Passion for Dance Podcast: A Must-Listen for Dancers, Parents, and Coaches
The Passion for Dance podcast recently featured Abbey Nugent, founder of Studio 2 Stadium, to unpack the college dance team recruiting process. From preparing standout recruitment videos to building resilience and confidence, this episode offers practical advice for dancers, parents, and coaches alike. It’s a must-listen for anyone navigating the journey from high school to collegiate dance.
🎧Listen directly on her Passion for Dance website
I recently had the privilege of appearing as a guest on Passion for Dance, the podcast hosted by Dr. Chelsea Pierotti. For those unfamiliar with her work, Dr. Chelsea is a sport psychology expert and dance educator who has created an invaluable resource for dancers, coaches, and parents to explore the psychological aspects of dance.
Having worked with Dr. Chelsea when she consulted with my teams, I can attest to her exceptional ability to break down the mental components of dance in ways that truly resonate. Her insights from those early coaching days continue to influence my teaching today, alongside the ongoing wisdom she shares through her podcast. Dr. Chelsea dives deep into building confidence, developing resilience, and helping dancers navigate the emotional journey that comes with pursuing this demanding art form. Her approach has fundamentally transformed how I connect with and understand today's generation of dancers.
That’s exactly why I was so excited to join her. At Studio 2 Stadium, our mission is to help dancers successfully transition from studio life to the collegiate world, and a big part of that journey is mindset. From handling rejection to building relationships with coaches, the process is about so much more than skills, it’s about learning how to grow through the experience.
What We Talked About
Without giving away the full conversation, here are a few of the themes Dr. Chelsea and I touched on:
How the recruiting and audition process has changed over the past decade—and what that means for both dancers and coaches today.
The importance of preparation: from clinics and combines to creating a standout recruiting video.
What professional communication with coaches looks like (and how to follow up without feeling like you’re “stalking”).
How to build authentic relationships with current team members, not just coaches.
What is the common recruiting video and what does this mean for college dance moving forward.
My best advice for high school dancers who dream of continuing their passion at the collegiate level.
Dr. Chelsea also asked me one of my favorite closing questions: “Because of dance, I…” — and it was such a powerful way to reflect on how much dance has shaped my life and career.
Why You Should Listen
If you’re a dancer, parent, or coach who’s curious about navigating the college dance world—or if you just want to be inspired by the bigger life lessons dance teaches us—I think you’ll really connect with this episode.
You can listen to the Passion for Dance podcast on all major platforms or visit passionfordancepodcast.com
And if what we talked about resonates with you, I’d love for you to explore Studio 2 Stadium. We’re here to guide dancers through this exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) transition with clarity, confidence, and community.
