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Geeky Ballerina

artistry + technique

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Finding Your Spot: Dance Journal Prompts for a Sense of Belonging

available September 2025 only

Do you have dancers who apologize for taking up space instead of claiming their belonging with confidence?

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You recognize them easily. They diminish themselves during combinations, hesitate to voice questions, and perform who they think you want them to be instead of expressing their authentic selves.

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What if those same dancers discovered that belonging comes from within; entering class with unshakeable confidence in their right to be there?

Cultivate Confident, Authentic Artists

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True belonging isn't something dancers earn from others - it's something they claim from within.

 

Finding Your Spot provides a thoughtful approach to fostering genuine belonging that transforms studio culture without requiring therapeutic training or crossing professional boundaries.

What's Inside This 54-Page Framework​

11 research-backed chapters that build thoughtfully

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Foundation Building:

  • Developing Personal Values - Guide students to discover what truly matters

  • Appreciating Your Body - Shift focus from appearance to capability

  • Acknowledging Your Strengths - Build confidence through thoughtful self-assessment

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Community & Connection:

  • Contributing to Team Success - Transform individual strengths into collective assets

  • Using "Three Plusses and a Wish" - Establish balanced feedback practices

  • Measuring Success - Expand definitions beyond external validation

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Growth & Resilience:

  • Connecting Daily Actions to Long-Term Goals - Bridge effort with aspirations

  • Setting SMART Goals - Transform dreams into actionable plans

  • Getting Comfortable With Discomfort - Embrace productive challenge

  • Navigating the Willpower Dip - Sustain motivation through setbacks

  • Practicing Gratitude - Cultivate resilience and positive perspective

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Plus 44 Ready-to-Use Journal Prompts

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Each chapter includes thoughtfully crafted prompts designed to help dancers process and internalize their growth.

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No therapeutic background required - just your teaching instincts about when the moment feels right.

Complete Implementation Guide Included

 

For studios of every size:

  • Monthly integration strategies

  • Weekly prompt schedules

  • Individual student adaptations

  • Clear professional boundary guidance

From the Studio: What I've Seen After Years of Implementation

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Cultivating team connection after conflict: ​When a group struggled to move beyond bullying behavior, traditional apologies proved insufficient. The former aggressor remained trapped in shame, unable to forgive herself.

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Working through Chapter 4 (Contributing Your Strengths to Team Success) became her transformation point. She shifted from focusing on mistakes to recognizing herself as a valuable team member, ultimately becoming one of the most supportive dancers in her group. She didn't merely make amends - she grew into a kinder, more confident person.

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Engaging reluctant ballet students: Dancers who want competition experience but resist ballet class consistently discover motivation through the personal values work in Chapter 1. Without directive lecturing, students uncover their own reasons to engage.

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Transforming body image in challenging environments: When working with groups who've experienced harsh instruction or favoritism toward certain body types, Chapter 2 creates breakthrough moments. When a high school dancer becomes emotional and asks, "You mean my body can be a beautiful dancer, too?" - it reminds me why this work matters so profoundly.

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Reframing competition disappointment: Perfectionistic teams benefit tremendously from Chapter 6 (Measuring Success) during competition season. Instead of fixating on "unfair" judging, dancers learn to focus on personal development. Competitions become learning opportunities rather than validation struggles.

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After implementing these concepts for years, I consistently observe dancers evolve from apologetic and hesitant to confident and authentic. The transformation isn't immediate, but it's profound and enduring.

Why This Works

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These aren't arbitrary journal prompts or superficial activities.

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This thoughtful approach combines 25+ years of dance education expertise with extensive research in developmental psychology, cognitive behavioral principles, and performance science.

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The progression mirrors how confidence authentically develops:

  • Internal foundation - values, body appreciation

  • Skill recognition - individual and team strengths

  • Sustainable motivation - goal-setting, resilience, gratitude

 

Each chapter builds systematically while remaining accessible when your teaching instincts indicate the moment is appropriate.

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Most importantly, this approach helps students discover that belonging isn't something they earn from others - it's an internal choice they learn to make with confidence.

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It works because it's research-grounded, classroom-proven, and methodically designed.

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Perfect for educators ready to cultivate confident, authentic artists who contribute their distinctive strengths to your studio community.

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Your investment: $40

Available September 2025 only

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