218. Building Better Dancers: Cultivating Confidence and Individuality in Dance with Jason Pickett

In this episode of Passion for Dance, Dr. Chelsea hosts Jason Pickett, a distinguished dance teacher, choreographer, and founder of No Starving Artists. They discuss their shared love for teaching, the evolving landscape of college dance, and the importance of individualism and improvisation in dancer development. Jason delves into the business side of dance, advocating for a collaborative and transparent approach to foster sustainable careers for artists. He also shares valuable insights on awareness, confidence, and the critical role of mental skills in a dancer's success. Listen in for  practical advice for dance educators and aspiring professionals to build confidence in the studio and on stage.

Episode Resources: https://passionfordancepodcast.com/219

New Listener Resource: https://passionfordancepodcast.com

Connect with Jason Pickett: 

https://www.instagram.com/heyitspickett/

https://nsadance.com/

Episode Breakdown

00:09 Introducing Jason Pickett

01:30 Jason's Dance Journey

03:00 The Role of Teaching in Dance

05:05 The Impact of Filming Dance Classes

10:35 Challenges in Modern Dance Education

16:33 The Importance of Individualism and Improvisation

19:46 Awareness and Adaptability in Dance

24:17 The Struggle with Comparison

25:54 Building Individuality and Confidence

30:37 Teaching Awareness

32:40 Career Advice for Young Dancers

33:43 Making Decisions and Embracing Failure

39:01 The No Starving Artists Ethos

44:14 Lessons Learned from Dance