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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From the time you start taking dance seriously, the focus is honed in on technique. Your teachers help you to work out all the little technical details . The best teachers create an environment for healthy dedication and improvement.

However, a lot of dancers are criticized for not applying corrections quickly enough. The assumption might be that they’re lazy or not dedicated. Perhaps they lack focus or attention in class.  This post will delve into how to deal with criticism in dance.

The reality is, if a correction is not applied quickly, it may not be understood or prioritized, by the student, teacher, or both. For some dancers, anxiety gets in the way of mental focus in class. Still, other dancers are so hyper-focused on trying to pick up combinations that applying corrections becomes too much to handle.

As a dancer, you can be empowered by knowing that you are the keeper of your destiny. By taking care of your body, being open to feedback or corrections, and working hard every day you can get where you want to go. You can reach your goals.

It might take some additional focus on applying those things that you hear in class or staying present to remember the intricacies of each combination. If you want to really get ahead, consistently create additional personal benchmarks to make your improvements measurable.

This is where goal setting and accountability come in.

Most of us have been in a situation where it felt like a teacher just really didn’t like you for some reason. Those can be some of the most challenging, disheartening experiences.

Here’s a personal story, major criticism in dance…

When I was 15, I went away for my second summer program. I was put into the highest level, but worried it was a mistake. I don’t think I was ready for that at all, and apparently, neither did the former New York City Ballet *star* my level worked with most closely.

This former NYCB principal dancer (we’ll call her Ms. M) was one of the people I was most excited to work with. I never had any Balanchine training so I was looking forward to experiencing her perspective and learning some incredibly beautiful Balanchine choreography.

It became clear on day 1 that Ms. M was not impressed by me. She would often single me out and give lots and lots of corrections in a very mean, degrading way. I was not totally alone in this. Ms. M was harsh in general and called out a number of ladies in my class with lots of yelling.

Then, there were her favorites. The ones who could do no wrong. Were they working harder than me? Applying corrections more quickly? Simply better?

I cried to my mother on the phone every day that I had class with her (which was almost every day of that summer program).

Ms. M threatened to demote me to a lower level. I secretly wished she would, just so I wouldn’t have to take her classes anymore. In the beginning, I was determined to win her over. Tis’ the plight of the determined dancer I guess. I tried to work harder. Then, I tried to disappear. 

Honestly, that experience informed a lot of my future confidence and actions as a dancer.

When I think back on that experience the pain is still quite palpable, even though it was so long ago. When I revisit some of my dancing experiences after that summer, I see myself hiding. Doubting. Worrying.

This is where the importance of taking on responsibility for your own success comes in. You’ve got to assess yourself and work towards your goals, regardless of these sometimes negative, studio experiences. If you’re not sure how to deal with criticism in dance, you’re not alone.

Don’t let your dancing be defined or defeated by one person’s opinion. Here’s how…

Luckily, I’ve had lots of different teachers over the years and many supporters. I’m glad I only dealt with such a defeating experience for four weeks. If you’re dealing with a challenging experience on a more consistent basis, you may need to take bigger action. 

It might be in your best interest to seek new training or teachers in your area. If you plan to pursue dance professionally, this is going to make a huge difference in your levels of confidence and therefore chances for success.

In a temporarily challenging time, bring your attention back to positive training experiences. Who were the teachers who supported you? How did they make you feel? What did they say that helped you see your own potential? 

During my very challenging summer intensive experience, I wrote down the choreography to every variation we learned. There’s value to writing down choreography but what I wish I had done, was set some personal goals for myself. I would have been empowered to focus on the work instead of the fear.

Clear goals can provide an outlet to turn your attention inward. They can counteract feelings of failure and help you stay aware of your big picture, big goals, and ultimate dreams. Goals allow you to be in the driver’s seat. 

Are you a goal-setter? Do you have a vision for your goals? 

Check out these posts and videos for more: 

• The Power of a Clear Vision.
• Tools of Transformation.
• Reaching Body Goals

How to Deal with Criticism in Dance was originally published in October 2015

Edited for content and clarity July 2021 

Photos of Casey by Luis Pons

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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

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Dancers certainly get pushed into the Holidays somewhat prematurely. It’s only early Fall but I’d guess you’re working on Nutcracker in some form or another.

Personally, this really helps me to get excited for the Holidays and the New Year. How about you?

Instead of putting off new goals and intentions until January, why not make October super intentional and carry that proactive momentum through January 2017 and beyond!?

You’ll also set yourself up for success before things really get crazy with performances, secret santa, rehearsals, gift buying, holiday parties and all of those shenanigans.
You know that January usually kicks off audition season whether you’re going for companies or summer programs so setting goals now is a great way to ensure greater success in the New Year.

Some awesome ways to make October more intentional include:

Plan your week – if you don’t have a planner you can diagram out the week each Monday. Use your creativity to make this plan visually appealing and fun to create. My planner is full of color. I like to highlight things with different colored markers. This gets me more excited to plan!

Consider your food choices. The holidays can be dangerous if you don’t think ahead when it comes to eating healthfully. Balance out indulgences with nutrient dense meals full of greens, healthy fats and proteins.

Pointe towards the future – preparing your tools (shoes, makeup, hair) will allow you to feel less stressed and more settled when performance time comes around.

Clean ahead. Take some time now to deep clean your room or apartment. Clean out your closets and make your life as tidy and orderly as possible. This is going to help things to feel less chaotic when it seems like you have no free time.

Manifest, manifest, manifest. As you make goals and positive shifts, really prioritize your belief in what is possible. Visualize making the cut in that big audition. See yourself moving to the city where you’d like to be dancing. Being clear in your mind with what you desire can actually increase the likelihood of it happening.

**check out my favorite planner**

This week I’m creating two new FREE resources. One will help you feel more balanced AND the second will help you feel less bloated. I’m glad I can cover a physical stressor and some mental stressors – this way you’ll go into the next few months with an overall greater sense of calm and support.

If you join The Whole Dancer email list you’ll be the first to gain access to these new tools!

If there’s ever anything you’d like me to cover – shoot me a line! I want to provide the tools and tips you truly need so if there’s something I haven’t touched on yet – reach out!!

ALSO, exciting news!! You can now sign up for The Whole Dancer Program whenever you’re ready! During the month of October – to celebrate this shift you can receive some BIG exclusive savings – use code: intentionaloctober.

The Whole Dancer Program was created to help dancers cultivate a balanced lifestyle and mindset. The pre – holiday season is a great time to work on that balance. Get the details here.

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Making a weekly video – that’s my challenge!

For you, there might be a food challenge, a physical challenge, or a mental challenge!

Summer time is usually a mix of having a super busy schedule and having some down time that you might now know what to do with! Use these weekly challenges to learn about yourself and stretch outside of your comfort zone.

Here’s the video with your first challenge:

After you watch, report back! Share with me how you feel about this challenge and when you plan to tackle it below!

The post Summer time challenge series! appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

I’ve mentioned many times, in one way or another, the importance of a mentor for dancers.

Some dancers are very lucky and work one on one with a coach or teacher. This person often becomes a guide for them throughout their career and life.

For some of us (myself included) those mentors don’t crop up til later.

Make it part of your job to find a mentor.

These are people who can give you advice, listen to your struggles and understand what you’re going through. They’ve been there.

A mentor may be someone who is a friend but usually has a bit more experience than you.

Navigating the landscape of a professional ballet career is not simple. The fear that you might not make it is nagging.

Some days will be full of doubt.

You won’t always find the support you desire in your peers or friends. Dance friends are still your competition and non – dance friends will never fully get it.

One of my most helpful, supportive and wonderful mentors was my friend Sara Sardelli. After dancing in Louisville, Sara moved on to Sarasota Ballet where she moved up quickly through the ranks to Principal Dancer.

We were at Butler University at the same time. She was a year ahead of me and exceptionally talented.

I was in awe.

We became fast friends. She appreciated my dry humor and sarcasm and I was just grateful to have someone older to share the ins and outs with me.

After graduation I ended up at the same ballet company as Sara.

Again, I benefitted from her willingness to share with me the politics she had already uncovered and the connections she had made.

One day after a particularly stressful rehearsal I had a breakdown.

It’s one of those moments in life I’ll never forget because I felt so overwhelmed by inadequacy.

As I cried in Sara’s car I imagined she had no idea how I felt. She was so much more talented than me. I was totally shocked when, at the end of my tearful self – mutilation she told me:

“I know exactly how you feel.”

How this was possible baffled me but I believed her when she told me her first year with the company was equally distressing.

Your mentor will be able to tell you, “I get it” and sometimes that’s all it takes to feel a little bit better and to realize you’re not alone. We’re all in this together.

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She took part in the first round of The Whole Dancer Program in September of 2015 and when I got to speak with her one – on – one during the program, I was taken by her humility and pure loveliness.

Lauren dances full time with Boston Ballet and takes college courses, so there is clearly a lot on her plate. I wondered if she would be able to add The Whole Dancer Program to that mix AND get results.

So when I received an email from her on Saturday in response to “The trouble with casting”, I was thrilled. She wrote:

“The topic of this email and worksheet really hit home with me and is the perfect thing to help me start 2016 in a positive mindset!!

I am looking forward to completing the worksheet to help calm the anxieties that have arisen in my subconscious mind during my layoff after Nutcracker.

I find myself worrying about not getting cast in any good roles when we return from break, when in reality I shouldn’t be so worried!

2015 was an important year for me, because I feel I was able to find confidence in myself and my dancing not only when things were going well, but also when I wasn’t cast in a good role or I wasn’t getting any attention from the artistic staff…

I think this change in my thinking and confidence was improved in part by my participation in The Whole Dancer Program. I didn’t fully realize it until now, so I wanted to make sure I reached out to you to thank you!”

I asked Lauren if I could share her message with you all because I know how deeply dancers internalize the disappointment and self – criticism that often arises when that casting sheet goes up or a rejection email arrives or you just have a really bad day.

Lauren was excited to share her message and said, “I hope it helps someone decide to sign up for the program!” 

Finding the confidence in yourself and your dancing each and every day takes some work. The Whole Dancer Program is designed to help you prioritize that work.

If you’re inspired by Lauren’s message, don’t delay, it’s time to sign up!

The post Lauren Herfindahl’s Experience in The Whole Dancer Program appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

Depending on where you are geographically and personally you may or may not be in a forced state of relaxation which can actually be very stressful! So why do dancers get stressed by breaks?

Well, for me, I had teachers saying, “however long you take off, it will take you at least twice as long to get back to where you were before the break.” I think lots of dancers have heard a similar variation of that warning.

It certainly instills a belief that taking no time off is the best option. 

I want you to give yourself a break.

It doesn’t have to be a totally lazy time with absolutely no movement (although I don’t think that is always the worst idea either) but allow yourself the space to explore other things.

Consider the following list and commit try one new practice. This way you get some r + r AND enhance your life at the same time!

1. Go to a yoga class. The movement is different and that variety is beneficial. I felt a new and different strength as a dancer after incorporating yoga into my life!
2. Swim. It’s great cardio and a super gentle way to keep moving your body after the intensity of performing so much.
3. Have a trainer assess your physical weaknesses and create a cross – training plan around those discoveries. A trainer who is not familiar with dance may need some help as to what sorts of things you need strength for. As a non – dancer they may provide totally new insight – stay open.
4. Try out new, healthy recipes.
5. Go back to the basics. Sometimes when we’re taking advanced classes we don’t have the opportunity to work on the small details. Work on your own on the things you know could use some attention.
6. Meditate – the headspace app provides a beautiful 10 – day challenge if you’re new to meditation.
7. Find inspiration: go to the theater or a museum and experience some other arts.
8. Read a book. If you typically stick to fiction try non – fiction and vice versa.
9. Start a blog. Need inspiration? Check out Kirsten Evans blog Setting the Barre! Yesterday she wrote a beautiful post about The Whole Dancer Program!
10. Do some planning! This is the perfect time to create a plan to take serious action in 2016. Are you into resolutions? A resolution is defined as:

the act of resolving or determining upon an action, course of action, method, procedure, etc.

Resolutions are great BUT don’t forget the step where you actually map out your course of action!

Post a comment below and let me know what new practice you’re going to try or what your go – to lay off activities are! 

And, since we’re on the subject of action, don’t forget to sign up for The Whole Dancer January 16′ no – cost workshop on Fearless Auditioning! This workshop is now available as an audio training in The Whole Dancer Foundations Course!

The post Finding Space appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

Most professional dancers can think back to one offhand comment that they’ve internalized and allowed to affect way too much of their dancing careers and psyche.

For me there were a couple that stand out. One when I was at the tender age of 14 and the other was during my second year in a professional company at age 23.

At 14, I had just returned from my first summer program away. I had developed some bad habits and worse, as I was going through puberty, I had gained some weight. I really wasn’t aware of it until I was sitting next to my ballet teacher one day, she patted me on the thigh and said, “that wasn’t there before.”

Game over.

In my 14 year old mind this was a clear indication that I needed to lose weight so I started a diet immediately. My mother was always very into the low – fat trend so I decided I wouldn’t eat any food with more than 3g of fat. 

I lost weight and became totally obsessed with the number on the scale. I weighed myself daily and soon started checking my weight more than once a day. It was completely unhealthy and totally disordered. I carried these practices with me through college and into my first professional job.

My weight fluctuated over the years but in my mind my thighs would always be too big.

I would hope that most teachers don’t make comments like this but I have heard way too many stories suggesting that many do. Young dancers have very fragile minds and whether you think so or not, they are likely astutely aware of what’s “wrong” with their bodies for ballet.

So clearly, I allowed that one comment to affect A LOT of my life for a long time. Too long.

Somehow, I was able to push through all of that self – loathing and doubt and actually get a job in a professional company, even though confidence was always a HUGE issue for me. I don’t think it’s possible to be truly confident when your self – talk is so critical and negative.

In the company, I was starting to think I was holding my own. I was working harder than I ever had before and getting positive feedback so I knew the artistic staff was taking notice.

Then, during a layoff in an optional company class the teacher made a totally offhand comment about my arms being short. This was news to me. No one had ever commented on the length of my arms before and since this is a physical “flaw” and clearly something I could do nothing about I got into a major comparison game over it.

Come on, how can you really dance when you’re totally pre – occupied with your legs AND your arms and noticing how much thinner, longer, and more beautiful everyone else’s limbs are.

Short answer: you can’t.

I didn’t last much longer after that. I did some freelance work in Boston but got injured shortly thereafter and stopped dancing altogether.

So lets talk about mindset because I think it’s one of the most important things dancers should work on and something most struggle with in one way or another. During the hard times, you can come back to these strategies for improving your thoughts:

1. Remember how far you’ve come. There was likely a time when you were pretty terrible at ballet. You were 8 or 9 and you thought you were great but you had a long way to go. Appreciate all the time, hard work and dedication you have put into this art form over the years.
2. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. If you’re constructively criticizing  yourself, that’s ok. We are all working to improve our technique and dancing abilities. However, if you have negative thoughts like “my thighs are huge” (been there, thought that) replace the sentiment with my legs are strong and allow me to dance. Which leads me to:
3. Find gratitude. When we’re struggling in class, rehearsals, or in life in general remembering all that we have can make a huge difference in mindset. Each day write down 2-3 things you’re grateful for and if you’re struggling with your body, or abilities, or casting, focus on those things (i.e. I am thankful for every opportunity I have to be on stage).
4. Set goals. This shifts the focus away from any gloomy thoughts that may be coming up. When you set a goal, it’s important to break it down into it’s smallest components. Then you’re able to celebrate each small victory.
5. Identify the stories or comments that have lead you to a difficult or doubtful place and continually discredit them. Find ways to make them constructive and encouraging.

With my examples above, my arms may be short but I can work on using them in ways that elongates their line. As for my thighs, I’m now at a place where I think they’re beautiful anyway but I’m also hyperextended so I can focus on making my legs super strong to support that desirable attribute.

Find your positives and work on your confidence. A confident dancer is spectacular to watch and you can all get there. Cultivate an optimistic mindset and self love and (I’ll be totally cliche here) dance like nobody’s watching.

If you’d like help identifying and overcoming the stories or incidence that may have impaired your confidence, set up a “To the Pointe” strategy session. I’d love to help you work through it and these sessions are only available through the end of November!

The post The Importance of Mindset… appeared first on The Whole Dancer.

These recordings provided some incredibly gorgeous inspiration, hello Susan Jaffe, Paloma Hererra and Leslie Browne.

I also had the privilege of seeing NYCB perform live quite a bit. We had a friend with 2^nd row orchestra season tickets who regularly couldn’t make it to performances so he gave us his seats free of charge – amazing!!

My city ballet inspirations included Wendy Whelan, Alexandra Ansanelli and Miranda Weese. So much gorgeousness and talent, I absorbed as much as I could.

However, there was not the consistent inundation of images and ridiculous talent that you as dancers are surrounded with now…no 15 – year old prodigies posting 6 –pirouette videos or insane feats of flexibility and strength on instagram.

I don’t even remember watching youtube much until after college, and even then it was old videos of the classics (Makarova, Baryshnikov), not YAGP gold medal winners a decade younger than me and (seemingly) infinitely more talented.

Inspiration is important.

Find dancers you admire and take in what you can from them. Learn from their quality of movement and find motivation to work on your own strength and form.

Consider the dancers you’re surrounded by daily. These are likely your peers or at least technicians of a similar caliber – if you’re dancing next to them in a ballet company, there’s a reason. Let their beauty inform your own.

But…

Let the dancer who provides your greatest inspiration and motivation be YOU.

The dancer you look at in the mirror everyday; let her be your biggest motivation, competition and inspiration.

Remember where you started and admire how far you’ve come.

“When I step on stage, I do so not because I think I am the best, but because I want to give what I have to give.”

~Keenan Kampa

Give what you have to give for your audience AND yourself.

See your growth, improvement and talent. Remember the very young ballerina who used to try and emulate Balanchine or Russian technique even though she was never formally trained in either (and remember how silly she looked…maybe that was just me).

Remember the moments of fear when she went to her first big summer program audition and worried she didn’t measure up. Notice the certitude you’ve developed since then.

Or, the times she totally psyched herself out because the girl standing next to her had some really impressive pre – class stretches going on (the doubt those super bendy folks could instill was pretty incredible).

Don’t forget the joy of that first summer program acceptance letter and the little boost of confidence it provided.

Believe in the growth you’ve achieved. The difference between the uncertainty of those first few pointe classes and the strength and comfort you now feel on your toes.

There are ups and downs in the dedicated pursuit of this art form. If we don’t cultivate a loving relationship with our work, and ourselves we can become bitter.

To maintain the joy, focus inward. You are beautiful and talented and unique. 

And always, always remember:

“Don’t waste time on jealousy. Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long and in the end it’s only with yourself.”

~Baz Luhrman, The Sunscreen Song

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