In this episode of Athletistry: Ballet Evolution, Shane Wuerthner dives deep into the mindset dancers need heading into competition season. Inspired by the story of The Way of the Peaceful Warrior, he unpacks the myth of the "outcome" and why obsessing over results robs dancers of the joy they’ve earned.

You’ll walk away with a grounded, powerful mindset to approach your next performance — not with fear, but with purpose.

🎯 If you've ever felt anxious before walking onstage, this one's for you.

⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome back
01:30 – The inspiration: Way of the Peaceful Warrior
03:00 – The flower, the rock, and the real lesson
05:10 – Why dancers fear outcomes — and how to shift it
07:00 – The power of setting expectations instead of goals
08:45 – What to say to yourself before stepping on stage
10:30 – Releasing perfectionism and replacing it with joy
11:30 – Why fear creates panic—and how to stop living in “what ifs”
12:30 – Final mindset reminder for dancers heading into comps

In this episode of Athletistry: Ballet Evolution, Shane Wuerthner dives deep into the misunderstood world of artistry in ballet—what it is, how it develops, and why telling dancers to “show more artistry” is often unhelpful and misdirected.

Shane unpacks his personal journey with artistic growth, shares insights from his time dancing Vronski in Anna Karenina, and breaks down how life experience, emotional maturity, and mentorship shape an artist over time. He also explores how competitions and training environments may unintentionally limit expression by hyper-focusing on technique.

You’ll learn:

• Why artistry shouldn’t be expected equally from every age level

• How technique, musicality, and storytelling evolve in stages

• What teachers can do to nurture expression without pressure

• The power of watching professionals—and how to watch them

• Why artistry is less about adding more and more about refining what’s already there

Whether you're a student trying to find your voice, a teacher looking to guide dancers more effectively, or a professional reflecting on your own path—this episode will challenge how you think about performance, training, and the true role of artistry in ballet.

🎥 Artistry Workshop Replay – Watch Here
An hour-long deep dive into how artistry develops across stages of a dancer’s career.

💬 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:

Tag @athletistry and share what part of artistry you’re focusing on this week—headline? musicality? the space between the steps?

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Artistry in Dance

08:28 The Journey of Artistic Development

15:14 Embracing the Artistic Process

17:28 podcast outro.mp4

Keywords

artistry, dance, ballet, performance, storytelling, technique, expression, training, development, critique

In this episode ofAthletistry Ballet Evolution, Shane Wuerthner takes a deep dive into the world of ballet competitions. Do they truly pave the way for a successful career, or are they just another high-stakes performance that rewards tricks over artistry?

Shane shares his personal journey through the competition circuit—from his early days in tap to major ballet competitions like YAGP and the Helsinki International Ballet Competition. He reflects on the lessons learned, the pressures of competing, and why he ultimately realized that winning wasn’t the key to his professional career.

Through candid storytelling and expert insight, Shane explores:

• Thereal purpose of ballet competitions and their impact on young dancers
• How competition cultureshapes or limits artistic growth
• Why networking andbeing seen by industry professionals matters more than a medal
• The stark contrast betweencompetition success and company life

Whether you’re a dancer striving for a gold medal, a teacher guiding students through the competitive landscape, or a ballet lover curious about the inner workings of the industry, this episode challenges common perceptions and offers a fresh take on what truly makes a professional dancer.

Tune in, share your thoughts, and join the conversation! Do you think competitions are essential for success? Let’s discuss!

Takeaways:

Competitions can provide valuable exposure for young dancers.

Winning isn't everything; the experience matters more.

Artistic integrity should be prioritized over competition results.

The pressure of competition can be damaging to young artists.

Ballet is about storytelling, not just technical skill.

Group performances should be valued in competitions.

The process of preparation is as important as the outcome.

Competitions can foster networking opportunities in the industry.

Dancers should focus on their unique artistic voice.

Rethinking competition formats could enhance the ballet experience.

Chapters

00:00 The Role of Competitions in Ballet

10:10 Personal Experiences with Competitions

20:10 The Value Beyond Winning