More Than Dance

Krissy Phillipino
  • 4.9 (141)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Dance. Mindset. Motivation.More Than Dance is where real life meets the dance floor. Hosted by Krissy Phillipino, a dancer, choreographer, and studio owner with over 30 years in the industry. This podcast dives into the mindset reframes and quiet magic that take shape in the choreography, inside the studio, and through the work of showing up for yourself over and over. Expect episodes packed with storytelling, dance wisdom, raw truths, and the kind of pep talks you didn’t know you needed. This isn’t just about dance. It’s about who you become when you let yourself go all in, even through the ugly stages, the moments when nothing feels like it’s clicking yet, and the times when you question yourself. From confidence and self worth to mindset shifts and breakthroughs More Than Dance is where movement meets transformation. Whether you're a seasoned dancer, brand new to movement, or simply someone who craves personal growth and deep, honest conversations, this space is for you. Because this was never just about dance.It’s about who you become while dancing. It’s more than dance. Follow: @krissyphillipino @kdfstudio

  1. 1D AGO

    The Rule Of Thirds: Why You Feel Stuck and How To Get Out of It | Ep 84

    Have you ever felt stuck? Like everything you are doing you are either really challenged and nothing is going smoothly, or your off? I introduce a concept that changed everything for me: the rule of thirds. Growth gets to live in three spaces: ⭐️ one where you’re killing it (your flow state) ⭐️ one where you’re working on it (your practice state) ⭐️ one where you feel challenged (your reset state) When everything feels like the challenge zone, it’s overwhelming. You start to feel like you’re bad at everything, and that’s when motivation drops. when you understand how to balance your thirds, everything shifts. In this episode, I break down how this shows up in dance: This episode will help you: understand why feeling stuck is actually part of growthidentify which “third” you’re inrebalance your experience so you stay motivatedstop labeling yourself as bad when you’re just learningGrowth doesn't feel good all the time and its not meant to feel terrible all the time either. When you learn how to balance your thirds, you live with more motivation.  Follow: Krissy: @krissyphillipino KDFSTUDIO: @kdfstudio

    16 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Why Dancers Improve Faster Than Everyone Else | Ep 83

    Reflection is one of the most powerful tools we as humans have access to. And its important to know how to use it because our brain plays tricks on us.  Our brain can train ourselves to forget things and we might remmeber it a different way.  As a dancer we have the opportunity to have immediate feedback through our experience in dance: 1. knowing if and when something felt wrong 2. our class and performance video footage 3. immediate feedback from teachers/instruction When you are starting dance you able to build the muscle of reflection and learn how to move forward and catalog our info so our brain doesnt trick us. I walk you though a series of questions you as a dancer can ask yourself to do reflection without judgement We are able to get more information when we know what we need and we I teach you how to harness reflection as a tool to gain deeper practice with it and then you get to watch yourself being a more intuitive, thoughtful, reflective human because dance sharped your invisible muscle of reflection.  Follow: Krissy: @krissyphillipino KDFSTUDIO: @kdfstudio

    17 min

  3. FEB 19

    The Secret to Big Results | Ep 82

    Big change rarely starts big. In this episode, I talk about rebuilding momentum through the smallest possible steps and how lowering the bar actually helped me move forward again after returning to the gym following physical therapy. My only rule was to show up. No pressure to complete a full workout. No expectation to do everything perfectly. Even one exercise counted as a "day at the gym" Doing this created discipline and that started creating motivation.  Micro commitments: reduce overwhelmexpose the excuses help you rebuild trust with yourself.I share how this applies directly to dance too: leaving class early if you need to, committing with a friend, or shrinking something that feels intimidating into something more approachable. This episode explores how tiny habits compound over time, how consistency lowers resistance, and why the real celebration isn’t perfection or massive results… It’s simply showing up. If you’ve been waiting to feel ready, motivated, or confident before starting again, this episode is your reminder that momentum begins the moment you decide that small still counts. Follow: Krissy: @krissyphillipino KDFSTUDIO: @kdfstudio

    16 min

  4. FEB 17

    Why You Should Pick One Thing To Focus On When Learning | Ep 81

    This episode is all about picking one thing and how that single shift can completely change your experience in class. Overwhelm feels like you’re trying to fix too many things at once. I talk about how I approach class the same way I approach my word of the year: one focus creates clarity. It can be fun to think about dance like a science lab. We experiment, we repeat, we observe, and we learn. When you go into class trying to fix everything, memory, arms, facials, balance, performance, your nervous system gets overloaded and nothing sticks. Instead, I walk you through how to choose one intentional focus:  memory (or the specific part that’s tripping you up) facials (which part of the face?)arms (specifically fingers?)performance qualitymusicalityWhen you stop trying to fix ten things and commit to one, everything else starts to improve naturally. Memory gets better because you’re more present. Performance improves because you’re not in your head. You breathe more, move fuller, connect more  with the music and with your audience. Mastering one thing will always feel better and be more effective than trying to master everything at once. Pick one thing  and watch everything else follow. Follow: Krissy: @krissyphillipino KDFSTUDIO: @kdfstudio

    12 min

  5. FEB 12

    The 3 Main Reasons You are Stuck In Your Head And Not Present With Your Body | Ep 80

    In this episode, I break down the three sneaky things that pull you out of the moment in dance: expectations, judgment, and comparison. We talk about them separately and how they feed each other in one big mental loop. ✨ Expectations: Walking into class expecting a breakthrough every single time. Expecting to “get it” immediately. Expecting to feel amazing. And when that doesn’t happen? The spiral starts. ✨ Judgment: The cringe. The harshness. The “I should be better.” The shame, insecurity, defensiveness. The sneaky tone that pretends it’s helping you improve, but it’s actually just beating you down. ✨ Comparison: Competing instead of connecting. Watching someone else and turning their success into your inadequacy. Feeling envy instead of inspiration. These three create a feedback loop. They keep you analyzing instead of dancing. Thinking instead of feeling. Competing instead of connecting. If you’re in your head, it’s usually one of these. This episode helps you recognize the loop, interrupt it, and come back to the moment and you deserve to be there. Follow: Krissy: @krissyphillipino KDFSTUDIO: @kdfstudio

    20 min

  6. FEB 10

    All in? ... Or Baby Steps?: Finding Your Learning "Sweet Spot" | Ep 79

    In this episode, I talk about two very different ways people approach learning. I love using the imagery of a giant pool: Do you walk down the stairs slowly, letting yourself adjust? Or do you dive headfirst and get it all over with? Some of us are coddlers. We like structure, validation, reassurance, and time. We want to feel ready before we fully immerse ourselves. Some of us are divers. We jump in fast, want results quickly, and sometimes skip fundamentals because momentum feels better than patience. You’re never fully ready for the things that change you. And learning itself is a skill. I talk about: • How dance reveals your learning style • Why jumping in too fast can lead to burnout or frustration • The importance of repetition, fundamentals, and time • Where momentum creates motivation  • Finding the sweet spot between safety and immersion Being a great dancer is about knowing when to slow down, when to jump, and how to work with your fear instead of waiting for it to disappear. This episode helps you figure out how you learn so you can become a better dance learner. Follow: Krissy: @krissyphillipino KDFSTUDIO: @kdfstudio

    10 min

  7. FEB 5

    Overthinking Is Killing Your Progress And How To Fix It | Ep 78

    This episode is about what happens when you overthink something so much that you don’t do it at all and how to break that pattern once and for all. I share one of my favorite phrases: Get the F there.  Thinking isn’t the problem, thinking instead of doing is. I talk about my gym story and how I’m building consistency by doing exercises I’d normally overthink, trusting that I’ll adapt and figure it out after I start. The same thing shows up everywhere, packing for a trip, starting a project, going to class, stepping onto the dance floor.  Dance teaches us this perfectly: You don’t get better at dancing by thinking about dancing. You get better by dancing. We talk about fear, procrastination, and the lie your brain tells you to keep you comfortable. I share a post I love that says: Your brain lies to you constantly. What you avoid ends up controlling you. This episode dives into: • why overthinking is just fear in disguise • how action gives you the answers you’re waiting for • why momentum creates motivation (not the other way around) • how micro successes build confidence over time • choosing the “right” kind of suffering (the kind that moves you forward) Everyone wants to feel confident, ready, and motivated before they begin and its really when you start doing that you begin to feel those feelings.  The person who practices being the dancer becomes the dancer. The person who doesn’t… doesn’t. Follow: Krissy: @krissyphillipino KDFSTUDIO: @kdfstudio

    19 min

  8. FEB 3

    The Power of “Yes, And”: How An Open Mind Creates More Opportunities | Ep 77

    This episode is all about the power of “yes, and” and asking yourself one simple question: Are you saying yes enough in your life? I talk about how so many opportunities pass us by because we’re closed, tired, overwhelmed, guarded, or stuck in our ego. We say “I wish I could” instead of “yes, and how could I?” We explore “yes, and” through dance, improv, contact improv, and real life  where movement is a conversation, curiosity leads the way, and not needing to worry about being wrong This episode breaks down how to: adopt a yes-and mindset without abandoning your boundariesseparate yourself into your higher self when resistance shows upsay yes even when it’s uncomfortable, imperfect, or tiringhold two things at once: “yes I want this” AND “I need rest”stay open while still honoring your energycheck when your no is coming from ego vs self-respectI talk about practical examples going to class even when you’re tired, leaving early when you need to, starting conversations, small gestures of openness, and how “yes, and” creates more connection in rooms, relationships, and community. This isn’t about saying yes to everything. It’s about saying yes with awareness. "Yes, and” can sound like: • Yes, I want to go... and I’ll leave early. • Yes, I care.. and I need to do this first. • Yes, this is hard... and I’m still showing up. When you live in “yes, and,” you stay open to different paths to the same destination And that’s where growth, creativity, and momentum live. Follow: Krissy: @krissyphillipino KDFSTUDIO: @kdfstudio

    16 min
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4.9
out of 5
141 Ratings

About

Dance. Mindset. Motivation.More Than Dance is where real life meets the dance floor. Hosted by Krissy Phillipino, a dancer, choreographer, and studio owner with over 30 years in the industry. This podcast dives into the mindset reframes and quiet magic that take shape in the choreography, inside the studio, and through the work of showing up for yourself over and over. Expect episodes packed with storytelling, dance wisdom, raw truths, and the kind of pep talks you didn’t know you needed. This isn’t just about dance. It’s about who you become when you let yourself go all in, even through the ugly stages, the moments when nothing feels like it’s clicking yet, and the times when you question yourself. From confidence and self worth to mindset shifts and breakthroughs More Than Dance is where movement meets transformation. Whether you're a seasoned dancer, brand new to movement, or simply someone who craves personal growth and deep, honest conversations, this space is for you. Because this was never just about dance.It’s about who you become while dancing. It’s more than dance. Follow: @krissyphillipino @kdfstudio

Information

  • Creator
    Krissy Phillipino
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    85
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 More Than Dance
  • Show Website
    More Than Dance