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 […]

7 Ways To Make Dancing in the Heat Less Miserable

Summertime, and the living is…steamy. Studios can be hot. Outdoor festivals can be grueling—especially once those stage lights turn on. When the temperatures rise, movement feels harder and your body fatigues faster. What’s a dancer to do? Follow these steps to make the heat less taxing on your body so that it doesn’t keep you […]