many lessons along the way as long as you’re open to them. If your love for dance is strong and you stay committed, you can reach your goals. And don’t forget: success is a concept you get to define. So, maybe define success as doing what you love. Perhaps you’ve already achieved that.

Looking for support?

If you’re feeling particularly challenged by your experiences with the cast sheet, and you know you’d benefit from support from someone who has been there, schedule a complimentary coaching consultation. CLICK HERE to book your free introductory consultation. This is the first step and the best way to determine if health, nutrition, and lifestyle coaching is a good fit for your needs.

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A major casting disappointment.

It’s quite rare to feel totally confident about your position in this industry, especially when you’re getting mixed messages.

The feedback we receive, even when it’s meant to be constructive, can leave us totally confused. 

During my senior year of college at Butler University, there was a prestigious guest choreographer staging a new ballet. Everyone wanted desperately to be cast in this ballet.

As per usual, the choreographer chose dancers after watching us try some of his movement phrases.

I was really happy with my performance and hopeful that I had gotten one of the coveted spots.

When the casting sheet went up, I had not been chosen and would instead be in a really modern piece — not my forte.

A few days later, I ran into the dance department head, and she told me, “You would have been cast in that piece, but your partner made you look bad, and that’s why you weren’t chosen.” My first thought was, why are you even telling me this? It didn’t seem constructive, and it magnified my disappointment.

I decided to just move on. I invested myself full force in the piece I was cast in: Twyla Tharp’s “Torelli” — if you know it, you know it’s intense. It ended up being one of the most transformative dance experiences of my life. It helped prepare me for future castings in movement styles that felt less natural — something you’ll face often in ballet companies today.

The original disappointment turned out to be a huge blessing and learning experience. To help you see disappointment’s as opportunity, here are some tools of transformation.

Transform your mindset around disappointment.

In the coming months, you might be returning to a more “normal” dance environment. You’ll be back in classes, auditions, rehearsals, or casting situations that may have stressed you out in the past. Here are some ways to transform your approach to feel more balanced and positive along the way. Attention to mindset is one of the key tools of transformation.

• What’s meant for you will come. In the moment, this can be hard, but work towards a place of believing that something better is coming. You’re not getting the role you want, but a different role might in fact provide greater opportunity for growth.

• Lead with gratitude. What’s going well? What privileges and experiences exist in your life that you can acknowledge regularly to feel more whole?

• Stay aware of what’s within your control. You don’t get to decide what roles you’ll dance. You do get to decide how you will show up in rehearsals and what kind of work ethic you’ll apply.

Commit to finding ways to show up and find your happiness even in more challenging dance experiences.

Cultivate unshakeable body confidence for dance.

Confidence is defined as– “a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities.”

To translate that idea to your body, practice The Whole Dancer Body Image Booster each and every day. It’s about recommitting to gratitude for all that your body does. Include it as part of your morning routine, just like brushing your teeth.

Stay mindful of what you’re making things mean. When something disappointing happens (you don’t get the job, role, etc.), do you always make it about your body? If body confidence is an area of struggle for you, it’s very possible you blame your body when anything goes “wrong.”

You can’t blame your body when it’s what allows you to dance. Without it, you’d be missing out on dancing altogether. Unshakeable body confidence is one of the key tools of transformation.

Prioritize self-care.

If you’ve been following The Whole Dancer for a while, you might think I sound like a broken record. It’s just a very strong belief of mine (and one that’s validated over and over again by the dancers I work with) that caring for yourself promotes self-love.

Here are some easy self-care practices to include:

• Keep healthy sleep routines with morning and evening activities that promote rest and relaxation. This might look like putting your phone away at a certain time each night and committing to not touching it for the first couple hours in the day.

• Consistently eat enough. Do the planning required to have lots of meal and snack options ready to go, especially when things get busy.

• Create a pleasing, calm, and relaxing home environment. You can do this by diffusing essential oils, bringing plants into your home, and opening windows to allow fresh air in.

Self-care also includes the basics: taking a break when you need one, sitting on the couch without guilt, waking up, getting dressed, brushing your teeth, and feeling your feelings (cry whenever and however much you want). Stay tuned for a new resource, “A Dancer’s Guide to Self-Care,” coming out later this month for even more tips and ideas. If you’re on The Whole Dancer email list, you’ll be the first to get it!

Tools of Transformation was originally published on April 30, 2016

Reposted and updated for clarity and content on June 30, 2021

The post The Tools of Transformation appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

Nutcracker, the ballet that brings joy to thousands each holiday season and every other emotion to dancers. Whether you do 45 shows of Nutcracker or two shows, November and December can be stressful months filled with holiday themed performances. It’s easy to get sick of performing or rehearsing Waltz of the Flowers for the 50th time. Here are some tips for fighting Nutcracker burnout.

1. Get Enough Sleep

No matter what your performance or rehearsal schedule, it’s always important to get enough sleep. Sleep allows your muscles to repair, your short-term memory get stored in your long-term memory, and revive your energy levels.

The rate of possible injury goes down when an athlete gets more sleep. Ideally, dancers should be getting around 8-9 hours of sleep each night.  

2. Listen to Other Music

The first thing that always burns me out during Nutcracker is the music. I get very sick of hearing the same score over and over again. It doesn’t help that you hear Nutcracker music on tv, the radio, the mall, literally everywhere from early November through Christmas.

Tune it out as much as possible and listen to other music; it could be your favorite holiday music, hard rock, a different ballet, soundtracks, whatever makes you happy.

3. Pack Healthy Snacks and Meals

You need food to fuel yourself in order to get through shows and rehearsals. Give yourself lots of meal and snack options because you never know what you day will entail. When you go to eat lunch or your snack and you didn’t love what you packed it’s the absolute worst.

You either begrudgingly eat what you packed, or go out in search of something else, which might not be possible depending on your schedule. Pack fruit for a natural sugar based energy, carbohydrates for sustained energy, nuts for protein and healthy fat, and veggies for vital vitamins and minerals.  

4. Do a Holiday Activity

Nutcracker is not the only way to get into the holiday spirit. Choose a nice, relaxing activity that you can do on your day off.

Watch a movie, go shopping, take a walking or driving tour of your town to see all of the holiday decorations, make cookies or healthy snacks with friends. I would not advise ice-skating until you’re done performances, because freak accidents do happen!

5. Go Out to Eat with Friends or Family

It’s easy to get stuck in a food rut no matter what time of year. After a performance, go out to dinner with friends and/or family. It gives you an opportunity to try a new dish, and get new ideas for meals. Being social is a good way to get out of that Nutcracker bubble, especially while spending time with non-dancers.

6. Massage Your Muscles Often

Your body takes a lot of abuse during performances. Many stages are not sprung and because of adrenaline, you might not feel the effects of jumping on a hard stage until later that night or even until performances are over.

Massage your muscles with foam rollers, tennis balls, take Epsom salt baths, and if you can afford it get a professional massage. Compression socks also help alleviate tight calves and ankles.

7. Meditate or go to Yoga

Yoga and meditation are a great way to unwind both your mind and your body. In the cold months hot yoga feels especially great on sore and tight muscles. It’s also great cross training for your day off that works different muscles than the ones you use in rehearsal.

8. Find A Way to Make Each Performance Special

Nutcracker can start to lack luster when you’re doing Snow for the 20th time. Find a way to make each performance special. Give yourself something to focus on each show.

For example, focus on pointing your feet to the max one show, your energy level the next show, and your facial expression on the third show. Remember, at least one person in the audience is experiencing Nutcracker for the first time. Think of making each performance as magical as the first time you saw it.

9. Find New Inspiration

Go for a walk, read a book, watch a documentary (Wendy Whelan’s “Restless Creature” is now on Netflix), and take class from a new teacher. Do anything that will inspire and renew your creativity.

Photo by John-Morgan on Visual hunt / CC BY

Photo by gabrielsaldana on Visualhunt.com / CC BY-SA

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Before Thanksgiving, I talked with all of my clients about how they would approach this food – centered holiday. Having a plan can make a huge difference in how you approach food any day and especially on TG.

Even if you had a plan, it’s possible it was derailed by the pecan pie or you just ended the day feeling unhappy with your food  choices.

In response to overeating, it’s very common to “restrict” or cut back somewhat drastically in calories. Unfortunately, this tactic backfires 9x out of 10.

After a morning or afternoon of restricting which you might disguise as a “cleanse” or “detox” it’s extremely likely that you’ll end up overeating again the moment your resolve weakens.

Even those with the best “self control” can end up binge eating when faced with conflict with a bestie, being cast in a role you’re not happy with or questioning your position in your company.

Stress, emotions, and conflict when kept inside often lead to self – destructive actions.

The best response to overeating is to eat normally at your next meal.

Aim for the next meal to be home – cooked, full of nutrients and totally satisfying. You might enjoy some soup and kale salad. Don’t restrict any food groups, go for well rounded, healthy AND delicious – include protein, healthy fat and complex carbs. Juliet Doherty’s Curry is a great option!

In addition to having a well balanced meal, start to look at where you felt you went wrong. Are you being overly stringent with food? Do you need to allow yourself to be more flexible with your meal plan? Would you benefit from additional planning for meals in group and/or family settings?

And go a bit deeper. Is there work you need to do to improve your body image? Are you dealing with food fears or deeply worried that you won’t reach your body goals?

Here’s some good news : for long lasting, positive changes in your body you’ve got to play the long game. A single meal will not make or break your body goals and any results you see from short term calorie restriction will not serve you in the long term.

One of the most important things for dancers to know is that calories in/calories out as a method to reach your best body has been largely debunked. All calories are not created equal. This is why at The Whole Dancer you’ll never see calorie count recommendation or promotion of calorie counting as a way to reach your best body.

If you’re looking for support, The Dancer’s Best Body Program re – opens in early 2018. After the hoopla of the holidays you can focus in on yourself and use the tools, tips and coaching of this program to reach your personal best body in a sustainable and healthy way. Join the VIP waitlist here.

Black Friday Savings :

Need coaching now? Sign up for a single 30 – minute One on One Success session here, or a series of 4, 30 – minute coaching sessions here. Use code twdblackfriday for 15% savings through this Monday, November 27! This code is also valid on The Whole Dancer Program!

Photo by uwlideas on TrendHype / CC BY

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Hi dancers! My name is Jackie Bologna and I am beyond excited to write a post for a platform as special as the Whole Dancer.  It is so vital to find communities that encourage you and share tips to make your training and career a positive experience and I truly believe that Jess is cultivating that with the Whole Dancer.

I am about to finish my third year in the Corps at New York City Ballet and I can finally say that I have found my own mental clarity and balance this year.  The jump from the school to company life was challenging in so many unexpected ways.

When I received my apprenticeship I was 17 years old and still living in the dorms at The School of American Ballet.  During my first couple of years in the company I had a lot of ups and downs.

Early in my first year in the corps I had to deal with my first serious injury.

Maybe the most challenging was figuring out how to navigate rest and cross training with our long and difficult hours, and probably the most important step for me was learning how to mentally adjust to the stress of what is expected of you in company life.

Up until this year I let the stress of trying to look perfect for the stage really negatively affect my life.  I was not in a good place mentally or physically and I found myself focusing on everything that was wrong in my life.  It was draining and exhausting in many ways and I constantly felt like a failure.

Although there were times when I wondered if I needed a drastic change in my life, like a break from dance, I never truly considered it a real option.

I started off the year reaching out to Jess and signing up for The Whole Dancer Program, which really set the ball rolling for some important changes that I didn’t even know I needed to make. After talking to Jess and doing a little bit of soul searching, something shifted by the time Nutcracker rolled around in the Fall.

I had also just spent a few weeks off at home with my family and my niece was born.  I started going to church again and rekindling my relationship with God.  I realized how lucky I was to have a healthy and loving family and that if nothing else I should be happy for that reason.

I started writing down things I was grateful for every morning when our season started again and I realized that it made a huge difference in how I viewed my day and myself.  In fact, I started to think less about myself, and more about what a gift it was to be in the room with the extremely talented artists I work with every day.

Taking the focus away from my internal struggles gave me the clarity I needed to remember how much I truly LOVE performing. 

It was also around Nutcracker that I started listening to the Bulletproof Podcast.  Obviously, even though I let go of the negativity I had towards my body, there is always room to improve.  This podcast was a new way of approaching nutrition that made complete sense to me and sparked a deep interest that I never knew I had.  I started thinking about my body in terms of health and prevention instead of just outward appearances.

It made me aware of the quality of my food and the more I learned, the more information I wanted.  It’s now a secret passion of mine and I recommend the book Deep Nutrition by Dr. Catherine Shanahan to anyone who will listen!

I’ve also taken allergy tests so I know what my body is sensitive to.  Obviously no one can eat perfectly all the time but I now try to stay away from anything that is processed or has too much sugar or vegetable oil.  Those are the three biggest things I’ve learned to avoid.

I’ve also become obsessed with my biweekly strength training sessions. 

When I look back over this past few years I realize how much I’ve learned and I feel ready to tackle whatever the rest of my dance career has to throw at me. Some of the things I’ve learned and would share with you if you’re just starting your dance career are to work hard and work quietly, know your understudy roles to the best of your ability, and really try your best to enjoy the little things when you can because it does go by way faster than you think it will.

When you first get into a company people will notice your work ethic and the way you present yourself. One way to really test that is by going out of your way to know the ballets you understudy. You never know when the ballet master will need you to step in and there is nothing worse than feeling unprepared. It can actually be extremely rewarding and thrilling to go on last minute, but only if you’re not scared to forget the steps!

Every time you go onstage it’s a chance to improve and have fun trying out new aspects of your artistry. It’s hard to remember that when you’re tired or hurting or just in a bad mood, but I sometimes take a minute in the wings to remind myself that it won’t last forever.

It truly is a fleeting career so I tell myself to make it good while it lasts, no matter my circumstances.

I realize how much I’ve learned and I feel ready to tackle whatever the rest of my dance career will throw at me.  In many ways I am very happy that I’ve had some good learning experiences and struggles early on in my time in the company.

I believe it’s the lessons I’ve learned after experiencing the hard times that have helped me find what it is to be a “Whole Dancer”.

This past spring and summer I’ve felt more joy during performances than any other time in my life.  It is a complete connection between mind, body, and soul that is hard to describe in words.  I am constantly aware of what a blessing it is to be a part of my dream company and get a chance to be included in some of the best ballets in the world.

For me, being a “Whole Dancer” means opening your eyes to how good you have it and trying your best to learn from your hardships.  It means focusing on the relationships and community around you, and supporting your friends because only you can understand what they’re going through.

It’s easy to let ballet become your “end all be all”, but in my experience you’ll love it a lot more if you let it be what it really is; an incredibly beautiful and disciplined art form. Ballet is a very prominent part of my life, and I believe finding joy in other areas outside of the studios is one of the best ways to enhance it and become a “Whole Dancer” and maybe even more importantly, a balanced person.

The post Being “Whole” in the Corps of a BIG company… appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

by Stacy West

Have you ever had a teacher or choreographer who said or did something that made you feel bad about yourself or your dancing?

If you are a serious dancer the chances are good that you have. If not, unfortunately the chances are good that you may someday find yourself in that situation.

Dance teachers and choreographers have long been portrayed as authoritarian figures. There’s an almost romantic notion that you aren’t a real dancer unless you’ve experienced things like bloody feet and being screamed at by a semi-unstable teacher or choreographer. Movies such as Black Swan and reality shows like Dance Moms perpetuate this idea.

While it’s true that there are standard expectations of discipline and etiquette in dance, it’s also true that some teachers and choreographers cross the line, creating an abusive environment for their dancers.

In a world where corrections are considered a compliment, it can sometimes be confusing to tell the difference between someone who is pushing you to be your best and someone who is causing damage to you, your self-esteem and your love for dance.

Being pushed by a teacher is one of the ways you can improve. But abusive teachers gain self-esteem through the humiliation or shaming of others and they regularly use their position of authority in negative ways.

What should you do if the authority figure in the room routinely creates an environment that goes beyond the norm? As a dancer do you have the right to stand up or yourself?

The answer is a definite YES! Here are some suggestions for how to deal with the situation:

1. Take a Deep Breath 

Remind yourself that personal attacks which are emotionally abusive are unjustified and that you have the right to stand up for yourself. Make the decision that you will take a calm, professional approach to solving issues that have arisen.

2. Read the situation

Some choreographers take their personal frustrations, insecurities and creative blocks out on their dancers. Observe the room to determine how your peers are feeling and what the root of the tension is. Discovering this can sometimes make verbal attacks feel less personal.

3. Ask for Clarity

Often when situations become tense it’s because something isn’t clear. Calmly and politely explain that you are trying to give what they want but you need more clarification. Others in the room likely need it too.

4. Seek the Advice of a Mentor

A mentor is someone who you trust and respect and who has a lot more experience than you do. It’s always good to have a mentor or two in your life. Use them as a sounding board when you need advice. Talk with them about your specific situation and seek their feedback on how to best handle it.

5. Express Your Concerns

 Make an appointment outside of rehearsal to express your concerns professionally and in person. This shows you have respect for the process. You can talk with the superior of the teacher or choreographer you are struggling with or you can talk with the person directly.

If you choose the latter, consider having a studio owner or artistic director present. If possible document your concerns in writing or an email. That way, if you need to pursue further action you have documentation.

6. Don’t Gossip

Nothing weakens you or your case more than gossiping. Keep your complaints professional and follow the chain of command.

7. Evaluate

Depending on how issues are handled and resolved in your organization you may have to determine if staying in this environment is the best choice for you.

Every teacher or choreographer you encounter won’t be your absolute favorite. But chances are good that if you handle the situation professionally, most disputes can be resolved and you will gain the respect of those you work with.

If you determine that the situation is indeed unpleasant but tolerable, try to learn something from it. Grow from it and take mental notes to remember when you become a teacher. Hopefully you will never make your students feel this way.

If it truly is a situation that continues to wreak havoc on you, your self-esteem and your love for dance, or if it becomes physically abusive it’s ok to walk away. It’s ok to walk away even if you thought it was going to be your most amazing dance opportunity to date.

Accept that it wasn’t and begin the process of finding the place and people who are the right fit for you. It’s out there and your next favorite dance teacher or choreographer is waiting for you to step into his or her studio.

Stacy West is the Executive and Artistic Director of the St. Louis based MADCO (Modern American Dance Company), a 40-year old professional contemporary dance company that reaches over 30,000 people annually.

Photo credit : uhuru1701 via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-SA

Photo credit: grey_barklay via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

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On top of that, you’ve got to prepare healthy and satisfying meals for yourself. Your food choices impact your energy, recovery and have the power to prevent injury.

This weeks challenge is to prepare this perfect warm weather meal. This recipe is also quick AND it travels well (if you’ve got an insulated container, you’re ahead of the game).

You can adjust it to your preferences and dietary needs easily. It’s also really gentle on your digestive system.

Have I convinced you yet? 

Watch the video here:

Don’t forget to comment below and let me know which challenges have been your favorites so far: physical challenges, mental/emotional challenges, or food challenges (like today’s).

The post A perfect challenge for warm weather appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

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!

The post Abby Zinsser on The Whole Dancer Program appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

As the weeks and months went on, she shared with me some of the positive feedback she was getting from the artistic staff about her increased confidence and presence in the studio. I asked Ashley if she would elaborate so I could share it with you!

Here’s what Ashley wrote:

“Today we live in a world of instant gratification. We can instantly find information on the internet with a click of a button, we can instantly connect with people from all over the world with a simple phone call or text, the list goes on.

This breeds the idea that everything in life should be instantaneous. However, the ballet technique is not like that. In our quest for perfection and continual improvement we have to learn to love the process and understand that good things take time to come to fruition.

The Whole Dancer Program helped me to see that. This program addresses the areas in which today’s dancer needs support. Jess helps you to set realistic goals for your future while also helping you to cultivate the positive headspace to indulge effectively in the hard work it takes to achieve your dreams.

The Whole Dancer Program provides dancers with the opportunity to reflect on not only their technical progress but also how they are fueling their bodies (side note – check out the free mini course on dancing fuel at thewholedancer.com/minicourse).

With the rise of “fitspo” on social media, it seems as if we are being bombarded with different diets, cleanses, and “bad” foods from every angle.

This makes food seem more like a jigsaw puzzle that can either tarnish or create your career rather than an essential part of your life.

Jess provided me with the opportunity to reassess my eating habits as well as how I approach food. I truly believe that when we take proper care of our instrument and nourish it well, the sky is the limit for one’s success!

Since participating in The Whole Dancer Program I have started keeping a corrections journal, taken a new approach to how I eat, and most importantly tried to appreciative and cultivate who I am as a person (not just the body in the studio).

Prior to joining this program I felt like I was very negative and hard on myself in all aspects of my life.

I’m not saying those feelings go away instantaneously, but Jess has helped me to identify tools I can use to learn how to become the most positive and best dancer I can be.

I truly believe that the more we love and appreciative ourselves, the more poised we are to be fearless in our dancing and better connect with the audience.

I would definitely recommend this program to friends because I think holistic health is essential for dancer’s to reach their peak and this program can help them achieve that!!”

Join The Whole Dancer Program today!

The post Ashley Forché on The Whole Dancer Program appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

You spend so much time in the studio and the work you do there is invaluable. It’s super important to continue to work on yourself outside as well.

Good news…The Whole Dancer Foundations Course is here!!!

With this course you get access to the audio component of each of the 4 webinar’s presented so far with special guests Shelby Elsbree of Boston Ballet and Casey Dalton formerly of Colorado Ballet and founder of Deco Dancewear.

This course cover’s Eating for Energy, Fearless Auditioning, Goal Setting and Self – Care for Nutcracker Season (or any busy performing season).

If you considered The Whole Dancer Program in the past but couldn’t afford the investment, the foundations course is a great way to start working on yourself at your own pace for a super affordable price.

Even if you registered for one or all of these webinars, I know how busy you can be dancing, performing, cross – training, etc. so I wanted to come up with a way to make this information available instantly and on the go!

By setting goals, eating well, taking better care of yourself and auditioning fearlessly you can lay the foundation to achieve massive success inside the studio by inspiring balance and empowerment.

Click the button below for the full details and to invest in your success today.

The post Official Announcement: Foundations Course appeared first on The Whole Dancer.