46: Peace on the Inside — Jenelle Figgins

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra speaks with Jenelle Figgins —</span> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">an award-winning dancer, choreographer, and teacher, who is using her talents to help engage with schools and outreach to communities. Figgins, who currently dances for the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, uses her platform for good through teaching both domestically and internationally and through community outreach and dance advocacy. Her passion for choreography has also led her to produce original performances in partnership with schools through the United States. Recently, Jenelle was honored to take part in the</span> <a href= "http://www.nycdanceproject.com/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">NYC Dance Project</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">, alongside her twin sister Samantha.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jenelle is all too familiar with the grind of a professional dance career and has learned through her own trials that mental toughness, in many ways, supersedes physical toughness. On the podcast, Jenelle opens up about her struggles with bipolar disorder but discusses how she, personally, gets mentally ready for the grind of her career, day in and day out. Figgins also describes the joy of dancing alongside her twin sister, how her dance career started, the struggles of dancing in extreme altitude, and a myriad of other topics.  </span></p> <p><br /> <br /></p> <p><strong>Moving Quotes:</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“There has to be peace on the inside in order for there to be chaos happening all around you."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Having a strong mental stability is what definitely contributes to you having a long-lasting dance career. You have to have tough skin… But it propels your artistry when you’re able to tap into your sensitivity and make that a strength."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My struggles are my greatest teachers."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I always