Dance Real Podcast

How to Stop Bullying in the Dance Studio

Description

This conversation examines group dynamics, power structures, and the conditions that allow relational aggression to form. It also offers practical approaches for teachers, studio owners, and parents who want to create a culture of psychological safety without losing clarity or authority.

Topics include:

This episode is intended for dance educators, adjudicators, parents, and anyone who contributes to a healthy training environment. It encourages reflection, grounded leadership, and a more mature understanding of how studio culture is shaped.

🩰 Stay Connected with Kate

Follow Kate for more episodes, personal reflections, and real-talk on healing and integrity in the dance world:

🌐 Website: www.katehiston.com

📷 Instagram: @katehiston | @dance_real_podcast | @Master_Dancer_Mindset

🎧 Podcast: Dance Real Podcast – available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms

Disclaimer:

The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share and what my guests share is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional.

The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation not to harm or misrepresent.

By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.

In this episode, Kate Histon is joined by Georgina Pazcoguin, soloist, author, and advocate for change in the performing arts. Known as The Rogue Ballerina, Georgina made history as the first Asian American woman to be promoted out of the corps de ballet at New York City Ballet. Her memoir Swan Dive: The Making of a Rogue Ballerina offers an honest and often humorous look into the world of elite ballet, revealing the grit, isolation, and courage behind the glamour.

Georgina speaks about her upbringing in Pennsylvania, the cultural and systemic barriers she faced as a dancer, and the moment she decided to tell her story. She discusses identity, artistry, body image, injury, and recovery, describing how advocacy became a natural extension of her creative life. The conversation touches on the founding of Final Bow for Yellowface, the Me Too era in dance, and the cost of speaking up in systems that resist change.

Kate and Georgina explore how tradition can evolve without losing rigour, what a healthy company culture should feel like, and why younger dancers need mentors who remember what it was like to be in their shoes. They discuss autonomy, the psychological impact of control within institutions, and the process of redefining oneself after leaving a major company.

Georgina also shares her current projects across theatre and film, including her one-woman show Swan Dive and an upcoming performance series in London supporting Ukrainian law students. The episode closes with reflections on visibility, presence, and respect between artist and audience, and on how applause is part of the sacred exchange that keeps live performance alive.

This is an inspiring and deeply human conversation about courage, artistry, and the evolving identity of ballet in the modern world.

Learn more about Georgina Pazcoguin:

🩰 Stay Connected with Kate

Disclaimer:

The views expressed by guests are their own and do not always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation, not to harm or misrepresent.

By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.

Season 3

Ep: 09

In this episode, Kate speaks with Terry Hyde MA MBACP, a former professional dancer with The Royal Ballet and English National Ballet who later retrained as a psychotherapist. Terry is the founder of Counselling for Dancers and STEPPS Charity, a UK-based organisation dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of dancers and performing artists. Together, they explore how perfectionism, fear, and cultural conditioning shape a dancer’s mindset from early training through professional life. Terry explains how subconscious bias, language, and pressure can erode confidence and create patterns of anxiety, people-pleasing, and burnout. Kate and Terry also discuss the legacy of abusive teaching methods, how trauma manifests in adulthood, and what it takes to create psychologically safe learning environments. They touch on competition culture, judging bias, and how both teachers and parents can help young dancers build resilience without sacrificing wellbeing. This conversation offers insight not only for dancers and teachers, but also for anyone working within the performing arts ecosystem who values emotional literacy and trauma-informed practice. Key Themes: The psychology of fear (F.E.A.R. = False Evidence Appearing Real) and its impact on performance. Perfectionism and black-and-white thinking in dance culture. The legacy of abusive training and its influence on adult mental health. People-pleasing, anxiety, and self-worth in high-pressure environments. The difference between supportive correction and shaming language in teaching. Competition culture, judging bias, and how awareness changes fairness. Building holistic, trauma-informed dance education that nurtures both skill and self. How teachers and parents can support rather than fix dancers’ struggles. The work of STEPPS Charity, offering accessible mental health and first aid training for dancers and arts professionals.

Guest Bio: Terry Hyde MA MBACP began his career as a professional dancer with The Royal Ballet and English National Ballet before moving into musical theatre, film, and television. After retiring from the stage, he retrained as a psychotherapist and founded Counselling for Dancers and STEPPS Charity (Support Through Education of Performing and Production Arts Students), a UK-based organisation providing affordable mental health support and education for dancers and performing artists. Terry’s work bridges lived experience and clinical insight, helping dancers navigate anxiety, perfectionism, and transition within a profession that often equates worth with performance.

Visit counsellingfordancers.com or steps.charity for more information.

🩰 Stay Connected with Kate Follow Kate for more episodes, personal reflections, and real-talk on healing and integrity in the dance world:

🌐 Website: www.katehiston.com

📷 Instagram: @katehiston @dance_real_podcast @Master_Dancer_Mindset 🎧 Podcast: Dance Real Podcast – Available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms

Disclaimer: The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share and what my guests share is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation not to harm or misrepresent. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.

Season 3

Ep:08

Resilience is one of the most used words in the dance world, yet it is often misunderstood. Many dancers think it means pushing through pain, hiding disappointment, or toughening up so no one can see them crack. In truth, that is suppression, not resilience. In this episode, Kate explores the real meaning of resilience: the ability to feel emotions fully, process them, and move forward with balance and adaptability. She unpacks why emotional processing is the foundation of true resilience, and how dancers can avoid the rigidity that comes from burying feelings. Kate also discusses the role of the nervous system in managing setbacks, offering practical tools like breathwork, grounding, shaking out tension, and recovery rituals. Teachers and parents will find guidance on how to create safe spaces for disappointment, support dancers without rushing them to “get over it,” and celebrate recoveries as much as wins. Key insights include: The difference between resilience and suppression. Why emotional processing strengthens dancers. Nervous system regulation tools for stress and setbacks. Recovery rituals that help dancers reset. Practical exercises for classrooms, auditions, and home life. How teachers and parents can nurture resilience by shifting focus from outcomes to experiences. Resilience in dance is not about becoming harder. It is about staying open, adaptable, and connected so challenges do not close dancers down. Resources Mentioned Film, Name, Frame exercise. Emotion Debrief after auditions or performances. Reset Breath pause in class. Creative Resilience Journal. Parent check-in: comfort, advice, or space. Closing Reflection Resilience is essential in dance, but it cannot be built on suppression. When dancers are supported to process emotions, they develop resilience that sustains them not only through training but through life.

🩰 Stay Connected with Kate Follow Kate for more episodes, personal reflections, and real-talk on healing and integrity in the dance world:

🌐 Website: www.katehiston.com

📷 Instagram: @katehiston @dance_real_podcast @Master_Dancer_Mindset 🎧 Podcast: Dance Real Podcast – Available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms

Disclaimer: The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share—and what my guests share—is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation—not to harm or misrepresent. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.

Season 3

Ep:07

Australian Dance Adjudicators President Lisa Maloney joins Kate Histon to unpack what high-quality judging looks like in practice: core competencies, the balance of technique and stagecraft, and how clear feedback helps dancers and teachers improve. Lisa explains how adjudicators calibrate consistency across sections using the first performance as an anchor; how to structure voice or written critiques so competitors leave with one or two applicable notes; and how to address age appropriateness in music and costuming while maintaining psychological safety. The conversation covers how an adjudicator runs the day, progressive placing, and timekeeping that respects young performers. It also explores bias management, professional boundaries on social media, and the values that sustain trust in competitive settings. Trends and training are discussed with attention to musical phrasing, trick-heavy choreography, and safeguarding developing bodies, alongside thoughts on the future of voice critiques and the importance of live theatre.

🩰 Stay Connected with Kate Follow Kate for more episodes, personal reflections, and real-talk on healing and integrity in the dance world: 🌐 Website: www.katehiston.com 📷 Instagram: @katehiston @dance_real_podcast @Master_Dancer_Mindset 🎧 Podcast: Dance Real Podcast – Available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms

Disclaimer: The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share and what my guests share is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation not to harm or misrepresent. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.

#DanceJudge #DanceMindset #DanceTeachers #DanceParents #DanceTraining #AustralianDanceAdjudicator #DancerWellbeing #DanceEducation #KateHiston #LisaMaloney

Season 3

Ep:06

In this inspirational episode, Kate Histon sits down with Austin Crumley, The Ballet Educator, to discuss what human-centred ballet looks like inside a working dance studio. The conversation focuses on leadership in the room: steady pacing that protects attention; brief readiness check-ins; clear boundaries that keep learning safe; feedback that is specific and proportionate; and closing rituals that help dancers integrate the work. They discuss why teachers should avoid teaching from fear, and how personal reflection, therapy, or supervision supports cleaner decision-making so past baggage is not carried into the studio. Social and emotional wellbeing sits alongside technical standards, with practical ideas for reading early fatigue, aligning demands with current capacity, and communicating with parents. Austin talks about periodic training: phasing effort across busy periods, tapering before performances, and protecting recovery after peaks. The aim is simple and rigorous: high standards that respect bodies, minds, and relationships. A must listen episode!

To find out more about Austin visit his instagram @theballeteductor

🩰 Stay Connected with Kate Follow Kate for more episodes, personal reflections, and real-talk on healing and integrity in the dance world:

🌐 Website: www.katehiston.com

📷 Instagram: @katehiston @dance_real_podcast @Master_Dancer_Mindset

🎧 Podcast: Dance Real Podcast – Available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms

Disclaimer: The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share and what my guests share is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation not to harm or misrepresent. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided. #HumanCentred #DanceMindset #periodictraining #AustinCrumley #DanceTeachers #DanceParents #DanceTraining #MentalHealthInDance #DancerWellbeing #DanceEducation #KateHiston #perfectionism

Season 3

Ep:05

In this solo episode of Dance Real Podcast, Kate explores perfectionism in the lives of pre-professional dancers. While perfectionism can sharpen detail and raise standards, it can also drain confidence, increase anxiety, and diminish joy. Kate unpacks how perfectionism shows up in daily habits, inner self-talk, and relationships with teachers and parents. She offers practical strategies that both teachers and parents can use to support dancers in balancing excellence with self-compassion. Topics in this episode include: The difference between healthy high standards and perfectionism Why language from teachers and parents deeply shapes a dancer’s inner voice Practical exercises such as progress journaling, the 80% rule, and “mistake rituals” How parents can reframe post-performance conversations at home The importance of modelling imperfection as adults Protecting a dancer’s identity and joy by encouraging life outside of dance By the end of the episode, listeners will walk away with tangible tools to help dancers thrive both in and beyond the studio.

🩰 Stay Connected with Kate Follow Kate for more episodes, personal reflections, and real-talk on healing and integrity in the dance world: 🌐 Website: www.katehiston.com 📷 Instagram: @katehiston @dance_real_podcast @Master_Dancer_Mindset 🎧 Podcast: Dance Real Podcast – Available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms

Disclaimer: The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share and what my guests share is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation not to harm or misrepresent. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.

#DanceResilience #DanceMindset #EmotionalResilience #HealthyDanceCulture #DanceTeachers #DanceParents #DanceTraining #MentalHealthInDance #DancerWellbeing #DanceEducation #KateHiston #perfectionism

Season 3

Ep:04

Illuminating Mental Wellness in Dance

Trigger Warning:

In this episode of Dance Real Podcast, Kate speaks with the founders of the Ilumn Collective: Kari Brunson Wright, Josh Spell, and Rachel Coats. All three are former professional dancers who have transformed their lived experience into work supporting the mental wellness of dancers today.

Together they explore the challenges dancers face with perfectionism, body image, self-worth, and identity, and share how Ilumn Collective is creating accessible tools for mental health in dance training and professional companies. Their reflections highlight what dancers, parents, and teachers can do to foster healthier training environments while honouring the joy of dance.

Topics covered:

The transition from professional performance to supporting dancer wellness.

Perfectionism and self-criticism in both pre-professional and professional dancers.

The role of body image and nutrition pressures in ballet culture.

The importance of self-compassion and building resilience.

Social media and its impact on young dancers’ mental health.

Guidance for parents, teachers, and company directors in supporting dancers.

Why identity beyond dance is essential for long-term wellbeing.

Whether you are a dancer, parent, teacher, or simply someone who loves the art form, this conversation offers insight, honesty, and practical wisdom.

To find out more about Ilumn visit Instagram @the_ilumn_collective

🩰 Stay Connected with Kate Follow Kate for more episodes, personal reflections, and real-talk on healing and integrity in the dance world:

🌐 Website: www.katehiston.com

📷 Instagram: @katehiston @dance_real_podcast @Master_Dancer_Mindset

🎧 Podcast: Dance Real Podcast – Available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms

Disclaimer:

The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share—and what my guests share—is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional.

The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation—not to harm or misrepresent.

By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.

Season 3

Ep:03

In this episode of the Dance Real Podcast, I sit down with mother–daughter duo Kate and Kyra Martinov to explore the shared journey of teaching, parenting, and dancing together. Kate reflects on her own path from small-town beginnings to performing overseas and eventually founding Bay Dance Academy in Nelson Bay. She shares the joys and challenges of teaching her daughter within a family-run studio while balancing the transitions of career and family life. Kyra, now in the Queensland Ballet’s pre-professional program, speaks candidly about the pressures of elite training, the role of journaling and routines in maintaining balance, and the grounding influence of time spent in nature. Together, Kate and Kyra reflect on the values of respect, openness, and resilience that supported their relationship both inside and outside the studio. Listeners will hear: The realities of navigating a mother–daughter relationship in a dance studio. How family values shape training environments and dancer wellbeing. Strategies for managing stress, discipline, and pressure as a pre-professional dancer. Reflections on resilience, joy, and what sustains a love for dance. Stay tuned right to the end of the conversation for some very exciting news about Kyra’s next chapter.

🩰 Stay Connected with Kate

Follow Kate for more episodes, personal reflections, and real-talk on healing and integrity in the dance world:

🌐 Website: www.katehiston.com

📷 Instagram: @katehiston @dance_real_podcast @Master_Dancer_Mindset 🎧 Podcast: Dance Real Podcast – Available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms

Disclaimer: The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share and what my guests share is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation not to harm or misrepresent. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.

Season 3:

Ep:02

In this solo episode, Kate explores trauma-aware teaching in the dance studio through a clear, practical lens: how the nervous system adapts under sustained pressure; why safety and rigour must be held together; and what this looks like in daily practice. She defines trauma awareness for studio settings, distinguishes it from therapy, and offers concrete habits that protect dignity and sustain excellence: specific correction without humiliation; pacing that reads signs of overwhelm and allows brief regulation; structured choice that preserves agency without lowering expectations; calm, consistent boundaries that build trust; and a culture that names effort, risk, and process as foundations for long-term skill. Kate also reflects on how well-meant mindset tools can drift into gaslighting when safety is absent, and why self-reflection for teachers and parents reduces the pull to repeat harmful norms. The episode closes with a steady premise: when safety and rigour are integrated, dancers carry technical mastery with self-respect, and studios mature into environments that people trust

🩰 Stay Connected with Kate Follow Kate for more episodes, personal reflections, and real-talk on healing and integrity in the dance world:

🌐 Website: www.katehiston.com

📷 Instagram: @katehiston @dance_real_podcast @Master_Dancer_Mindset

🎧 Podcast: Dance Real Podcast – Available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms

Disclaimer: The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share and what my guests share is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation not to harm or misrepresent. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.

#traumaawaredanceteacher #DanceMindset #traumaaware #DanceTeachers #DanceParents #DanceTraining #MentalHealthInDance #DancerWellbeing #DanceEducation #KateHiston #perfectionism