I’ve been an anxious person and a perfectionist for as long as I can remember. I was devastated over an A-minus on a test, I would stretch until I cried, I would go over a dance I knew well a million times consecutively before going onstage, and my brain concocted endless worst-case scenarios. As a […]
Over the course of her career, Tia Ungar, a dancer, cheerleader, and cheer coach based in the United Kingdom, has dealt with chronic anxiety. When her anxiety peaks, it’s a challenge to learn and remember choreography. “When I was at my worst with my anxiety, even just being in a dance class was quite an […]
From competing on “So You Think You Can Dance” to performing on “Dancing with the Stars” for seven seasons (and earning an Emmy nomination for her work on the latter), Chelsie Hightower has lived the pro dance dream. Though Hightower retired from “DWTS” several years ago and now teaches and choreographs in her home state […]
If you’re battling aching muscles or pre-show nerves, a scented oil is probably the last thing you’d consider as a solution. Essential oils are more than just smells, though—these highly concentrated plant extracts have some serious healing powers. Sold online or over-the-counter at most health food stores, pure essential oils are completely natural and can […]
Twenty-five-year-old Sydney Magruder Washington had dreams of auditioning for ballet companies and Broadway shows when she moved to NYC four years ago, as a recent graduate of Skidmore College. But after completing an apprenticeship with Connecticut Ballet in 2015, her anxiety and depression became so severe that she could barely leave her apartment—let alone go […]