Ep. 107 - Somatic Awareness: How to Connect with Your Body and Dance with More Artistry, with Chelsea Weidmann

In ballet, we spend a lot of time thinking about what our dancing looks like, our lines, our placement, what we see in the mirror. But artistry isn't just visual. It's also deeply connected to what we're actually feeling and sensing inside our bodies while we move.This episode is part of an ongoing series with Chelsea Weidmann, also known as The Geeky Ballerina, where we unpack the nine specific elements of artistry that Chelsea identified and explored in her thesis, and later her book, on artistry in ballet. In today's conversation, we're diving into somatic awareness: what it actually is, why it's a critical element of artistry, and how adult dancers can start developing it right away.Chelsea walks us through her three-step process for somatic awareness, noticing what's happening in your body, making meaning of it, and using that awareness to make decisions, and why adults are actually better positioned to develop it than younger dancers. We also get into the real impact the mirror has on our ability to tune inward, how to work with (or around) it, and the most common places adult dancers hold tension without even realizing it.In this episode, we cover:What somatic awareness is and why it's one of the nine elements of artistry in balletWhy the technique should serve YOU, not the other way aroundChelsea's three-step process: notice, make meaning, make a decisionHow somatic awareness develops over time (and why adult dancers aren't behind)The mirror's impact on body awareness and practical ways to reduce over-dependence on itWhere adult dancers most commonly hold tension (shoulders and hip flexors, sound familiar?)How to release habitual tension you might not even know you're carryingSimple exercises and in-class cues to start building somatic awareness todayWhether you're a beginner just learning to feel your body in space, or an experienced dancer trying to move with more intention and artistry, this conversation will give you a completely new lens through which to experience your training.👉🏼 Connect with Chelsea:Website: geekyballerina.comInstagram: @thegeekyballerinaChelsea's book: Artistry Inside Ballet Technique, vol. 1 (Amazon affiliate link) ✨ This Episode is Sponsored By:LABL ActiveHosts of the 2026 Adult Ballet Retreat. Come dance with us in Seattle from June 21–26!Learn more here: lablactive.comUse code AFTERCLASS100 for $100 off your registration!The deadline to register is April 15th. Frenchies HairpinsVelvet-coated hair pins for ballet buns and French twists that don't budge!Shop here: frenchieshairpins.comUse code AFTERCLASS10 for 10% off your order!Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunheadExplore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.comPodcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.www.MissionBridgeMedia.com