A Dancer's Mindset

Ballet with Isabella
  • 4.8 (160)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
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This podcast, hosted by ballet dancer, Vaganova graduate and international coach Isabella McGuire Mayes @balletwithIsabella For all the dancers out there with a desire for more and to reach their highest potential. Isabella will build your confidence, self esteem and self belief so you can make it to the top. There are many stories from Isabella's training days, tips to improve your mindset, special guests and more!! Giving you a winning dancer's mindset! Explore BWI - Your secret weapon to excellence. www.balletwithisabella.com Email hello@balletwithisabella.com

  1. 5D AGO

    Ep. 164 Day 5: Fear Of Being SEEN!

    Hello Everyone, Welcome to Day 5 of The Dancer Reset Series! Let's dive in. Day 5: Fear of Being Seen You love to dance. But something happens when you feel truly watched — really seen — and it stops you. You make yourself smaller. You pull back at exactly the moment you should be expanding. You hold something in reserve, even when everything in you wants to let go. Fear of being seen is more common among dancers than almost anything else. And it makes sense — to dance is to be exposed in a way that most people never have to be. But it is also the very thing standing between you and the dancer you are meant to be. In this episode we go beneath the surface of performance anxiety and into something deeper — the fear of full visibility. We talk about where it comes from, what it is really protecting you from, and how to begin dismantling it so that you can do the thing you were made to do, fully and without apology. The stage does not want a smaller version of you. It never did. 🌐 balletwithisabella.com  📩 Join the mailing list: mailchi.mp/balletwithisabella/isabella 📸 Instagram: @balletwithisabella  ▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@balletwithisabella

    32 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Ep.163 Day 4: Don't Overthink & Align Yourself

    Hello Everyone, Welcome to Day 4 of The Dancer Reset Series. Hopefully we are feeling good! Let's dive in to episode 4 Day 4: Why You Overthink Under Pressure The combination starts and your brain won't stop. Check your arms. Is your core on? What comes next? Why does everyone else look so relaxed? You're thinking so hard about every single thing that there is no space left to actually dance — and the harder you try to switch it off, the louder it gets. Overthinking under pressure is one of the most common and least talked about struggles in dance. And in this episode we get into exactly why it happens. We cover what is going on in your nervous system when pressure triggers the overthinking spiral, why trying harder to stop thinking actually makes it worse, and the specific mental tools that help you get out of your head and back into your body — where the dancing actually lives. Because you already know how to do this. Your body just needs your mind to get out of the way. 🌐 balletwithisabella.com 📩 Join the mailing list: mailchi.mp/balletwithisabella/isabella 📸 Instagram: @balletwithisabella ▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@balletwithisabella

    18 min

  3. APR 29

    Ep. 162 Day 3: Self Worth Tied To Decisions Out Of Your Control

    Hello Everyone, Welcome back to this Dancer Reset Series Day 3! You got the part — and you felt worthy. You didn't get the part — and suddenly you questioned everything. Whether you're good enough, whether you belong there, whether all of this is even worth it. If a casting list has ever had that kind of power over how you feel about yourself, this episode is for you. Today we get honest about what it really means when our self worth becomes dependent on external outcomes — roles, results, rankings, recognition. We talk about why the dance world makes this so easy to fall into, what it costs you when you live there, and how to build a sense of self that is solid regardless of what any list, any teacher, or any audition panel decides on any given day. You are not your casting. It is time to separate the two. 🌐 balletwithisabella.com  📩 Join the mailing list: mailchi.mp/balletwithisabella/isabella 📸 Instagram: @balletwithisabella  ▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@balletwithisabella

    19 min

  4. APR 28

    Ep. 161 Day 2: The Comparison Trap

    Day 2: The Comparison Trap She got the correction you wanted. She has the extension you've been working on for years. She seems to pick everything up faster, easier, better — and suddenly you're not in class anymore, you're in your head, measuring every part of yourself against someone else and coming up short every single time. Welcome to the comparison trap. And today we are getting out of it. In this episode we talk about why comparison is one of the most destructive habits in the dance world, why your brain is wired to do it and how to interrupt the pattern, and what happens to your dancing — and your joy — when you finally make your own journey the only one you're focused on. Your path is not her path. And that is not a weakness. That is your greatest advantage. 🌐 balletwithisabella.com 📩 Join the mailing list: mailchi.mp/balletwithisabella/isabella 📸 Instagram: @balletwithisabella ▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@balletwithisabella

    21 min

  5. APR 27

    Ep.160 Day 1: Amazing In Class. Lose It When Performing

    Hello Everyone! Today marks the start of a new series! The Dancer Reset Series - 7 Days To Reset Your Mind. Episode 1, dives into why we seem to nail things in class but not when it matters, be it in an audition or when performing. You know you can do it. You've done it a hundred times. In class it flows, it feels good, it looks exactly the way you want it to — and then the lights go up, the audience sits down, and something happens. The body tightens. The mind goes blank. The very thing you've rehearsed so many times suddenly feels like a stranger. If this is you, you are not alone — and you are not broken. In this episode we dig into exactly why the gap between class and performance exists, what is actually happening in your mind and body when the pressure hits, and how to start closing that gap for good. Because the dancer in the studio and the dancer on the stage? They are the same person. It's time to let her show up everywhere. Follow, Rate & Review & Share on your instagram! @balletwithisabella Tag Me ------ Never Miss A Thing! Join The List 🌐 balletwithisabella.com  📩 Join the mailing list: mailchi.mp/balletwithisabella/isabella 📸 Instagram: @balletwithisabella  ▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@balletwithisabella

    30 min

  6. APR 22

    Ep.159 I am UNBOTHERED

    Unbothered by Anything and Anyone Hello Everyone! In this episode, we're talking about one of the most powerful things you can develop as a dancer — and honestly, as a person — the ability to be completely secure in yourself, no matter what the room gives you. Being unbothered isn't about being cold, detached, or pretending nothing affects you. It's a state of mind. It's knowing exactly who you are and where you're going, and refusing to let anyone or anything pull you off course. Because let's be honest — the dance world is full of things that can quietly chip away at how you feel about yourself. The teacher who's in a mood and suddenly the whole class feels heavy. The casting list that doesn't have your name on it. The girl in the corner who makes you feel invisible without saying a word. The combination you blanked on while everyone else seemed fine. These things are real — and we're going to talk about them. But we're also going to talk about what it actually takes to rise above them. In this episode we cover: What being unbothered actually means — and what it doesn'tWhy the dance world is uniquely designed to test your self-worth, and how to stop taking everything personallyWhy real confidence includes calling BS on yourself — being your own ally means being honest, not just being your own hype personHow to protect your energy in the studio and stop letting other people's moods and moments become yoursHow to anchor yourself in your own why so that no setback, no person, and no difficult season can shake what you're buildingThis episode is for every dancer who has ever given too much power to someone else's opinion, someone else's bad day, or someone else's decision. It's time to take it back. You are clear on where you are going. You have no time for anything holding you back. And you are an absolute queen — it's time to start acting like it! Follow & Share on socials @balletwithisabella Train with me and our community www.balletwithisabella.com

    36 min

  7. MAR 19

    Ep. 158 Don't Doubt Yourself! Listen To This

    Hey Everyone! If you’re listening to this right now, I’m going to assume something. You were so close to giving up. This close to saying, “What’s the point?” This close to throwing in the towel, skipping the workout, abandoning the goal, telling yourself maybe it’s just not meant for you. And instead… you pressed play. That tells me everything I need to know about you. Because people who are done for good don’t listen to motivational podcasts. They don’t look for one last message. They don’t hope — even quietly — that something will click. You’re not done. You’re just uncomfortable. Let's dive in to helping you find that strength and those systems, that unlock more of your potential! ----- Follow for more! balletwithisabella.com

    20 min

  8. JAN 26

    Ep. 157 Inès McIntosh: Paris Opera Star Shares How You Can Shape Your Destiny!

    Hello Everyone, Welcome back! In this episode of A Dancer’s Mindset, we sit down with Inès McIntosh, Leading soloist of the Paris Opera and soon to be an Etoilé I am sure, for a refreshingly honest conversation about what it really takes to climb the ranks in ballet.Ines opens up about the sacrifices no one prepares you for — the tough choices, the pressure, the moments of doubt — and how she’s navigated them with clarity, grit, and an unwavering belief in her direction. We talk about ambition, trusting yourself when the path isn’t obvious, and why determination isn’t just about working harder, but working with intention, taking things into your own hands if you have to. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re “doing enough,” wondered if the risk is worth it, or needed a reminder that your future isn’t fixed — this episode will leave you feeling motivated, and back in control of your own journey.This is a conversation about ownership, resilience, and shaping your destiny — on your terms.I hope you enjoy as much as i enjoyed speaking with her. Follow for more. ------ ✨ Join Ballet With Isabella — your secret weapon for smarter ballet trainingIf you’re tired of chasing numbers and random youtube videos and ready to build real technique,Ballet With Isabella Platform is where you need to behttps://balletwithisabella.comInside the platform you’ll find:Structured ballet classes and training plansCourses for technique, mindset, and long-term progressA space focused on quality, consistency— not comparison🎥 Start training with purpose: balletwithisabella.com

    1h 44m
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4.8
out of 5
160 Ratings

About

This podcast, hosted by ballet dancer, Vaganova graduate and international coach Isabella McGuire Mayes @balletwithIsabella For all the dancers out there with a desire for more and to reach their highest potential. Isabella will build your confidence, self esteem and self belief so you can make it to the top. There are many stories from Isabella's training days, tips to improve your mindset, special guests and more!! Giving you a winning dancer's mindset! Explore BWI - Your secret weapon to excellence. www.balletwithisabella.com Email hello@balletwithisabella.com

Information

  • Creator
    Ballet with Isabella
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    166
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ballet with Isabella
  • Show Website
    A Dancer's Mindset

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