We were lucky to catch up with Jennifer Milner recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

I train dancers for a living, and they often are perfectionists, constantly judging themselves. Preparing for a performance can be incredibly stressful and you feel the weight of not letting anyone down, not being less than perfect. One of my dancers was preparing for an international competition and couldn’t nail a certain phrase of choreography. She worked it over and over and eventually broke down sobbing on the studio floor. We chatted for a while and I told her she had nothing to prove, only something to offer when she steps out on that stage.

Two days later, she walked out on the stage, repeating that phrase over and over, and won the entire competition, beating hundreds of world-class dancers. It’s something I tell my dancers constantly: we have nothing to prove. Only something to offer.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a former ballet and Broadway dancer who now trains the next generation of dancers, both as a Pilates trainer and as a ballet coach. I spent much of my dance career in New York City, then retired and began training dancers from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, the Bolshoi Ballet, Royal Ballet, and several Broadway shows. After having children, I moved to the Dallas area to raise them near family and began training dancers there. Thanks to Zoom, I now can train dancers wherever they are and I do privates with clients in London, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, New York, the Philippines, and more.

In addition to my private training, I also guest teach at different companies and dance studios. I lead workshops on dance injuries, turnout, hypermobility, and more. I’m the co-host of the Bendy Bodies Podcast with the Hypermobility MD, a podcast dedicated to helping elite-level hypermobile artists and athletes such as dancers, skaters, gymnasts, and more. I also serve on the board of Minding the Gap, a social good company dedicated to getting mental health for dancers the same attention as physical health for dancers. I co-facilitate online workshops with Minding the Gap on topics such as common mental health disorders in dancers, positive language in the classroom, teaching touch in today’s culture, diversity and equality in dance, and much more.

I am a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science and have presented at their world conference many times. I’m a founding member of DanseMedica and Doctors for Dancers.

I believe passionately in creating healthy humans first, and healthy dancers second. I want to raise the next generation of dancers to be their authentic selves, from a position of physical and emotional health. I think that every dancer has something unique to say and I want to help them unlock that voice.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I worked as a professional dancer for several years. An injury during a show put me into physical therapy and I ultimately never recovered from it. While I was in rehab, I realized I needed an identity outside of dance: who was I if I wasn’t a dancer? I turned to a therapist who helped me work through the emotional component of that, and found a nonprofit company that helps dancers segue to new careers. I dug down into what I love and what I have to offer, and realized that my dance injuries could be used in a new career – they would give me information and empathy to share with other dancers who might have to work through an injury. Twenty years later, I still love my job.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe I have a few key assets:

First, I know my lane and stay in it. I understand my strengths and what I have to offer that’s unique, and work hard not to compare myself to others and be “just like them”.

Second, I really enjoy working with a wider community. I love to collaborate on workshops with physical therapists, doctors, or teachers. I learn so much from them and choose people to approach who complement me and what I do. I feel that surrounding myself with smart people and not being scared of being compared unfavorably to them has really helped solidify relationships within my field.

Third, I work hard to maintain good relationships with everyone I work with. The business world is a small one and it doesn’t pay to talk behind people’s backs.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jennifer-milner.com
• Instagram: @jennifer.milner
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifermilnerbodiesinmotion
• Linkedin: jennifer-milner
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxhecMI6eyVHzSvtVxuTugQ

Image Credits
Rachel Neville Photography