Welcome to Athletic Artist - The Dance Podcast!
We believe dancers should be trained like athletes. That's why we're bringing you the strategies and principles that high-performing athletes and coaches use, because our dancers are ... well, Athletic Artists!
Join us in looking beyond the 8 counts to building stronger athletes, not just dancing bodies!
In this episode, I chat with Darcy and Ben from Primed 2 Performer, professional performers who are training professional performers!
From training to the gym, Darcy and Ben give you an insight into what it takes to maintain peak performer without dancing into burnout.
What's so incrdible about these two is the fact they are still working professionals in the industry. So not only do they give you training tips, they give you training tips from lived experience!
Primed 2 Perform (https://www.instagram.com/primed_2_perform/)
Dance Teachers Training Academy (https://www.instagram.com/danceteacherstrainingacademy/)
Nic Thomson (https://www.instagram.com/nic._thomson/)
www.theathleticartist.com (https://www.theathleticartist.com/)
9 Jun 2026
Productive Rehearsals During Showtime
If you're deep in show prep or DWC prep right now, this episode is for you.
Your dancers are tired. The routine is looking tired. The energy in the room is tired. And you know that another full-out run is probably going to make things messier, not better.
So what do most teachers do?
Run it again.
Because we've all heard it before: practice makes perfect.
But what if more runs of a tired routine aren't actually giving you the result you're looking for?
In this episode, we're talking about a more strategic approach to rehearsals during busy show seasons.
Because while repetition can help dancers remember choreography, it doesn't automatically improve quality. When fatigue sets in, movement quality drops, technique starts to compensate, mistakes increase, and injury risk rises.
I'm sharing the Rehearsal Menu - a resource we use inside the Dance Teachers Training Academy to help teachers run rehearsals that are productive, strategic, and dancer-centred without dancing their students into burnout.
We'll explore how to recognise when fatigue is affecting your dancers, why every run should have a purpose, and how energy management, dancer feedback, and periodisation can help you get better results from your rehearsals.
Because rehearsals aren't about seeing how much your dancers can endure. They're about preparing dancers to perform at their best.
Let's dive in.
@danceteacherstrainingacademy
@nic._thomson
theathleticartist.com
1 Jun 2026
West End Performer to Studio Owner
Nicola sits down with dance educator and former West End performer Alicia, owner of Afonso School of Performing Arts, and graduate of the Certificate in Dancer's Injury Prevention (SCQF-8) to explore the realities of a professional dance career beyond the highlight reel.
From winning competitions as a young dancer and landing her dream role in We Will Rock You at just 19 years old, to navigating injury, burnout, motherhood, and eventually opening her own dance school, Alicia shares the lessons she wishes she'd known earlier in her career.
Together, they discuss the pressures of early specialisation, the challenge of finding purpose after achieving a lifelong goal, the importance of injury prevention and self-care for performers, and why being the best in the room isn't always the key to long-term success.
Now a successful dance school owner, teacher, and examiner, Alicia reflects on how her experiences as a performer have shaped her approach to teaching and developing the next generation of dancers.
This episode is packed with practical wisdom for dancers, teachers, and anyone navigating ambition, identity, and life beyond the dream.
Find us on socials:
Alicia Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/alicia_k_afonso/)
Afonso School of Performing Arts Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/afonsoschoolofpa/)
Nicola Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nic._thomson/)
Dance Teachers Training Academy Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/danceteacherstrainingacademy/)
Website (https://www.theathleticartist.com/)
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