122. Danscend on How to Take Feedback Without Taking it Personally

In dance, feedback can shape much more than how you perform. It can influence how you see yourself, what you believe you're capable of, and even the choices you make in the studio and beyond.

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I'm joined by Kristin Deiss and Michelle Loucadoux, co-founders of Danscend, to talk about how feedback can affect a dancer's confidence, identity, and sense of self-worth.

We discuss why dancers can be particularly vulnerable to internalizing what teachers say, how our own insecurities can change the way we receive feedback, and how to separate "I need to work on this" from "I'm not good enough."

We also talk about processing conflicting corrections, deciding what feedback is actually useful, and giving yourself permission to let go of what doesn't serve you.

For teachers, we dig into the other side of the equation: how to give feedback more intentionally, why dancers don't need every correction we notice, and how observation, trust, and giving dancers more agency can create a healthier learning environment.

Key "Pointes" in this Episode

* Why dancers can be especially vulnerable to internalizing feedback

* How your own insecurities affect the way you receive feedback

* Separating feedback from your identity

* Practical strategies for processing difficult corrections

* What to do when different teachers give conflicting feedback

* Learning what feedback to keep and what to let go