The Ballerina Who Refused to Break - Heather Ogden’s Story

This week, Nikki sits down with Heather Ogden, Principal Dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, to explore what it means to rebuild strength, identity, and purpose after motherhood, injury, and change.

At 44, Heather is still performing at the top of her craft — balancing artistry and athleticism while raising two children, recovering from back surgery and performing the lead Odette in Swan Lake at just 5 months postpartum. Together, Nikki and Heather dive into resilience, aging, body image, and the mindset it takes to keep showing up for your passion at every stage of life.

Heather shares:

• How she returned to dance Swan Lake just five months postpartum
• The mindset of recovery under pressure
• Why aging as a performer has brought unexpected confidence and perspective
• How motherhood reshaped her relationship with her body
• Her advice to dancers — and all women — on body image and self-worth
• The mental tools that helped her navigate injury, transition, and reinvention

In this episode, we explore the intersection of art, motherhood, and resilience — and how strength evolves as we do.

Ways to Connect with Heather: [Instagram]

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*Warning- this podcast is completely unfiltered. If you are around young children, we suggest headphones.