Find the support you need to keep your body and mind in harmony. My platform will soon be live, connecting professional dancers with mental health professionals who truly understand the unique challenges of the dance world. Stay tuned!
My name is Paula Archangelo-Cakir, and I was born in Sao Paulo in the middle of the 1980s. I started dancing at age 5, and decided I wanted to be a professional ballerina by the time I was 12. I trained in Brazil till age 15 when I moved to England with my family. I was trained and coached in England by an ex-teacher from the Royal Ballet School, who encouraged me to audition for bigger professional Ballet Schools. My first station was one year at the Palucca University for Dance Dresden; from there, I went on to train and graduate from the Hamburg Ballet School, where I had the opportunity to dance and tour with the Hamburg Ballet. My professional career took me to Ireland, Essen, Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, and Ljubljana. I danced classical repertoire as well as neo-classical and modern. In the middle of my dance career, I made the decision to start studying for a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. I wrote my thesis about self-esteem and academic self-confidence in professional dancers. After becoming a mum of 3, I decided to hang my pointe shoes and enter a new professional stage. Since then, I have managed a physiotherapy clinic and developed an interest in mental health at the workplace. In this reflection, and now with an outside perspective, I have often thought about the specialized health needs of dancers and the difficulties in asking and finding help. So, I decided to develop a website to speed up the search, and I hope you find it helpful!
As a former professional ballerina who transitioned into mental health care, I created this platform to address the unique needs of dancers. I understand firsthand the pressures and challenges of a dancer's life, both physically and mentally. My goal is to make it easier and faster for dancers to find the right support to maintain both their mental health and performance. I hope this platform provides the help you’ve been searching for.
What I offer
Get ready for a platform designed to help professional dancers maintain their mental and physical well-being. Whether you're looking for individual counseling, group workshops, or specialized support for performance anxiety or eating disorders, we've got you covered. Created by a former ballet dancer who knows what it means to balance performance and mental health.
What to Expect
Specialized Search: Easily find professionals who understand the specific needs of dancers.
Personalized Support: From one-on-one counseling to group workshops.
Regional Offers: Filter services by location or access virtual support.
Key Focus Areas: Help with performance anxiety, eating disorders, mindfulness, and more.
Reach Out to Us!
Have questions or need guidance? We’re here to support you. Whether you’re a dancer looking for advice or a professional seeking collaboration, simply fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible to help you take the next step in your journey toward mental and physical well-being.