I’m sitting down with Dr. Lacey Everett, Doctor of Clinical Psychology, for a conversation that every dance educator, parent, and clinician should hear. We’re talking about something we all know is important but still struggle to integrate fully into the dance world: mental health and how it connects to the way we train, recover, and perform.

For so long, dancers have been conditioned to push through pain, both physically and emotionally. But what happens when we shift that mindset? What if we saw listening to the body as a skill just as valuable as technique or artistry?

Today, we’re unpacking:

✅ The culture of resilience in dance—where does it serve us, and where does it harm us?
✅ The intersection of identity and injury—why so many dancers struggle when they’re hurt and how we can help.
✅ Rethinking recovery—why traditional pain scales don’t work for dancers and what to ask instead.
✅ The role of language in injury and healing—how small shifts in the way we talk about pain and recovery can make a huge impact.
✅ Creating a healthier dance space—as educators, parents, and healthcare providers, how can we better support our dancers beyond just their physical training?

At the heart of this episode is a message I hope we can all take forward: Dancers are more than just their performance. Their well-being—physical, mental, and emotional—should always come first.

So, whether you’re tuning in as a teacher, a parent, or a dancer yourself, I hope this conversation helps you rethink the way we approach dance training and mental health.

🎧 Let’s get into it!