In this episode, Megan sits down with Shelley Kyne, British movement and wellbeing practitioner, former professional dancer, personal trainer and Level 5 sports massage therapist, for an open and honest conversation about sustaining a life in movement.

Together, they reflect on Shelley’s journey from a 15-year professional dance career into personal training and massage therapy, and how her relationship with movement has evolved as it shifted from passion to profession. They speak about returning to fast-paced environments like London, the challenges of maintaining self-care in demanding industries, and the importance of creating small, achievable rituals — like short morning movement practices — to stay connected to the body.

The conversation explores the contrast between the perfectionism often ingrained in dance and the adaptability and softness found in practices like yoga, alongside a deeper look into the realities of sports massage, building trust with clients, and working holistically with performers and athletes. Shelley shares insight into balancing freelance life with motherhood, and how movement can become a powerful tool for resilience, autonomy, and emotional wellbeing — especially for children growing up in a comparison-driven world.

This episode is a grounded, thoughtful reflection on self-care beyond the surface — for performers, practitioners, parents, and anyone navigating high-performance spaces while trying to stay human.

In this episode, Megan is joined by Ricardo, a professional dancer and creative working across stage, film and commercial performance, for an honest conversation about sustainability, authenticity and care within a demanding freelance dance career.
Ricardo shares his journey into dance, from early training and time on the Centre of Advanced Training Programme at The Place to performing in Wicked and creating his own short dance film, Shattering Conceptions. Together, they explore what it means to stay connected to joy and self-expression in an industry that often prioritises output, speed and visibility.
The conversation moves through themes of self-care and mental health, including journaling, therapy, emotional regulation and taking intentional breaks to prevent burnout. Megan and Ricardo reflect on empathy in creative work, the pressure to prioritise others, and how sustainable practices can look different across seasons of life.
They also discuss navigating freelance structures — finding the right agent, managing multiple projects, and building supportive professional relationships — alongside broader reflections on the commercialization of dance and the importance of returning to its roots.
Throughout the episode, Ricardo speaks candidly about vulnerability, resilience and showing up authentically, offering a reminder that longevity in dance is built not just on discipline, but on care, presence and honesty.

In this episode, Megan is joined by Alethia, a British Caribbean choreographer, performer, teacher and researcher based in the UK, for a wide-ranging conversation on sustainability, authorship and care within contemporary dance practice.

Together, they reflect on their respective journeys into movement, from early training to their current work across choreography, teaching and research. The conversation moves through questions of balance — between rigor and rest, planning and intuition, holding space for others while tending to one’s own capacity — particularly within freelance life.

Alethia shares candidly about navigating burnout, energy management, and how living with ME has reshaped the way they approach creation, rehearsal structures and long-term projects. Megan and Alethia also explore dancer empowerment in the studio, the value of trust and risk-taking in process, and the often unseen labour behind choreography.

The episode closes with reflections on inhabiting dual identities as choreographer and performer, the grief and growth that come with changing physical capacities, and a shared call for greater accessibility and inclusivity within dance spaces and theatres.