Mental Toughness for Dancers: Confidence, Resilience & Performance with Dr. Chelsea Pierotti

In this episode, host Sid Bensalah sits down with Dr. Chelsea Pierotti—sports psychology consultant, former professional ballet dancer, and host of the Passion for Dance podcast—to explore what it takes to perform under pressure in dance.

From overcoming perfectionism and burnout to building confidence and redefining success, Chelsea shares real-life stories and practical strategies that help dancers train their minds like athletes. Whether you're a performer, coach, parent, or athlete, you'll find powerful insights on mental resilience, goal setting, and emotional regulation.

 Discover why dancers experience performance anxiety, how to bounce back from setbacks, and why mental skills are as crucial as physical ones. Chelsea also explains the difference between mental health and mental toughness, and how anyone can develop both.

 Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and Guest Background
00:56 – Transition from Ballet to Sports Psychology
06:40 – Setting Goals and Measuring Success
10:07 – Overcoming Perfectionism and Building Confidence
21:56 – Handling Performance Anxiety and Burnout
28:17 – Recognizing Small Wins
29:36 – Managing Parental Pressure in Youth Sports
33:33 – Handling Rejection in Dance
35:49 – Mental Health vs. Mental Toughness
38:57 – Applying Mental Training Beyond Dance
46:15 – Lightning Round: Fun and Personal Insights
53:27 – Final Thoughts and Advice

🎧 Now streaming on Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.

Episode Quote: "When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." — Viktor Frankl

👉 Learn more about Dr. Chelsea Pierotti:
🌐 Website: chelseapierotti.com
🎙 Podcast: Passion for Dance
📸 Instagram: @dr.chelseapierotti

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