Don’t let her sizeable Instagram following or willingness to speak publicity about living with anxiety, depression and autism give you the wrong idea. “My speaking out about it does not mean it’s easy or fun,” says dancer Sydney Magruder Washington. “It means I’m not ashamed and you shouldn’t be either.” And though (thankfully) open conversations […]
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 […]
Yes, New Year’s resolutions are still a thing! As obnoxious as it is to be constantly bombarded by “What’s your New Year’s resolution this year?,” this goal-setting tradition can actually be the first step in making healthy changes that will help you improve as a dancer. But in order for those changes to occur you […]
Many who suffer from depression describe feeling like they’re drowning, desperately trying to keep their heads above water. In “Sink or Swim,” a poetic new short film, Royal Ballet principal Francesca Hayward embodies that struggle in a haunting underwater ballet. Directed by filmmaker Louis-Jack, choreographed by Charlotte Edmonds, and supported in part by the mental […]
Recently, our friends at Dance Magazine posted a thought-provoking article about the dance world’s inability to address dancers’ mental health. It was one of their most-read articles to date, and it encouraged dancers, parents and teachers to share their own personal stories. That group of storytellers includes some very high-profile dancers, and we’re especially thankful […]
This story originally appeared on dancemagazine.com. “So why did you quit?” It’s a question I’ve been asked hundreds of times since I stopped dancing over a decade ago. My answer has changed over the years as my own understanding of what lead me to walk away from greatest love of my life has become clearer. […]