Season Two Ep: 16
Starving For Success? Dance Nutrition and the Truth No one Talks About with Dr. Stephanie Potreck.
In this powerful episode of the Dance Real Podcast, host Kate Histon is joined by medical doctor and dance nutritionist Dr. Stephanie Podreck, whose career spans medicine, sports nutrition, and global health—and is deeply rooted in her own experience as a professional dancer. Together, they unpack the often-unspoken realities of dancer health, including:
* The connection between under-fuelling, delayed development, and injury—and why this is still a crisis decades after the research emerged.
* The emotional roots of disordered eating, including trauma, perfectionism, and unstable family dynamics.
* How dance schools can be both a trigger and a solution—and what red flags to watch for in students.
* Why a dancer’s performance suffers not from a lack of willpower—but a lack of food, rest, and recovery.
* What a healthy day of meals and snacks looks like for a 14-year-old dancer.
* The hard truths about some European schools, including outdated pedagogy, poor student welfare, and the emotional toll of international transitions.
* Strategies for supporting dancers moving overseas, including food prep, housing, and building resilience.
* The psychological harm of body shaming and archaic teaching—and why the dance world must evolve now. Dr. Podreck also shares how her clinic, AusDancers Overseas, supports dancers in building sustainable health practices from pre-professional training into company life.
This conversation is essential listening for:
✔️ Dance teachers
✔️ Studio owners
✔️ Parents of aspiring dancers
✔️ Students navigating elite training
Get In Touch with Stephanie Potreck 🌐 Website: www.ausdancersoverseas.com 📷 Instagram: @ausdancersoverseas
🩰 Stay Connected with Kate Follow Kate for more episodes, personal reflections, and real-talk on healing and integrity in the dance world:🌐 Website: www.katehiston.com📷 Instagram: @katehiston @Dance_Real_Podcast @Master_Dancer_Mindset🎧 Podcast: Dance Real Podcast – Available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms After Show Notes: The book Kate referred to is correctly called "Apollo’s Angels": A History of Ballet is authored by Jennifer Homans, a former professional ballerina turned dance scholar and critic. It offers a sweeping cultural and historical examination of ballet from its Renaissance origins to modern times.
Disclaimer: The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share—and what my guests share—is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation—not to harm or misrepresent. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.
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