Dancing Through Doubt: Leslie Merced on Body Image, Burnout, and Finding Purpose Beyond Performance

What does it really take to dedicate your life to dance—and what happens when life throws you off rhythm?In this deeply candid anniversary episode of Get In on This, host Ira sits down with longtime friend and artist Leslie Merced for a conversation that blends friendship, vulnerability, and unfiltered honesty about what it means to heal in public. From growing up dancing in her aunt’s dining room in Plainfield, New Jersey, to gracing the stage with the Long Island Nets, Leslie’s journey is one of quiet strength, relentless determination, and rediscovering self-worth through movement.But this episode is about more than dance. It’s about identity, pressure, and the difficult question every creative faces: Who am I when I’m not performing? Leslie opens up about navigating a career-ending injury that wasn’t the end, dealing with body image in an industry obsessed with perfection, and how her ACL tear led to unexpected revelations about rest, rebirth, and redefining success on her own terms.Whether you're a dancer, a dreamer, or simply someone in transition, this episode offers the kind of grounded perspective that reminds us healing isn’t linear—and it’s rarely glamorous.In this episode, Leslie and Ira discuss:The early days of dance training, including tap, ballet, jazz, and her first studio at age 2.5How growing up Latina shaped her experience in competitive dance and pageantryWhat it felt like to win National American Miss New Jersey and how that influenced her confidenceThe internal conflict between making family proud and staying true to a creative pathWhy middle school was the turning point when she realized dance was more than a hobby—it was her callingThe emotional toll of being judged by appearance, and how Leslie fought back against industry biasHer decision to pursue dance at SUNY Purchase, and how her time there deepened her understanding of performance, sacrifice, and staminaThe power of studying abroad in South Korea and how it expanded her worldview as both a dancer and educatorHer honest experience with post-graduation burnout, working a 9-to-5 job, and questioning her identity outside of movementThe unexpected ACL tear that changed everything—and how Leslie is rebuilding herself physically and emotionallyWhy Pilates has become not just a recovery tool, but a new chapter in her professional lifeWhat it means to lead, teach, and make space for joy in a discipline that often emphasizes painAnd finally, how she’s embracing vulnerability, building a digital community, and preparing for her comeback—on her own termsThroughout the episode, Ira and Leslie reflect not just on personal milestones, but on what it means to keep going when things fall apart. Their back-and-forth is warm, grounded, and packed with insights for anyone learning to hold space for both ambition and self-compassion.Who should listen to this episode?This one’s for the:Creatives and artists navigating setbacks or burnoutDancers and athletes recovering from injuryMillennials rethinking identity, purpose, and hustle cultureAnyone exploring healing through movement, therapy, or storytellingListeners looking for real conversations around body image, worthiness, and joyLeslie doesn’t just talk about resilience—she lives it. Her story is a reminder that reinvention doesn’t come after success; it often shows up in the middle of our hardest moments. And sometimes, the greatest performances aren’t the ones we rehearse—they’re the ones we live through.If you’ve ever felt like you were starting over, or if you’ve ever asked yourself, "What now?"—this episode is for you.Want more from this episode?Follow Leslie Merced on Instagram: @les_loves_lifeCheck out her Pilates content and classes at @leslatespilatesKeep up with Get In on This by subscribing on your favorite streaming platformLeave us a review—it helps more people find these conversationsKnow someone who needs to hear this? Share the episode and start a conversation.