The Confident Dancer Podcast

Melody Mennite - Principal ballerina formerly with Houston Ballet and currently dancing with Vitacca Ballet. She has toured internationally to perform the classics as well as contemporary work in dance. Some of her classical Principal roles include Odette/Odile, Aurora, Kitri, Sugar Plum Fairy and Clara in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Manon, Juliet, The Sylph in Bournanville’s La Sylphide, Nikya in La Bayadere, Ciao Ciao San in Madame Butterfly, Marie in the ballet Marie, Tatiana and Olga in Onegin, Stephanie and Mary Vetsera in Meyerling, Swanhilda in Coppelia, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, and Lise in La Fille mal Gardee.Melody’s most recent international appearance was in the role of Juliet for the Houston Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet tour to Melbourne, Australia.

During Melody’s professional career she has also originated roles in new classical and contemporary productions by choreographers Christopher Wheeldon, Justin Peck, Stanton Welch, Ben Stevenson, Christopher Bruce, Jorma Elo, Cathy Marston, Paul Taylor, Aszure Barton, Nicole Fonte, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Olivier Wevers, Oliver Halkowich, Jane Weiner, and Garret Smith as well as in her dual role as dancer/choreographer for several films. Melody enjoys all forms of dance and has extensive training and experience with styles rooted in classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop.

She is passionate about both learning and teaching what she has learned with others. Ms. Mennite has graced the cover of both Dance Magazine and Dance Europe and is celebrated as the Audrey Hepburn of ballet due to her dynamic acting and a predisposition for comedic roles. As an actor Melody has achieved two award winning performances in film and continues to build this part of her resume.

Also from a musical family Ms. Mennite was singing onstage before she ever started training in dance. She has been professionally recorded and released and has performed leading singing roles in regional productions of both West Side Story and Oklahoma.

Melody’s choreography has been featured on film, in music videos, and on ballet stages throughout the United States. In the last ten years she has been commissioned to create thirteen separate works nationally. Her hobbies include spending time in the outdoors, spending time with her son and two dogs, singing/making music, reading, writing, and practicing new ways to make art.

Watch this episode on Youtube! https://youtu.be/9F17DkF13L0

To follow along for daily tips and behind-the-scenes looks at what I'm up to, follow me on Instagram at @kirsten_theconfidentdancer

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THE CONFIDENT DANCER COACHING PROGRAM:

A 1:1 Coaching Program to master the mental side of dance so you can confidently perform to your fullest potential. Perfect for pre-professional, professional, or recreational dancers wanting overcome mental blocks like self-doubt, performance anxiety, perfectionism, comparison, insecurities, etc., and build a truly confident mindset that allows you to perform your personal best with joy.

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ONLINE COURSES:

My online course offerings are a wonderful way to learn the practical steps to retraining your mind so you can thrive and excel in your dancing, all at your own pace and for a more affordable price than individual coaching. Whether your goal is to break through fear and nervousness so you can show up confidently in your auditions or you want to release the self-criticism or self-doubt that's been draining all the joy out of dancing lately, The Confident Dancer Course and rotating mini-courses available are designed to help you do just that.

Learn more and enroll here: https://kirstenkemp.com/online-course-offerings

Hi Dancers! I hope this interview with Jess encourages you with just how much change is possible with the right support! Whether you are a professional dancer or a recreational dancer, if you want to overcome the mental blocks that have been holding you back from truly thriving and dancing to your fullest potential, reach out! You can learn more about my coaching services and apply for The Confident Dancer Coaching Program at https://kirstenkemp.com/

Sarah-Gabrielle Ryan is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she studied on scholarship at the Rock School for Dance Education, Metropolitan Ballet Academy, and the School of Pennsylvania Ballet. Sarah-Gabrielle joined Pennsylvania Ballet II (now Philadelphia Ballet II) in 2014 before joining Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2016, where she is currently a principal dancer. She is a two-time Princess Grace Award nominee, was named Dance Magazine’s On the Rise in 2018, and was the cover of Pointe Magazine in 2021.

Hi Dancers! So many dancers know that they struggle with tying their self-worth to dance, but aren't sure how to actually break that cycle! Whether this shows up for you in perfectionism, being overly self-critical, caring too much about what other people think, fearing judgment, or fearing failure, I hope this episode gets you one big step closer to feeling free to dance full out with joy because your self-worth no longer depends on dancing perfectly! Enjoy :)

Hi Dancers! I hope you enjoy this episode on my BEST decisions and top regrets as I reflect on my journey to becoming a professional ballet dancer! I think we can learn so much from not only reflecting on our own experiences but also learning from the experiences of others to give us clarity on how we can best go about making our own dreams and goals a reality. Let me know in the comments what insights most resonated with you! - Kirsten

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WKpfTrejLPo

To learn more about my mindset coaching and speaking services, visit kirstenkemp.com

To stay up to date on the latest announcements and blog posts at The Confident Dancer, sign up to be a part of my email newsletter community here: http://eepurl.com/gDmjtz

To follow along for daily tips and behind-the-scenes looks at what I'm up to, follow me on Instagram at @kirsten_theconfidentdancer

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Intro

1:20 - Aiming high at a young age

7:53 - Listening to my desires as a whole person 1

1:09 - It’s ok to veer from the conventional path

15:52 - Being disciplined

7:44 - Honoring my personality and bringing it into my dancing

19:57 - Learning to laugh at myself

21:00 - Learning to question lines of thought that were unhelpful

29:12 - Pushing myself past my physical boundaries to an unhealthy extent

31:37 - Visit theconfidentdancer.com for 1:1 coaching support

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WORK WITH ME 1:1!

THE CONFIDENT DANCER COACHING PROGRAM:

A 1:1 Coaching Program to help you do the inner work to step into a new level of confidence, well-being, and preparedness to accomplish your training or career goals. Perfect for pre-professional, professional, or recreational dancers wanting to build a truly confident mindset that allows you to perform your best consistently and overcome mental blocks like self-doubt, performance anxiety, perfectionism, comparison, insecurities, and more.

Learn more and apply here:https://kirstenkemp.com/confident-dancer-coaching-program#confident-dancer

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SPEAKING & WORKSHOPS:

I offer mindset seminars to equip dancers with the inspiration and practical tools to thrive in their well-being and ability to perform their personal best. These 60-90 minute seminars can be a valuable addition to the holistic support and education of your dancers at your next intensive, year-round program, or professional development opportunity for your company dancers.Learn more and inquire here:

https://kirstenkemp.com/speaking-and-workshops#speaking-and-workshops

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ONLINE COURSES:

My online course offerings are a wonderful way to learn the practical steps to retraining your mind so you can thrive and excel in your dancing, all at your own pace and for a more affordable price than individual coaching. Whether your goal is to break through fear and nervousness so you can show up confidently in your auditions or you want to release the self-criticism or self-doubt that's been draining all the joy out of dancing lately, The Confident Dancer Course and rotating mini-courses available are designed to help you do just that.

Learn more and enroll here: https://kirstenkemp.com/online-course-offerings

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DOWNLOAD MY FREE PDF GUIDE on "How To Find Your Unique Strengths as a Dancer": https://mailchi.mp/7e51450a0a3e/findyourstrengths

DOWNLOAD MY FREE PDF GUIDE on "How to Break Through the Feeling of Not Being Good Enough": https://tinyurl.com/redefining-good-enough

Hi Dancers! In recent years, going to college (or a university) for dance has become an increasingly popular option for dancers interested in pursuing a professional career. As someone who has graduated from the University of Utah's ballet program with a BFA in Ballet and someone who has guest lectured for several university dance programs, I want to share 5 things you need to know before going to college for dance if this is a path you are either considering or if you are currently pursuing a degree in dance! I hope you gain insights from this video on how to make the most out of your time and investment if this is a path you decide to pursue. Let me know what you think in the comments!

Hi Dancers! I hope you enjoy this conversation with Anabel Katsnelson from American Ballet Theatre! I know that so many dancers experience injuries at one time or another and we both know how challenging the injury recovery process can be. In this video, Anabel shares how she addressed the mental, emotional, and practical challenges of the injury recovery process to come back stronger. Enjoy!

Hi Dancers! I hope you enjoy this conversation with Anabel Katsnelson from American Ballet Theatre! I know that so many dancers dream of dancing for such a big and reputable classical ballet company, so I thought it would be wonderful to have Anabel on to talk about what it's actually like to dance for such a big company and to also share what advice she has for dancers who aspire to follow the same path. Enjoy!

Hi Dancers! I hope you enjoy this episode on "Why Focusing on Natural Talent is Holding You Back"! With how often I hear dancers expressing frustration that they aren't a "natural turner" or "a quick learner" or "a jumper", I have learned just how dangerous for our progress and confidence it is to fixate on these labels. Does natural talent exist? Sure. But in this video, I want to share with you a much more productive way to spend your focus and energy so that you can truly dance to your fullest potential. Enjoy!

Hi Dancers! Do you ever find yourself just going through the motions as you dance, lacking focus, inspiration, and motivation? We've all been there! This tip on how to use the power of intentionality to your advantage can seriously be game-changing, so I hope you really enjoy the benefits once you put it into practice!