Season 3
Ep: 09
In this episode, Kate speaks with Terry Hyde MA MBACP, a former professional dancer with The Royal Ballet and English National Ballet who later retrained as a psychotherapist. Terry is the founder of Counselling for Dancers and STEPPS Charity, a UK-based organisation dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of dancers and performing artists. Together, they explore how perfectionism, fear, and cultural conditioning shape a dancer’s mindset from early training through professional life. Terry explains how subconscious bias, language, and pressure can erode confidence and create patterns of anxiety, people-pleasing, and burnout. Kate and Terry also discuss the legacy of abusive teaching methods, how trauma manifests in adulthood, and what it takes to create psychologically safe learning environments. They touch on competition culture, judging bias, and how both teachers and parents can help young dancers build resilience without sacrificing wellbeing. This conversation offers insight not only for dancers and teachers, but also for anyone working within the performing arts ecosystem who values emotional literacy and trauma-informed practice. Key Themes: The psychology of fear (F.E.A.R. = False Evidence Appearing Real) and its impact on performance. Perfectionism and black-and-white thinking in dance culture. The legacy of abusive training and its influence on adult mental health. People-pleasing, anxiety, and self-worth in high-pressure environments. The difference between supportive correction and shaming language in teaching. Competition culture, judging bias, and how awareness changes fairness. Building holistic, trauma-informed dance education that nurtures both skill and self. How teachers and parents can support rather than fix dancers’ struggles. The work of STEPPS Charity, offering accessible mental health and first aid training for dancers and arts professionals.
Guest Bio: Terry Hyde MA MBACP began his career as a professional dancer with The Royal Ballet and English National Ballet before moving into musical theatre, film, and television. After retiring from the stage, he retrained as a psychotherapist and founded Counselling for Dancers and STEPPS Charity (Support Through Education of Performing and Production Arts Students), a UK-based organisation providing affordable mental health support and education for dancers and performing artists. Terry’s work bridges lived experience and clinical insight, helping dancers navigate anxiety, perfectionism, and transition within a profession that often equates worth with performance.
Visit counsellingfordancers.com or steps.charity for more information.
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Disclaimer: The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share and what my guests share is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation not to harm or misrepresent. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.
