You may have found the class attire that makes you feel your best. Perhaps you wear leg warmers on your calves to sort of balance out your butt and thighs (I used to do that). Maybe you wear a skirt to accentuate a small waist and hide your hips (guilty again).

Do you remember the last time you felt fully confident in just pink or flesh-tone tights and a leotard?

The way you see yourself in the mirror is connected to your ability to reach your best body, choose food you love that also serves you, and perhaps most importantly, dance well.

One of my favorite success stories from The Dancer’s Best Body Program came when a dancer told me she started taking class without a skirt on-something she hadn’t felt comfortable doing in years!

Going skirt-less, especially after hiding behind a skirt for so long, is huge! Auditions are a big occasion when this confidence will come in handy. You’re expected to show up in just a leotard and tights. If you haven’t done that in months, it can be such a challenge!

The Dancer’s Best Body Program takes you through The Whole Dancer 7 Step Best Body Process. It guides you towards your personal best dancer’s body. Along the way, confidence shifts, AHA moments occur and you start to see yourself in a positive light. You can be an expert on your body.

This process has been refined over the last 5+ years while working with 100’s of dancers. The vast majority of the dancers who commit to The Whole Dancer Best Body Process see a massive shift both mentally and physically. 

The physical shifts are rarely aesthetic.

Sometimes dancers come into this program with weight or aesthetic body goals. One of the first things you’ll do is switch those goals to focus on how you feel physically. Do you want to dance with more energy? More strength? Maybe more speed?

All of that is possible. When you make your physical goals about how you move and dance, the focus shifts. It shifts from “what’s wrong” to “what’s possible?”

Possibility will give you the push to keep going-even before all of your personal body goals are met.

If you’ve tried to stick to a plan in the past, and it just didn’t work or you started to feel defeated early on, this program is for you.

+ Support

You get full access to me over the course of your 3-month program via email and group calls. This might look like getting your questions answered whenever they come up or receiving specific recommendations and action steps based on your personal struggles and goals.

+ Information

This quiets all that internet noise. The course materials cut through all the distraction and provides you with nutritional insights relevant to dancers. 

+ Connections

Connect with dancers from around the world whom you have so much in common with! It’s amazing how much is shared in the dancer experience. 

+ Mindset Shifts

You’ll see the power of personal growth and positive psychology practices in action. Each week of the program builds on itself to create a transformed mind and approach to dance.

+ Action Steps

At every coaching call, specific actions you’ll be able to take right away are identified. You’re already taking massive action when you show up for this program and complete each module’s journaling exercises. However, by taking it a step further, your opportunities for growth are magnified.

+A Clear, Specific, Proven 7-Step Process

If someone tells you they can help you create a calm approach to food, your body, and your dancing, but there’s no process behind their work, something is likely missing. 

Information without a clear process rarely delivers. 

Think about it, there’s information all over the internet. It’s out there for you to find, so why should you invest in yourself through an online course and group program? Well, this program gives you a path. It takes you on a journey to long-term, sustainable, physical and mental shifts.

The process is also holistic. It’s not just about food and your body. It’s about creating a life that supports your goals and well-being. There’s a big, cross-training component with Tanya Tromly of Bulletproof Ballerina.

It sets you up for balance in dance and balance in life. If you’re in need of support, the next round of the program opens in April 2021. Whatever your plans are in the next few months, it’s never a bad time to invest in and commit to yourself.

Alleviating the mental stress you feel around your body is an essential first step in achieving your body goals-just committing to yourself and signing up for The Dancers’ Best Body Program can alleviate some of that stress!

Need the program details? Check here first, if you’re still unsure if you’re the right fit, feel free to email me at info@thewholedancer.com! As always, I’m here for you!

Scholarship applications are open for the April 2021 round of The Dancers’ Best Body Course + Group Coaching Program thru April 1, 2021. Click here to apply.

This post was originally published in April of 2017. It was updated for relevance and clarity in March 2021.

The post Confidence in Just a Leotard and Tights appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

It’s not fun living in fear. So now, Red Leotard Wednesday is about empowering you to be YOU and step out fearlessly each and every day.

For the full story, watch this video (I apologize for the blurriness, technology is not always on my side) :

Want to be featured on #redleotardwednesday? Here are a few ways to share your photos with me : 

1. You can email them to me at info@thewholedancer.com
2. DM me on Instagram @thewholedancer
3. Simply share your post using hastag “redleotardwednesday” and tagging @thewholedancer!

I can’t wait to see your photos and hear what you do to feel more powerful in dance AND in life!

With Red Leotard Wednesday we hope to empower you to step out of your comfort zone.

Red is a bold color. It’s the color of energy, passion and action!

“The color red is a warm and positive color associated with our most physical needs and our will to survive. It exudes a strong and powerful masculine energy.

Red is energizing. It excites the emotions and motivates us to take action.

It signifies a pioneering spirit and leadership qualities, promoting ambition and determination.

It is also strong-willed and can give confidence to those who are shy or lacking in will power.

Being the color of physical movement, the color red awakens our physical life force.”

How can you take bold action on Red Leotard Wednesday and everyday? 

Is there something that helps you to channel your personal strength and power. Maybe there’s another color or outfit that helps you to feel more confident and bold. We’d love to hear about it! Please share in the comments – what’s your ballet “power suit”?

Resources : Empower yourself with color psychology

The post Red Leotard Wednesday appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

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.

One of the first members of The Dancers’ Best Body Program who I’ve been working with since her enrollment has been steadily making progress towards her body goals. She has seen shifts in weight, confidence, the way she perceives herself, the way she approaches food, and her outlook on dance.

There is SO much for her to be proud of!

However, in a recent chat, she was feeling really stuck. Wondering why it wasn’t all just falling into place more quickly. Of course, this is compounded by a time of transition in her career where she’s auditioning for a new place to dance – super stressful!

I had to ask her, because it’s something I identified in my own journey, what the fear was.

What’s your biggest fear right now?

Her answer of course was that she wouldn’t get a job and reach that next place in her dancing journey.

This lead me to my next question.

Are you letting your body be the thing you can blame?

There are so many factors that impact the speed at which we see shifts in our bodies. However, there are also times when we self – sabotage and can’t release the habits that slow our progress because if your body was “perfect” all that’s left is your dancing.

That’s about FEAR.

And naturally, there’s a lot of fear that you won’t “make it” as a dancer…or keep the job, or get the promotion, or the role, and the list goes on and on!

Believe me, I totally get that. I was a big self saboteur throughout my dance career and beyond and I didn’t want to face my fears so instead I emotionally overate and made sure I always had my body to blame.

I want you to consider that there are three decisions that can have a monumental impact on where you go as a dancer (from Tony Robbins book Awaken the Giant Within) :

1. Your decisions about what to focus on.
2. Your decisions about what things mean to you.
3. Your decisions about what to do to create the results you desire.

Now, take action :

Think about a change you’ve wanted to make that you’ve been putting off. Why have you been avoiding making the shift? What potential pleasure can come of actually taking action? What results can come from this change? What’s the first step?

Today, take the first step. Want some accountability? Email me (info@thewholedancer.com) and share what you’re committing to changing! I read and reply to every email and I’d love to hear from you!

Photo credit: ChrisHaysPhotography via VisualHunt / CC BY-ND

The post A possible reason your body progress is SLOW appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

Now, I’m not going to disagree with Nureyev but I think when it comes to auditions – especially for professional company positions – you’ve got to remember that it’s about a lot more than technique.

Personally, I was a late starter. I was 12 when I started taking dance in a more professional setting and really it wasn’t at full professional caliber (outside of some awesome summer programs) until I went to Butler University.

I did not catch up technically until much later. Admittedly I just didn’t wrap my head around muscular turnout control and technical execution until my 20’s – (gasp, shock…I know).

So how did I get any kind of professional company attention?

Two things worked in my favor :

1.  I have bendy feet and hyperextension. I just lucked out there – if you weren’t born that way I guarantee you’ve got other innate gifts to bring to the table. Acknowledge that for yourself and use what you’ve got!

2.  I can only tell you this in retrospect – Any time I was asked to stay through to the end, received a scholarship or got an offer I was having one of those (rare at the time) days when I felt really good about myself.

This is a key component to acing an audition. You’ve got to show up and do your thing. You can’t stress about the dancers around you – even the ones who have “prettier” feet and legs.

You’ve gotta project your talents – let the things that make you exactly who YOU are shine.

It’s not about trying to dance more like your idol or your best friend or the girl next to you who was kept through to the end of the last audition the two of you both attended (I know what it’s like to do a bunch of auditions in one city and see all the same people there!).

Project your confidence and your personality.

Don’t run out of inspiration. Most of the time  you’re only there for 90 minutes. Turn. It. Up.

Visualize the job offer. Visualize yourself dancing with the company. Visualize the outcome you want.

Remember that you cannot read the minds or know the plans of Artistic Staff. You can’t know exactly what they’re looking for and for all you know you could be it!

Finally, trust that your technique will stay with you the whole time and that what you’ve got is good enough – see I pretty much agree with Nureyev

The post How to Succeed in Auditions appeared first on The Whole Dancer.