A new in-studio workshop designed to enhance dancers well-being
Well Aligned is dedicated to reshaping the landscape of performing arts. Our mission is to equip dance studios, students, teachers, and parents with the knowledge and tools to better support dancers in their pre-professional and professional careers.
We want dancers to feel supported and confident in their bodies while empowering teachers and parents to create safe, inclusive spaces where students can flourish and learn.
Well Aligned is an evidence-based and professional-led workshop for dance studios that will empower young dancers with the tools to feel confident in their bodies, to feel mentally healthy and strong, and to have the knowledge to fuel their bodies for success.
Workshops will cover topics such as:
- Nutrition and fueling for classes, competition, and beyond
- Body Image - how to have a more positive body image especially since dance is a very body-focused sport
- Perfectionism - how to handle critique and criticism in a way that does not harm one's mental health
- Self-care and how to care for one's body and mind
- Life after dance (for Juniors and Seniors in high school)
- Along with team building and fostering community
- And so much more.
Additionally, support and additional sessions will be provided for faculty, studio owners, and parents to help continue the dialogue around these topics.
Throughout the workshops, Well Aligned will work with dancers, studio owners, and parents to educate and align teachers, parents, and students on how to have a more positive relationship with our body, mind, and overall well-being.
Workshops will be led by Lauren and Sam - two prior dancers who now work in the body image, nutrition, and mental health space.
Meet Lauren:
Licensed Therapist
Lauren graduated in 2014 magna cum laude with her BFA in Dance Performance. Upon graduating, Lauren went on to dance with the Charlottesville Ballet under the direction of Sara Jansen Clayborne. There, she danced both soloist and corps de ballet roles in both classical ballets; The Nutcracker, The Firebird, Sleeping Beauty, as well as other original compositions. She also danced in several original contemporary works, most notably by Colby Damon from Ballet X, and Steven Melendez from New York Theatre Ballet, among others. Lauren went on to dance with companies and creatives around the country, including ODC in San Francisco, CA, where she had the pleasure of dancing Kate Weare's work, Giant; New Dialect in Nashville, TN under the direction of Banning Bouldin, Sidra Bell, Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers', amongst others. Lauren also had the pleasure of working as the dance captain of the Players Guild Theratre’s Chicago: The Musical, as well as working on Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas.
Lauren's wide spectrum of experience in the dance industry shed light on mental health issues within this community and the need in which the dance industry was devoid of. This propelled her to pursue her master’s in clinical psychology from Northwestern University. Upon graduating in 2023, she is fervently dedicated to assisting individuals with eating disorders. She approaches her therapeutic relationships through a holistic framework, drawing from an integrated perspective that encompasses psychodynamic, feminist, and systems lenses.
Lauren currently works at Cleveland Therapy Group and see clients one-on-one.
Meet Sam:
Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer
Samantha Christy is a registered dietitian, body-neutral personal trainer, and founder of Triple A Wellness in Cleveland, Ohio whose mission is to empower people to live their best lives through movement and balanced nutritional practices.
Sam has her Master’s in Food Science and Human Nutrition and a BS in Kinesiology and Movement Studies. She has worked in the fitness industry for over 12 years in multiple modalities with hundreds of clients and coached over 2,000 classes at Orangetheory Fitness. She prides herself on creating safe and inclusive spaces for all clients, working with people of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. Sam offers in-person and virtual personal training in addition to nutrition coaching.
Sam has a couple of core beliefs:
- Never again eat Halo Top — enjoy the foods you want without guilt or shame.
- Get Strong AF - through strength comes power which then becomes confidence.
- Weight has nothing to do with health - it’s just a measure of you versus gravity.
- We deserve to feel GOOD in our bodies! - Body Image is an inside job
- Wear the damn shorts — it’s time to feel good in your skin!
Lauren and Sam are profoundly aware of the tremendous impact dance has had on their lives. Through it, they’ve cultivated lifelong friendships (ahem, this one), and acquired invaluable skills such as team work, time management, and attention to detail. Yet, they recognize that dance, by its very nature and the environment of the studio, can foster both beneficial and detrimental traits.
In dance, we learn:
- To move in sync with the rest of the dancers in our routine — this can translate to us wanting to look the same as the people next to us
- To look and evaluate ourselves in the mirror – this leads to comparison of our bodies with other peoples
- That costumes make our performances POP. – this leads to feeling the need to maintain a certain size
- To express ourselves through movement – movement can be a great outlet for emotions but may also lead to shoving things down.
Lauren and Sam both believe the performing arts landscape needs to change.
Being a dancer is tough. Those pink tights and mirrors don’t do anything to help our body image.
We promise we aren’t here to tell you to stop making students wear them…but we do believe there is a LOT we can do for you as studio owners, parents, teachers, and students to help students feel CONFIDENT in those dang tights.
Well Aligned strives to connect dancers’ bodies with their minds in a holistic and supportive manner, fostering the development of their self-identity.
It’s 2024, the dance industry is on the cusp of a revolution. You have the power to be a catalyst for change or continue to perpetuate the problems that run rampant in this community. What impact will you choose to make for not only yourself but for the next generation? The decision is yours.
You don’t have to do it alone- we are here to help! Get your studio registered today!