Episode 4 of Behind the Stars welcomes special guest Jenni Guest, a former dancer whose love for ballet inspired her career as a leading physiotherapist for dancers. Through her Smart Dance program, Jenni is passionate about not only treating injuries but also preventing them, helping dancers train safely and sustainably.

In this episode, Jenni shares her unique perspective on the challenges dancers face today—from common injuries and dangerous flexibility trends to the importance of mindset in recovery. She dives into her process for assessing dancers’ readiness for pointe work, highlighting why this crucial step matters before slipping on pointe shoes.

With her positive outlook and deep understanding of both the art and the science of dance, Jenni offers invaluable advice for young dancers, parents, and teachers who want to support healthy, happy, and long-lasting dance journeys.

This is an absolute must listen for aspiring dancers and parents!

In this episode, we sit down with Adelaide-born and raised performer Ambrielle Payne, who is currently touring Australia in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. From a young age, Ambrielle trained extensively in all styles of dance, developing the discipline and work ethic that would eventually lead her to the professional stage.

Our Star Academy community were lucky enough to have Ambrielle as part of our teaching faculty, and we’re so proud to now support her incredible journey in musical theatre. In this conversation, she opens up about the highs and lows of auditioning, navigating rejection, and what it really takes to stand out in a competitive industry.

Ambrielle also shares invaluable advice for aspiring performers—how to build resilience, the reality of life as a full-time musical theatre artist, and the determination required to make dreams a reality.

Whether you’re a young dancer, a theatre lover, or simply curious about what goes on behind the curtain, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.

In this episode of Behind the Stars, we’re joined by Malissa Fedele — Clinical Nutritionist, performer, and advocate for holistic health — widely known as The Mood Boosting Nutritionist. With her signature passion for helping people thrive, Malissa takes us through the fascinating world where food, performance, and mental wellbeing collide.

Together, we explore how the right nutrition can fuel the body for long rehearsals, intense training schedules, and peak stage performance, while also supporting a strong mindset and emotional resilience. Malissa breaks down practical strategies for performers of all ages to eat in a way that enhances energy, focus, and recovery — without falling into restrictive or harmful habits.

We also dive into deeper conversations around body image, the pressures of social media, and the influence of modern diet culture on young people. Malissa sheds light on the dangers of “quick fix” trends and so-called miracle weight-loss products, offering instead empowering advice on how to help the next generation build balanced, confident, and positive relationships with food.

Whether you’re a dancer, a parent, a teacher, or anyone curious about the powerful link between what we eat and how we feel, this episode is packed with knowledge and inspiration to fuel both body and mind.

To celebrate this launch, Malissa is offering a special 40% off all Good Day Wellness services for the next fortnight. Here is the link if you want to check it out:

https://www.gooddaywellness.com.au/collections/services

If you are a parent who may be interested or know any kids/teens who need some extra support in this area, Malissa would love to see you. To redeem the discount, simply use the code OFFICE at checkout.

Find more from Malissa below...

https://www.malissafedele.com/

https://www.gooddaywellness.com.au/

instagram:

@malissafedele

@gooddaywellness