A ballerina in a tutu stands backstage looking down at one pointed foot

How to Use Mantras to Boost Your Performance

As a mental-performance coach, Jaclyn Ellis has seen firsthand how the right mantra can transform a performer. “I work with an Irish dancer who has a lot of what I call ‘What if’ thinking. ‘What if I fall? What if the judges don’t like me? What if I collide with someone onstage?’ ” says Ellis, who […]

Sports Psychology for Ballroom Dancers: 5 Ways to Improve Your Performance

Ballroom dancers face a unique set of challenges when pursuing their dreams. With a hyper-focus on professional competitions, and the added complexities of managing long-term dance partner relationships, it’s difficult to reach peak potential. Dance psychologist Dr. Peter Lovatt knows all about these complex circumstances, and is here to share his expert opinion with five […]

Experts Talk Mental Health: Four Therapists Sound Off

When Dance Magazine surveyed our readers last summer, 81 percent said the field wasn’t doing enough to support mental health. We sat down with four mental health professionals, each with more than a decade of experience working with dancers, to find out their thoughts on how mental health is being addressed in the dance community […]

What to Do If You Think a Fellow Dancer Is Having a Mental Health Crisis

When it comes to mental health, dancers are the ones on the frontlines trying to support each other. Many find themselves routinely confronted with concerns for their friends. Maybe it’s the dancer down the barre who you know is cutting, or the partner who only speaks about himself with disparagement and disgust. According to Dr. […]