A Dancer's Mindset

Ep. 170 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! My Story 25.06.2026 31min

Hello Everyone! This is so exciting - We are launching ISABELLA - our rebrand and new platform June 24th 2026 I wanted to not only thank this beautiful community but also share more about how this has evolved, why the change and why it is such a personal change and how this has been born out of my journey. In this episode, I will share with you some of the very steps in my life that led to this point and why I am so passionate about not only helping other people but helping people see what can happen if that step into what's possible How when in the right environment, when with the right people, huge change can happen for you both in and out of the studio. I am so excited for this next chapter and thank you for being here! ---------JOIN OUR MAILING LIST! NEVER MISS A THINGhttps://mailchi.mp/balletwithisabella/isabella-platform-sign-up

Ep. 169 Never Give Up Again! 22.06.2026 47min

Hello Everyone!, Today we talk about what makes us actually want to give up. It happens to all of us, the determination slips, the motivation just isn't what it used to be. We associate those emotions with how much we may actually want something when in fact, it could be how you are spending time. This can look at the pockets of time in the day that are actually wasting your time, and the lack of systems you have in place in your life. We often think, to get good at something or to work hard means the the journey needs to feel hard. While ballet is hard as we know, I don't want the systems in place to feel hard or effortful. I want them to feel easy, so I can keep doing them, keep improving and keep achieving what I have set out to do! This episode will help you achieve all of that! So let's dive in!-------JOIN OUR MAILING LIST! NEW PLATFORM COMING :-)https://mailchi.mp/balletwithisabella/isabella-platform-sign-up

EP. 168 How To Visualise The Future You Want 10.06.2026 43min

The Power of Visualisation: See It To Become ItWhat if the most powerful training tool you have costs nothing, requires no studio, and works while you sleep? In this episode, we dive deep into the science of visualisation and why your brain doesn't know the difference between vividly imagining something and actually doing it. We cover four types of visualisation — outcome, process, negative, and creative — and exactly how to use each one as a dancer. I also share a story from my own childhood that I didn't even have a name for at the time, and how it quietly made me better at movements I'd barely tried. If you've ever been trapped in the 'what ifs' — what if I mess up, what if I'm not good enough, what if I don't deserve this — this episode is for you. Grab a pen and paper. You're going to need it.Let's dive in! ----------✨ EXPLORE MORE WITH ISABELLA🌐 Website — ⁠balletwithisabella.com ⁠ 📩 Join the mailing list — ⁠mailchi.mp/balletwithisabella/isabella ⁠📸 Instagram — @balletwithisabella💫 Want to train properly from home? Everything is inside the Ballet With Isabella membership — classes, courses, corrections and more. Join us → ⁠balletwithisabella.com⁠

EP. 167 Failures & Mistakes Are Not Your Identity! 20.05.2026 19min

Hey Everyone! We need to talk about failure.Not in a "dust yourself off and try again" motivational poster kind of way. Really talk about it. Because so many of us — especially as dancers — have spent years quietly believing that every mistake we make says something about who we are. A wobbled pirouette, a bad audition, a class where nothing went right. And instead of letting it go, we become it.This episode is about untangling that.Failure is not your identity. It is information. It is redirection. It is, honestly, one of the most powerful tools you have — but only if you stop running from it and start getting curious about it.In this episode we're talking about:🎙️ Why we attach our sense of self worth to our mistakes — and how to stop 🎙️ The difference between having a bad experience and being a failure 🎙️ How embracing mistakes (rather than burying them) is what separates dancers who grow from dancers who plateau 🎙️ Practical ways to reframe failure in the moment — on and off the dance floor 🎙️ Why the most successful, most celebrated artists in the world have failure woven all the way through their storyBecause here's the truth — the mistake doesn't define you. What you do with it does.Whether you're a dancer, a student, a creative, or just a human being navigating life, this one is for you. Pull up a chair. Let's get into it.✨ EXPLORE MORE WITH ISABELLA🌐 Website — balletwithisabella.com 📩 Join the mailing list — mailchi.mp/balletwithisabella/isabella 📸 Instagram — @balletwithisabella💫 Want to train properly from home? Everything is inside the Ballet With Isabella membership — classes, courses, corrections and more. Join us → balletwithisabella.com

Ep.166 Day 7: Becoming the Confident Dancer 09.05.2026 18min

Hello Everyone!You made it to Day 7. And something has already shifted — even if you can't quite name it yet.This final episode is about bringing everything together. The work you've done this week — facing the performance anxiety, stepping out of comparison, separating your worth from your results, quieting the overthinking, releasing the fear of being seen, finding your way back from burnout — it has all been leading here.To you. The confident dancer. Not the perfect dancer. Not the fearless dancer. The one who knows herself, trusts herself, and shows up fully anyway — on the hard days, in the difficult rooms, under the lights, and in the quiet moments when nobody is watching but her.Confidence is not a destination you arrive at and stay forever. It is a practice. A daily decision. And in this episode we talk about exactly how to keep making it — so that everything you've reset this week becomes not just a moment, but a new standard.This is not the end. This is where you begin.------Follow For More!balletwithisabella.com@balletwithisabella on all socials Join our mailing list ⁠https://mailchi.mp/balletwithisabella/isabella⁠

Ep. 165 Day 6: Burned Out? "Why Am I Even Doing This? 09.05.2026 23min

Hello Everyone! Welcome to Day 6 .You used to love this. You used to live for it — the classes, the rehearsals, the music, all of it. And somewhere along the way something shifted and now you're showing up out of habit or obligation or guilt, going through the motions, wondering when it stopped feeling like yours.If you have ever stood in the studio and genuinely asked yourself why you're still doing this — this episode is a safe place to land.Today we talk honestly about burnout in dance — what it actually is, how it creeps in, and why it is so often misread as laziness or lack of passion when it is actually the opposite. We talk about how to find your way back to yourself and back to the love that started all of this. And we talk about what it looks like to rebuild your relationship with dance on your own terms — not the terms of a schedule, a syllabus, or someone else's expectations. The love is still there. Today we go and find it.------Follow For More!balletwithisabella.com@balletwithisabella on all socials Join our mailing list https://mailchi.mp/balletwithisabella/isabella

Ep. 164 Day 5: Fear Of Being SEEN! 01.05.2026 32min

Hello Everyone,Welcome to Day 5 of The Dancer Reset Series! Let's dive in. Day 5: Fear of Being SeenYou 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

Ep.163 Day 4: Don't Overthink & Align Yourself 30.04.2026 17min

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 PressureThe 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

Ep. 162 Day 3: Self Worth Tied To Decisions Out Of Your Control 29.04.2026 18min

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

Ep. 161 Day 2: The Comparison Trap 28.04.2026 20min

Day 2: The Comparison TrapShe 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

Ep.160 Day 1: Amazing In Class. Lose It When Performing 27.04.2026 30min

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

Ep.159 I am UNBOTHERED 22.04.2026 36min

Unbothered by Anything and AnyoneHello 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 @balletwithisabellaTrain with me and our community www.balletwithisabella.com

Ep. 158 Don't Doubt Yourself! Listen To This 19.03.2026 20min

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

Ep. 157 Inès McIntosh: Paris Opera Star Shares How You Can Shape Your Destiny! 26.01.2026 1godz 44min

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

Ep. 156 Victor Caixeta. How Being A Dreamer Made All His Ballet Goals Come True. 08.12.2025 1godz 27min

Hello Everyone, I am very excited about this episode as it shows the power of the human spirit and passion driving you. In this powerful interview, Victor Caixeta opens up about his extraordinary journey—from his early beginnings in Brazil to earning a coveted contract with the Mariinsky Ballet, facing career-threatening injuries, and continually rebuilding himself with determination and heart.Victor speaks honestly about the highs, the lows, and the moments that shaped him. What shines through above everything is his unshakeable belief in his ability to succeed, his burning desire to grow, and his commitment to finding his true place in the ballet world. His story is a reminder that passion and perseverance can carry you through even the toughest chapters.Whether you’re a dancer or simply someone chasing big dreams, Victor’s journey will inspire you to keep going, trust your path, and never underestimate your own potential.----------⭐ Explore more training, courses, and mindset support at:👉 balletwithisabella.comYour secret weapon and the only community you need :-)

Ep.155 Your 90 Day Challenge 17.11.2025 26min

Hello Everyone! In this episode, we’re diving into a powerful 90-day challenge to believe and become the person you truly want to be. Too often, we say we want a certain life — more confidence, discipline, freedom, success — yet our daily actions don’t align with that vision. This challenge is about changing that.Over the next 90 days, you’ll start showing up as the person you want to become — not someday, but today. You’ll ask yourself: What actions would that version of me take? What choices would they make? How would they think, move, and speak?We’ll break down how to shift from intention to alignment — from hoping to becoming. Because transformation doesn’t come from waiting; it comes from consistent, deliberate choices that match the life you want.If you’re ready to stop standing in your own way and finally live as your highest self — this episode will give you the roadmap to start.✨ Start becoming your best self today:👉 www.balletwithisabella.com💜 Follow along for more mindset and training tools:Instagram: @balletwithisabellaJoin the Ballet With Isabella Membership: balletwithisabella.com — your secret weapon for transformation.

Ep. 154 Precious Adams: " It's impossible to be in shape, all year round!" 28.09.2025 1godz 22min

Hey Everyone, We are back with another great interviewIn this inspiring conversation, I sit down with Precious Adams, First Soloist with English National Ballet, to talk about the powerful mindset shifts that have shaped her journey on her way to the top of her profession. Precious opens up about:💡 Her rise through the ranks at ENB and the lessons learned along the way🧠 How her mindset evolved to embrace confidence, resilience, and self-belief🥗 Why dieting doesn’t serve dancers as athletes — and how she built a healthier, more sustainable relationship with food and body image⚖️ The importance of balance on the path to success — both physically and mentally, how it's impossible to be in shape all year round. 🌟 Why there’s room for all of us to succeed in the ballet worldIf you’ve ever struggled with perfectionism, body image, or the pressure to maintain “peak shape” all year round, this conversation will bring clarity, hope, and practical advice to help you thrive both on and off the stage.🎧 Listen now to discover how Precious redefined success on her own terms — and how you can, too.-------✨ Welcome to Ballet With Isabella! ✨https://balletwithisabella.comBallet With Isabella (BWI) is your go-to online training platform for dancers of all levels! Whether you’re a beginner, pre-professional, or pro, we help you refine your technique, build strength, and boost confidence all with structured training that delivers real results. We are a community of go getters! 💖 What You’ll Find Here:✅ Expert-led ballet classes & courses✅ On-demand classes and courses to watch wherever you are. ✅ Structured Plans ✅ Flexibility & strength workouts for dancers✅ Mindset coaching✅ Live Zoom classes for Members ( recorded to watch later) ✅ Private coaching & personalized plans to smash your goals ✅ Intensives worldwide to work with isabella face to face.💡 Join Our Membership!🔹 Corps – Recorded classes + Live Members Classes🔹 Soloist – Live Classes + all on-demand classes & courses & plans🔹 Principal – Everything + a custom plan every 8 weeks🎙️ Listen to Our Podcast! A Dancer’s Mindset (Co-hosted by Suvi Honkanen) – interviews, training tips, and mental strategies to help you succeed in ballet.👩‍🏫 About IsabellaIsabella is a graduate of vaganova, pro ballet dancer and professional ballet coach. Founder of BWI, she beleives everyone should have the best. Helping dancers worldwide reach their full potential through expert training & mindset coaching.🔗 Start Training Today! → https://balletwithisabella.com/select-a-plan/✨ Subscribe & turn on notifications for new ballet content every week! 💃🩰--------

Ep.153 Working hard but being overlooked? 12.09.2025 27min

Hey Everyone, In this episode of A Dancer’s Mindset, we dive into a topic that so many dancers face but rarely talk about—what to do when you don’t get instant recognition. In a world that often praises quick results, it’s easy to feel disheartened if your hard work doesn’t pay off right away. But here’s the truth: instant gratification isn’t the goal. Growth in ballet (and in life) comes from consistency, patience, and resilience. I’ll share mindset shifts, practical tips, and encouragement to help you stay motivated and focused on your journey, even when external validation feels far away.Because remember—you’re not dancing for applause, you’re dancing for progress and growth ------Book an Intensive with Isabella & the BWI Team https://buytickets.at/balletwithisabella/1801743✨ Ready to go deeper? Here’s how we can train together at Ballet With Isabella:🎓 Explore our full library of on-demand ballet classes and courses: https://balletwithisabella.com/studio/💪 Get structured training with our BWI Plans—step-by-step programs that remove decision paralysis: https://balletwithisabella.com/select-a-plan/👯‍♀️ Join our membership tiers for every level of dancer: https://balletwithisabella.com/select-a-plan/🎥 Want live coaching? Check out our live classes and workshops: https://balletwithisabella.com/member-live-classes/🔑 And if you’re ready for the ultimate support system, discover our Principal Membership—a high-level, all-access pass that includes a bespoke training plan every 8 weeks: balletwithisabella.com/principalWherever you are on your ballet journey, we’ve created tools, classes, and support to help you unlock your full potential. Come and see why we’re called your secret weapon.

Ep. 153 Madeline Woo – Leaps of Faith: From Ballet Stage to Creative Studio 13.08.2025 1godz 20min

Hello Everyone, In this inspiring episode of A Dancer’s Mindset, Isabella sits down with the incredible Madeline Woo—a powerhouse on stage, online, and now in the design world. From her journey to San Francisco Ballet to her meteoric rise on social media, Madeline shares the determination, artistry, and authenticity that have made her a role model for dancers worldwide.We dive into the story behind her gravity-defying jump technique (yes, she spills her training secrets), how she’s navigated the pressures of professional ballet, and what it takes to stand out both in the studio and in the ever-changing digital landscape.Now embarking on an exciting new chapter as the founder of her own design business, Madeline proves she’s more than a dancer—she’s a force of nature, redefining what it means to be a modern artist.Whether you’re a dancer, creative, or someone chasing a big dream, this conversation will leave you inspired to leap higher—both literally and figuratively.

Ep. 152 How Pleasure & Discomfort Can Affect Your Success 31.07.2025 18min

Hello Everyone, In this deeply inspiring episode of A Dancer’s Mindset, we dive into the world of mental strength, discipline, and motivation through the teachings of Shaolin Master Shi Heng Yi. Known for his powerful presence and profound wisdom, Master Shi Heng Yi shares life-changing philosophies rooted in ancient Shaolin tradition—ones that can help you find clarity, inner peace, and unstoppable drive.Whether you’re a dancer, athlete, artist, or simply someone looking to level up your mindset, this episode will show you how to cultivate discipline that doesn’t rely on fleeting motivation. We explore how small daily actions, mindfulness, and self-mastery are the true keys to long-term success.In this episode, we’ll uncover:– Why motivation isn’t enough—and what to rely on instead– How to build a routine that strengthens both the body and the mind– Shaolin practices that you can apply to your own life for greater focus and resilience– Quotes and insights from Master Shi Heng Yi that will shift your mindset instantlyGet ready to walk away feeling grounded, empowered, and ready to show up as your strongest self—every single day------