In this Ballet Science Podcast clip, sports psychologist and former professional ballerina Lauren Ostrander McArdle dives into one of the hardest challenges dancers face: life after ballet and the identity crisis that often comes with it.
Whether a dancer retires from a professional career, shifts paths after high school, or steps away due to injury, redefining who you are beyond the studio can feel emotionally overwhelming. Lauren explains how sports psychology helps dancers navigate this transition with clarity and self-compassion.
She covers:
- What “athletic identity” (or dancer identity) means in sport psychology
- Why over-identifying with dance can lead to emotional distress during transitions
- How dancers can begin expanding their identity beyond their artistry
- The “diamond analogy” for understanding your many facets as a person
- Practical exercises for identifying different parts of yourself beyond dance
- How grief is a normal and healthy part of leaving a dance pathway
- Why you are always a person first—and a dancer second
- How dancers can build resilience, rediscover interests, and polish new “facets” of identity
Ballet Science Blog 
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