Dancer's Choice

Hey yall! We are back this week to share a special episode with guests, Gio & Melissa Gotay of Unveiled Productions! Unveiled Productions is a videography company based out of Nashville, TN with a mission to create compelling stories through dance and film with messages of finding hope in hopeless situations. Directed by Melissa & Gio, they join the podcast to share their testimonies of starting as dance professionals, to working through injuries and a pandemic, stepping into positions as business owners, and ultimately making a career change to pursue their greatest purpose of doing ministry through the lens of dance on film.   This episode is filled with so much passion, heart, & encouragement for dancers out there wanting to make a difference and unlock their true calling in this industry. To further connect with Gio & Melissa: Instagram: @giogotay Instagram: @melissamgotay To Watch Unveiled Productions: https://youtube.com/@unveiled_productions?si=TijxHIqHIRlGB0Kr (https://youtube.com/@unveiled_productions?si=TijxHIqHIRlGB0Kr) Instagram: @unveiled_productions

You loved her before, so we brought her back for a part two! In this episode, Dawsen and guest, Ally Miller, dive deep into all things nutrition. We go everywhere from macro tracking and how it can be a helpful tool to sleep and its importance in our daily lives (and secret: you're probably not getting enough of it). Grab a coffee, get your hot girl winter walk on, and buckle up for this weeks episode!

WELCOME BACK to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! In the spirit of the holidays, food, and football we thought there was no better episode to share again other than that with the lovely ALLY MILLER- Nutritional Therapy Practitioner! This episode is JAM PACKED with advice on how dancers can adequately nourish their bodies for performance, train for pro auditions, feel more comfortable in their skin, and achieve fitness/physique goals WITHOUT the dieting! Not to mention, Ally shares with us her incredible testimony of how she went from taking time off dance & serving our country to pursuing a career as an NFL cheerleader and now coaching dancers through Nutritional Therapy. CLICK HERE to further connect with Ally & don't forget to check out HER PODCAST on Spotify!

If you're a dance mom, LISTEN UP! This week Riley and Dawsen asked THEIR MOMS what advice they'd give to current dance moms and share on the podcast what their moms wish they knew before diving into the competition world. & on the other end, the girls sit down to share what THEY LEARNED from their moms growing up in the studio!! a sweet episode, LOTS of advice and counsel, and a whole lot of info (and love) for our current "moms of dancers" out there :)

Hey y'all! Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week Riley and Dawsen sit down with fellow dance judge and choreographer, Malea Boggess, to discuss her upbringing from performing to coaching at competitive dance teams. Malea has been dancing since the age of two, and is now a choreographer for multiple competitive studios in Northern California. She trained and danced competitively in jazz, contemporary, lyrical, tap, and hip hop. By age thirteen Malea booked a tour alongside dancers from America's Best Dance Crew. During her high school years she was a member of the Rocklin High School dance team and was a student director in the dance program both her junior and senior years on top of dancing competitively on her studio's elite team. Malea then attended Sacramento State where I was apart of the Hornet Girlz Dance Team for one season under the direction of Jolie Roberts. Towards the end of Malea's college career she was also apart of Chapkis Dance Family under the direction of Greg Chapkis and a part of Kreativ Mndz LA under the direction of both Kolanie Marks and Antione Troupe. She now spends time assistant coaching a high school dance team, choreographing, and traveling the country to judge during competition season. One of the biggest things Malea stands for is a positive and healthy environment. When teaching and working with dancers her goal is to always help dancers feel confident, mentally and physically, and to make sure they feel safe.  This is a GREAT episode for younger dancers wanting to listen in and hear where their current competitive training could take them into the near future :)

In this episode, Dawsen sits down to discuss how your personal life and professional life connect while working/performing on a cruise ship. From not having much privacy to most of the crew knowing whats going on in your/the cast's life, its pretty hard to separate the two. We know that having a work/life balance is important, but while working on a cruise ship, it seems to be pretty tough to do that.

WELCOME BACK TO THE DANCER'S CHOICE PODCAST !!! This week Riley sits down with creative, Vanessa Eirekat, to discuss what life looks like exploring different medias and career paths outside of simply dancing. If you're interested in becoming an entrepreneur, mentoring young artists, creating a balanced life for yourself, or seeing what else exists in this industry besides "being the dancer" then this episode will be a breath of fresh air for you! Vanessa Eirekat is a proud alumna of Point Park University, where she received her BFA in Dance with a minor in Communications. Her versatile dance training stems from working with profound choreographers and mentors such as Jennifer Archibald, Tyce Diorio, Christopher Huggins, Jason McDole, Garfield Lemonius and more. She has had the opportunity to perform at the Joyce Theatre in NYC, receive an acceptance into the Cirque Du Soleil dancer database, work with Nickelodeon, perform back-up and more. Her experiences have allowed her to launch a thoughtful mission surrounding the arts...Vanessa is the founder of Vanessa's Creative Connect - a space where private dance processes and creative media connect. She collaborates with creatives of all forms to help them thrive through their art. These processes include dance mentorships, photography, video content creation, and graphic/logo design. Vanessa has always believed artists have the advantage of wearing many hats. We understand how a variety of art forms align and compliment one another! To Further Connect with Vanessa: Instagram: @vanessaeirekhat Vanessa's Creative Connect: https://www.vcreativeconnect.com Hiphop Mentorship- Winter Sessions: https://www.vcreativeconnect.com/winterwaitlist

Welcome back all! This week Riley & Dawsen are inspired to sit down and reflect on everything dance has taught them and how it applies to the real world and stages of life they are in now. We've all heard a teacher say it before..."even if you don't dance professionally, ______ will help you in whatever you pursue" so let's talk about it ! We hope this inspires dancers to reflect on their personal journeys and brings relief to any parent listening to know that their dancer is learning more than just dance steps along the way :)

CALLING ALL DANCE COMP JUDGES, ADJUDICATORS, & FRIENDS OF THE COMPETITION WORLD !!!! Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast :) This week, Riley and Dawsen sit down with Dance Professional, JASON PICKETT, for a part two discussion about the competition dance scene- specifically the role judges play in weekend events. -Is there a lack of education and training in our field? WHY? -What does it take to be a judge and HOW can professionals approach this position with an emphasis on QUALITY? -How can we avoid "passive judging" within these large companies/events? -Are judges today ADDING value to dancers' education and training or are we just chasing a paycheck? In this episode, WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL !! Don't agree? Unpopular opinions? Let's start a conversation: @dancerschoicepodcast TO FURTHER CONNECT WITH JASON: Instagram: @heyitspickett Artists Who Eat: @artistswhoeat No Starving Artists: nsadance.com

WELCOME BACK FRIENDS !! It's officially football season which means it's officially TOPCAT SZN !! This week the girls sit down to unpack Dawsen's FIRST GAME DAY as an NFL Cheerleader (go panthers). Riley's asking all the questions we want to know and Dawsen answers opening up about all the highlights and all the learning moments. What's it like switching from stage performance to stadium performance? How does a dancer have to alter their training to take on the 3+ hour games? Are there similarities from past gigs or is NFL pro dance in a whole other world? Dawsen is an open book! If you're curious what the "day in a life" looks like for a Pro Dancer, LISTEN UP !!

Another Week, Another GUEST! This week the girls are THRILLED to be bringing on a phenomenal professional in the industry- KALEY JENSEN! Kaley Jensen, a wife and mother, is also a professional dancer, adjunct professor, Pilates teacher trainer, choreographer, cross-fitter, and creator of the Mentoring Program for Dancers: Mindset to Movement. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Kaley attended Brigham Young University as a dance major and business minor. She performed and toured with the Theatre Ballet Company all four years, and trained on scholarship at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance and Ballet West. While there, she received academic and international talent awards at the World Dance Movement in Italy. She later pursued her Masters of Fine Arts at the University of Arizona, where she met her future husband and further developed her passion for performing, educating, and choreographing. After her first year, a severe car accident left her with a broken back, but she recovered and returned to dance with the help of a dedicated Pilates regimen, a discipline that soon became a new passion. Since moving to Dallas in 2017, Kaley has completed her Pilates training and has been teaching and choreographing locally for studios and dance departments, including Richland College and, more recently, Collin College. She also presented at the national AGO conference for two consecutive years. Her professional dance credentials include performances with Bruce Wood Dance, Zion Dance Project, Ballet North Texas, Collin County Ballet Theatre, Ballet Dallas, and most recently, Full Circle Dance. Some professional highlights include performing the lead in the original work by Silas Farley of New York City Ballet, Dew Drop and Sugar Plum Fairy in "The Nutcracker," the role of Phoenix in "Phoenix Rising" by Zach Ingram of Alvin Ailey, and the principal in the award-winning "HIVE" by Tiffanee Arnold. Through her example and mentorship, Kaley loves empowering dancers to reignite their passion and turn their dream careers into a vivid reality. TO FURTHER CONNECT WITH KALEY: mindset2move.com CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR MENTORSHIP !!

Hey y'all! Solo episode with Riley this week calls for a much needed chat about the current trend on the market- WHY IS EVERY DANCER AND THEIR MOM PURSUING FITNESS COACHING RIGHT NOW ??? Is it just us or does it seem like every dancer is taking on the "side hustle" of a working at a fitness boutique or pilates studio? Having worked in fitness since 2021, Riley sits down to share the reality of working in the health & wellness industry as a dancer. Riley shines light on what the media tends to romanticize in fitness, opens up about the pro's and con's of boutique fitness/online certifications, and aims to educate listeners on the little things nobody tells you to consider before training to become a coach. Fitness is a great pursuit for dancers, and could be the best choice you make for your career, BUT it's important to understand all it entails, the commitment, and the realities that a highlight reel on instagram will never tell you. Insert...this week's episode. Enjoy & let us know your thoughts !! xoxo

THE PODCAST TURNS 1 !!! We have made it to ONE WHOLE YEAR of Dancer's Choice! In today's episode, Riley and Dawsen sit down to unpack what the last year has looked like, celebrate this new milestone, and share many other milestones that have happened the last few months recording together! DANCING ON THE BIG SCREEN??!! BOYCOTTING THE OLYMPICS??!! A DANCERS CHOICE WEDDING ??!!! Get ready to hear all the ONE YEAR TEA xoxo

Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week we are joined by the one & only, Mina Witte @minapro!! In today's episode, the girls break down the importance of collaboration, as all artists truly all share their styles with one another. From Irish Step, touring internationally, moving onto ballroom dance, teaching, owning a studio, and running her very own competition, Mina opens up about how it's possible to do it all! Most importantly, she shares how to be a good human, embrace changing seasons in your dance journey, and how to let go of the ego and embrace community instead! Mina Witte uses dance to enrich the lives of others and create lasting impact. With two decades of performance, choreography and teaching experience, Mina began dancing at the age of 4 — Mina has trained in Ballroom, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Irish Step Dancing.  The Certified Ballroom Instructor and dance adjudicator has performed in Dublin, Ireland as well as with Artists such as Gaelic Storm and Big Bad Voodoo Daddies.  In addition, Mina holds multiple championship titles in Ballroom and Irish Step Dancing. Mina's commitment to dynamic excellence and talent for growing dancer's passion and skill creates high demand for her teaching style and philosophy as owner and director of Studio 303 and Le Carnaval Ballroom Dance Competition Mina Witte is an industry leader who remains dedicated to professionally mentoring, coaching, and developing performers. To further connect with Mina Witte: Instagram: @iamminapro Le Carnaval Dance Classic Studio 303: https://www.studios303.com Elevate Registration: https://letselevatedance.com/shop/ THANK YOU MINA

Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! Today, the girls are blessed to sit down and chat with artist, Myles Canonge!  Myles Canonge is a dynamic artist whose faith in Christ is the cornerstone of his life and work. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Myles honed his craft at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, where he graduated with a B.F.A. in dance and performance. Driven by a passion for performance, Myles ventured to Los Angeles to pursue a professional career in dance. His journey has seen him grace the stages of world tours and the screens of film and television, captivating audiences with his talent and dedication. Myles continues to inspire others through his art, embodying the belief that faith and creativity are intertwined in a beautiful dance of expression and purpose. You Are Appreciated Podcast THANK YOU MYLES

FIRST GUEST OF SEASON TWO WOOHOO!!! Welcome ALL to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! Today, Riley & Dawsen have the privilege of sitting down with Angela Cole! Struggling paycheck to paycheck? Have you always been told you can't make a living dancing? Want to teach, but don't know WHERE or HOW to start? Scared to discuss rates as an artist? ANGELA ANSWERS IT ALL! Angela is a dance artist, choreographer, and teacher based in Providence, RI. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Roger Williams University, where she was the recipient of the Kelli Wicke Davis Outstanding Achievement in Dance Award. Upon graduating, Angela was a 2017 Young Artist in Residence at Bearnstow, Maine, and then went on to perform as a freelance artist while teaching dance and fitness classes. Angela has danced for Natalie Johnson Dance in Cambridge, MA, and co-founded ProviDANCE Project, a contemporary dance collaborative with her artistic partner, Ellen Oliver. Angela is currently a company member at Providence Ballet Theatre, and also teaches dance throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. When not dancing and teaching, Angela is busy creating content for dance teachers through her Instagram page, @fulltimedanceteacher.  To further connect with Angela Cole: Instagram: @fulltimedanceteacher FREE Resources Dance Teacher Intensive/Master Courses THANK YOU ANGELA !!

WE ARE OFFICIALLY BACK!!! Welcome EVERYONE to the Dancer's Choice Podcast- the podcast BY dancers, FOR dancers where NOTHING is off limits! Today, Riley & Dawsen take the time to sit down and reintroduce themselves and the podcast- sharing their goals for the show, changes coming this season, and BIG LIFE UPDATES! We cannot wait for you to hear the episodes and GUESTS we have lined up for you this season! ***stay tuned for first one next week ;) IN THE MEANTIME....make sure you are following the podcast on both Spotify / Apple Podcasts as well as Instagram & our NEW YOUTUBE PAGE where you can watch all full-length episodes! New Episodes EVERY THURSDAY !! Thank you all

Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast + welcome to the LAST full episode of Season 1! This week, to acknowledge & respect May as Mental Health Awareness Month, Riley and Dawsen sit down to not only share advice based on their own mental health journeys, but open up about what we as a dance community can do moving forward, when it's not mental health month, to help break the stigma and be the change. This isn't your cliche "take a bubble bath and go to therapy" episode...instead we open up about how to combat mindset struggles, the importance of communication & acceptance, and share ways that we can make studio spaces safer. Not to mention- great opportunities for further education/certifications are discussed (& shared below in this description) We hope you know how loved & appreciated you are. Keep being the change and lifting each other up.

Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week Riley sits down to open up about the other side of audition conversations...the choice to not. Are you auditioning for the wrong reasons? How do you know what it is you truly want? Is it okay to stop going to auditions when so young? Are you auditioning because YOU want it or because your PEERS/TEACHERS want it? How can you avoid comparison, guilt, & shame when you take the path less traveled? What can dancers do to prepare MENTALLY and EMOTIONALLY for their future endeavors? What reasons should drive your auditions and what signs will tell you it's time to take a step back? A vulnerable, honest, and reflective conversation for any and all dancers no matter what chapter of life you are in. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome back to the solo episodes everyone! We've missed ya! It's been a hectic month but we're getting excited for season two coming up! In today's episode, Dawsen sits down to discuss some audition tips for your pro sports team auditions - or any audition truthfully. She goes into some important topics so get your pens and paper ready! It's a short and sweet episode but packed with some great information to take with you this audition season! Instagram: @dancerschoicepodcast Our Personal: @dawsensaley // @riley.goudy --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

WELCOME BACK to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week Riley & Dawsen are sitting down with the CEO of Elevate Convention, Jadell Lee! Curious about the business side of dance? Curious how to get IN the room, but also STAY in the room? Want to know how you can better prepare yourself for a sustainable career? Jadell's professional insight will answer all your questions! Professional dance educator, published author and TEDx speaker Jadell Lee brings a fresh perspective of life to audiences across the country. Lee has served as adjunct professor of dance for Seton Hill University, (2x) guest lecturer at Southern Utah University, guest master instructor for Abby Lee Dance Company, Assistant Director of CRU Dance Competition and touring faculty with Thrive Dance Experience, Symposium Talent Contest, United States Tournament of Dance and Headliners Dance Competition. Lee has worked with American Idol Season 15 finalist; LaPorsha Renae, Jussie Smollett and Dance Mom's Season 8's; Sarah Georgiana. Lee has also been featured in Yahoo, Thrive Global & more, as well as SiriusXM for his mental health advocacy. Jadell Lee is the CEO of Elevate Convention and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the University of California, Riverside; remaining dedicated to professionally mentoring and developing both students and dance educators. To further connect with Jadell: Instagram- @jadelllee Elevate Convention- https://letselevatedance.com Elevate Pro- https://letselevatedance.com/elevate-pro/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Y'ALL!! Welcome Back to the Dancer's Choie Podcast! We are SOOOOO LUCKY to be joined by Special Guest, CHI LOPES on this week's episode! Chi, CREATOR of Hollywood Dance Intensive, has had an extensive career in the arts. She moved to L.A. and started working as a professional dancer. From TV, Film, Commercials, Awards Shows, World Tours, Music Videos, Corporate Shows, Musicals, Theme Parks, Casino's, Resorts and more Chi has over 20+ years as a pro-dancer. Chi naturally moved in to choreographing after years of dancing. Today, Chi is focused on helping dancers gain confidence as they start and further their careers, on both pre-professional and professional levels. She saw a need for career education, professional level dance training, and industry preparation, so with that came Hollywood Dance Intensive. In this episode, Riley & Dawsen pick Chi's brain on all things commercial dance, specifically the pursuit of a career in Los Angeles. What do dancers need to do before even CONSIDERING a move? How should dancers be PREPARING to take on the LA dance scene? What do you need to embark on training, auditioning, and eventually booking in the west coast? How important are HEADSHOTS? What are dancers doing WRONG? How does one FINANCIALLY support themselves to train? Do you really NEED an agent? BUCKLE UP! This episode is JAM PACKED with VITAL information for all aspiring professionals! ATTENTION ALL LISTENERS! If you are interested in joining Hollywood Dance Intensive out in Nashville or LA this season, Chi is graciously gifting all listeners 10% off registration! Use Code: DANCERSCHOICE for 10% off! To Further Connect with Chi: www.hollywooddanceintensive.com Youtube: @ShyDanceProductions Instagram: @hollywooddanceintensive @chilopes --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! Audition season is among us and this week Riley & Dawsen sit down to chat about their personal audition experiences and open up about their biggest lessons, eye-opening moments, and mindset shifts discovered in doing so. From their best auditions to worst auditions, each one had a lesson to walk away with in some way or another, and it's time to share it! In this first episode of a 3 PART SERIES, the girls address REJECTION and how to deal with the many "No's" dancers will receive in their lifetime. How can you refrain from taking rejection personal? Are you showing up as your best? Does how you audition correlate to how many no's you receive? How can you take yourself out of it and look at the bigger picture? How can dancers cope with being cut in a healthy way? Is every "No" going to guide you to your next big thing? We've all heard the saying, "Every no gets you one step closer to your yes," but is it true? The girls unpack it all right here! Stay tuned for PART 2 coming April 25th! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

WELCOME BACK to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week the girls have the privilege of being joined by former NFL Cheerleader and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Ally Miller! Ally previously danced for the Commanders and is now bringing her passion for Nutrition into the industry by helping many other pro dancers heal their chronic health issues, struggles with body image, and break away from dieting/restriction. Ally is determined to help dancers properly fuel like the athletes they are so that they can dance, audition, and perform at their best! In this week's episode we get insight into what the NFL Pro Dancer scene is like- tips for prep clinics/auditions, tips on how to fuel before, during, and after long days, and how to handle the societal pressure of needing to "look like a dancer." Is body type becoming more inclusive in the dance world? Do dancers have the stamina and endurance needed for the NFL? Is sugar really the worst thing to eat? How can we step away from the idolization of thinness? We talk about it ALL right here! Thanks y'all! Enjoy the episode and let us know if you want Ally back for a PART 2 :) To further connect with Ally... Instagram: @eatingwith.al Website: https://www.eatingwithal.com Ally's Nutrition for Dancers Guide: https://www.eatingwithal.com/dancer-nutrition-guide/p/dancer-nutrition-guide --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome (or welcome back) to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week Riley & Dawsen sit down for a little Q+A chat- answering all your biggest questions about competition dance, college dance, the industry, and MORE! How do you keep up with training after school? How do you apply/audition for colleges? Is it possible to increase body confidence in dance? Where do you find jobs and auditions in the real world? How do you book gigs? What are the stepping stones after college? If you're in a training rut, how do you get out of it? WE ANSWER IT ALL! Your dance big sisters have entered the chat! xoxo

WELCOME FRIENDS to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week Riley & Dawsen had the upmost PRIVILEGE to sit down and talk with Dancer & Creative, Jason Pickett! Could you be the reason your students are burnt out? Are kids sacrificing too much to compete? What age should you start teaching? Are teachers too young? Does the industry have an ego problem? Is social media really helping dancers? We open up about all of it in THIS EPISODE!! Jason has spent the last 12 years teaching competitive dance & performing professionally. He has performed on film and in live events, can be seen in several viral YouTube videos, was a former cast member of Odyssey Dance Theatre, and is nationally ranked for numerous choreographed competitive routines. Currently, Jason is working on growing his online training platform for dancers, No Starving Artists, which is dedicated to taking dancers to their next level through movement exploration, stage presence work, & finding the HOW within their dancing. To further connect with Jason, visit: www.nsadance.com Email: heyitspickett@gmail.com Instagram: @heyitspickett YouTube: @heyitspickett TikTok: @heyitspickett SHARE THIS EPISODE FOR A PART TWO!!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week Dawsen & Riley sit down to answer one of your biggest questions- "SHOULD I GET A DEGREE IN DANCE?" The girls openly discuss what you questions you should ask yourself and things to consider when making this decision. What kind of college experience do you want? Do you want to perform or teach? Do you want to perform now or perform later? What does life look like after college? Is this what YOU want or just what you saw someone else do? We are an open book- if you have more questions, MESSAGE US and we are happy to continue the conversation. For any student getting ready to enter college or graduate college, this is a GREAT episode for you! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week Riley & Dawsen sit down to share some "hot takes" on what's happening in the industry today. More so now than ever lack of respect, etiquette, and professionalism is present (or should we say not present) in the industry and we've got some unpopular opinions on why this is happening, where it stems from, and solutions to move forward. As dancers who grew up in environments where being called out, reprimanded, and showered with a little "tough love" time to time was the norm, we've got some big ideas for today's generation of teachers and dancers. This episode is in no means meant to offend, but if you feel some unsettled thoughts from this episode- tell us why! Let's start conversation! Have any hot takes of your own? Share with us on Instagram @dancerschoicepodcast :) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week in honor of the NEDA Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Dawsen & Riley believed it was an appropriate time to shine light on the subject in the dance world- their experiences, insight, advice, and information to better understand exactly what EDs look like. Though a heavier subject, normalizing conversation around disordered eating, eating disorders, and other mental health struggles have been a part of the Dancer's Choice Podast mission since day one. Our goal is to make it less scary to talk about and more apparent that no dancer stands alone. Additional Resources: https://nationaleatingdisordersassociation.org https://www.stayhere.live https://emilyprogram.com https://eatingdisorders.ucsf.edu/how-family-and-friends-can-help https://nimh.nih.gov https://www.betterhelp.com TW: This episode contains discussions around eating disorders. Please note we are speaking from personal experience and are not medical professionals. This episode is intended to spread awareness and advocacy and is in no means intended to diagnose or treat. Please know it is okay to take pauses, breaks, or step away as needed. If you have concerns about your physical or mental health, please seek counsel from a medical professional. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome (or WELCOME BACK) to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week Riley & Dawsen are laying it all out- the TRUTHS and REALITIES of being a professional dancer! Inspired by the honest conversations they had in school, the girls share their own lists of what they have learned as they begin a career in this industry. We love what we do, but the truth is it is NOT all sunshine and rainbows, and this episode is here to expose that. Coming from a place of wholehearted love, we're here to leave all the sugar coating OUT THE DOOR and be brutally honest about what to expect if you are pursuing the route of a professional dancer. We hope this episode is eye-opening, educational, informative, and can act as a means of support to share that we are ALL IN THIS TOGETHER! You are not alone, friend. Sending all our love, support, and respect to our brothers and sisters in this wild industry. xoxo, your dance big sisters (Riley & Dawsen) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week, Riley is here to share some friendly reminders from a fitness coach, regarding motives for working out, mentalities to take into the gym, and the realities of what's going on in the fitness industry today. Riley has been a Pure Barre fitness coach for 3 years and is currently continuing her education with the National Academy of Sports Medicine to become a Certified Personal Trainer and renew her Nutrition Coach certification. With that being said, Riley wants to share what she has learned over her years, what she is seeing through the lens of a fitness instructor, and advise ways to better your relationship with exercise today. If you feel like your only why for the gym is centered around weight loss, missing workouts make you anxious, or you've felt more ridicule than grace towards your body lately, this is the episode for you. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome back to another week of Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week, Dawsen & Riley sit down to share their experience of taking time off dance and how to navigate that season of your life both physically, mentally, and emotionally. Whether you're dealing with a sprain or tear, twist or break, physical overuse or mental overwork- it's important to know what you have to do to get yourself back to your best! & even MORE IMPORTANT to listen to your doctors...but we'll discuss more of that in the episode. TW: taking time off dance for eating disorder recovery is discussed in this episode- please don't hesitate to take a pause or step away from this episode if needed. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Join Dawsen as she recaps the audition process for the Carolina Panthers TopCats and discusses her plans for this upcoming season! It's a short and sweet episode but you'll be pleasantly surprised to find out some things about the Pro Cheer world that you may not have known before! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week, Riley and Dawsen unpack the talk of the town- the 2024 UDA College Nationals. In honor of Superbowl weekend, it only seemed fair to acknowledge the "superbowl" of dance. Riley & Dawsen share their biggest takeaways from watching routines, inspiration from choreographers, and address how to apply it to your own training. Shoutout to any college dance team members that competed this year, let alone college dancers out here working hard...you are ELITE! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Hi friends, WELCOME (or welcome BACK) to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! Riley is back this week for a mini episode sharing 10 LESSONS she's taken away from the last 10 months of post-college life. Too many points to wait til we got to a full year so here you go! In a season of auditioning left and right? Not getting callbacks? Submitting hundreds of applications and in a waiting game for jobs? Lost on where to go? Feeling spiritually dry with your career? Me too! We open up (& dare we say, get vulnerable) about it all. If you are in college, a senior dancer, a fresh alum, or just a human being with zest for life, Riley hopes you can listen in and find a sense of peace & calming from this episode. No matter what stage of life you're in there are always lessons to be learned and it's important we share those lessons with one another :) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week Dawsen & Riley are sitting down to shine light on what has helped them in their own healing & recovery journeys. Whether you are a dancer or not, you have probably felt the effects of today's world heavily glorifying diet culture. With lack of education and misleading media, it can become very hard not to get sucked into this vicious cycle of dieting, weight loss, and body comparison. After years of healing their own mental health struggles and relationships with food, the girls have compiled a list of what has helped them get to where they are now...at peace. If you have ever thought of food as "good" or "bad," struggle with foods that are "off-limits," or question if you are "body positive" then this is the episode for you. TW: This episode does discuss eating disorders, restrictive eating, and body dysmorphia. Please take a pause or step away from the episode if needed. Love & Light, Dancer's Choice Podcast --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week Riley & Dawsen sit down to reflect on their experiences with dance teachers- what worked and what didn't. Being at the age to step into teaching positions themselves, the girls compile a list of what they believe to be the "Do's/Don'ts" when it comes to being an educator in this industry. From playing favorites, critiquing students, competition costuming, navigating nutrition, and praising students, the girls-you guessed it- UNPACK IT ALL! TW: Eating disorders, weight loss, and body dysmorphia are discussed at times in this episode. Please take a pause if needed. Your mental health comes first. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Happy Tuesday friends! Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week, Riley sits down to discuss the neglect of rest days when in a busy training season of dance. Inspired by her college and conservatory dance schedule, she shares ways you can gift yourself more rest and recovery time even when your calendar shows no days off. From creating a healthy sleep schedule, learning to better manage your time, cut excuses, and say "no," Riley walks you through the many ways that rest is productive and beneficial to the athlete and artist in every dancer. Remember: this is a marathon, not a sprint. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! 'tis the season for college dancers to be mapping out their road maps (#iykyk) and with that fear of the unknown in the air, Riley & Dawsen decided to sit down and reflect on their own 5 year plans. Ringing in the new year, they discuss where they were 5 years ago (2019 for reference), what their most recent roadmap consisted of, hot takes on mapping out your life, and where they think they'll be 5 years from now. Do dancers need 5 year plans? Can you map out your next 5 years? Is it beneficial? Is it limiting? We unpack it all! Riley & Dawsen hope this episode will inspire you to do some of your own goal setting, journaling, and vision-board-making. A mix of deep reflection and hysterical laughter is encouraged. xoxo. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Break Ups with your Apple Watch... yeah yeah... cause you're bored. In this mini episode, Dawsen talks about her recent break up with her Apple Watch and why she feels its so important not only for people in general, but for dancers too. Tune in to listen to her top reasons why you need to break up with your Apple Watch too! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome all to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week we are THRILLED to be joined with Special Guest, Kiesha Lalama! Former Senior Executive for the Pittsburgh CLO, Point Park University Dance Professor, Jimmy Award's Choreographer, Mother, Wife, and current Managing Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Playhouse, joins us for a jam-packed conversation about having a career in the dance industry. In this hour long episode, Kiesha shares her life story and words of wisdom around the power of authenticity, confidence in leadership, chasing passions, navigating jobs, defining success, and SO MUCH MORE! Dancers, if you want the real TRUTH about this industry, this episode is all for you. Riley and Dawsen have been completely changed for the better by having Kiesha as a mentor in their own lives, so much so, that they couldn't not bring her onto the podcast. The girls hope this conversation leaves you feeling inspired, motivated, and seen. All our love, enjoy the episode! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Hi friends, welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast. This week, Riley sits down to open up about her mental health journey and share a message that has been weighing on her heart for quite some time. With many dancers struggling with mental health and our industry starting to advocate for the mental wellness of dancers, Riley wanted to share the life-changing question and biggest game-changer she found in her healing journey. Listen in for 3 Reasons Not to Neglect Your Faith/Spirituality as a Dancer

Welcome to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! Our first episode of 2024*** (not 2023 lol) and we had to hop on the Ins/Outs trend. Riley & Dawsen share what they're leaving behind in 2023 and bringing into 2024- some serious, some not so serious. We hope this lighthearted episode helps you ring in the new year and perhaps finds you making your own list of Ins/Outs. Wishing you all a happy and healthy start to 2024! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

New Years Resolutions influencing you to get into a new routine? To start up a new fitness regimen? To get out of your seasonal workout rut? Don't worry- we feel you! This week Riley shares some quick tips/steps to get consistent with your workout routine or start a new one in a way that is sustainable! Riley has been a Pure Barre Fitness Instructor for the last 2.5 years and coaches weekly. After a couple conversations with clients regarding their New Year's Goals, she had to hop on the mic and address the topic on the pod! So much more to say but we'll start here for now. Perhaps a Part 2 will stem from this conversation in the later weeks...enjoy, friends! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome Friends! We are here to wrap up the FINAL EPISODE OF 2023! The year that started it all! This week Riley and Dawsen sit down to talk about the year they just had and share their thoughts on New Year's Resolutions. Between being out at sea, navigating college, and the making of Dancer's Choice to their lists of "want to-do's" for the new year, hot takes on goals, and visions for the podcast- the girls share it all! Join us for a light hearted, bittersweet episode. We send all our love and well wishes to you as you ring in the new year! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

The girls are officially girlie-ing! We told you that once this happens we would make an episode about it! Dawsen tells all on how she supported her period recovery - from prioritizing protein to managing her stress levels and even decreasing her training! Tune in to get some great information that you may find helpful - get your notebooks and pens ready because were getting intimate! *Disclaimer: Dawsen is not a licensed professional and these are just things that worked for her and may not work for everyone else! Please consult with a professional if you are seeking help!* --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Hello lovely people! Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week we are blessed to be sitting down with yet another SPECIAL GUEST, Chelsea Mitchell-Bonsu! Chelsea is currently dancing in MJ The Musical's FIRST National Tour and took the time out of her tour to share her story with us. From getting cast in the National Tour of CATS, to graduating college, getting married, auditioning, and now taking on another contract, Chelsea opens up about her struggles with mental health and dancers' often strive for perfection. Though it may look like a dancer has it all together on the outside, we often neglect to recognize the state of a dancer's mental health. In this episode, Chelsea emphasizes the importance of taking care of your mental wellbeing, leading with grace, embracing new things, and not killing yourself for dance. Buckle up, this episode is packed with so much knowledge & wisdom. Dancers, TAKE NOTES! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome to our NEW MINI EPISODE SERIES!!! Dawsen & Riley were wondering how they could get more content to you and THIS became the answer! Don't worry- Dawsen & Riley are still recording episodes together, but will be recording separate smaller episodes to give you TWO EPISODES A WEEK as frequently as they can! Individually, the girls have more topics they relate to in their personal lives and thought this would be a great way to increase conversation in our community. This week, Riley sits down to discuss the influence of social media in the dance world and how she has implemented boundaries into her personal life as a dancer. Reminding us that social media is a great addition to our world, but it is not our entire dance world. If you feel like social media is consuming your mind 24/7, you are defining your success based on number of likes/views, or have fallen into a never-ending cycle of comparison...THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week, Riley and Dawsen had the privilege of being joined by Point Park Alumni and Alvin Ailey dancer, Ashley Green! Ashley shares her story about growing up in competition dance, the importance of not labeling yourself, how to stay present in process, and many more of her biggest takeaways from her last three seasons with Ailey. This conversation is loaded and full of so many revelations- we cannot wait for you to listen! Don't forget to share this episode with a friend and give our show a rating/review so we can continue to reach other dancers :) To further connect with Ashley, you can find her on Instagram @awagreen98, if in the New York area, you can also catch Ashley in her upcoming Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performances now through December 31, 2023 at the New York City Center! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Hey friends! Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week Riley and Dawsen sit down to talk about dancer burnout. We dancers throw the word "burnout" around a lot, but what exactly is it? From learning to take a step back when needed, say no, find other hobbies outside of dance, and establish boundaries, the girls cover all things how to spot, prevent and treat burnout. A lighter subject this week, but so so important to talk about. We hope this inspires you to find other creative outlets, perhaps explore new hobbies, or feel okay to take a step back next time it's needed. Stay til the end for some fun Spotify wrapped news + exciting hints of what's to come in future episodes/platforms :) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message

Welcome back to the Dancer's Choice Podcast! This week, Dawsen and Riley decided to take on a real world problem- society's obsession with finding a "quick fix." More specifically, this conversation stemmed from a discussion about the latest drug, Ozempic, and realizing after some research that it is not what most of the population believes it to be. In this episode, the girls dive into the unfortunate lack of education around fitness, health, and nutrition in our culture today, discuss why shortcuts and quick fixes may not always be the most beneficial, and open up the floor to how dancers can stay mindful about media's frequent miscommunication. Have you heard the Ozempic is a drug for weight loss? Have you heard that a quick medication can fix everything? Have you struggled to hold yourself accountable to make a lifestyle change? Believe convenience is making us lazy? Believe in finding the root cause of a problem rather than throwing a band-aid on it? If any of these questions resonated with you -positively or negatively- we believe this episode is for you. ***Disclosure: We are not medical professionals. This episode is based strictly off our own research gathered throughout the last month and from personal experience, interactions, beliefs, moral values, etc. This is not intended to offend. Thank you. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dancerschoicepodcast/message