Meet Kaley Jensen

We recently connected with Kaley Jensen and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaley, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout

Just three weeks into newlywed bliss, my husband Mitchell and I were excited to visit our best friends in California. But a sudden car accident changed everything. I woke up in an ambulance, pain coursing through my body, with sirens blaring in my ears. The doctor’s words were a shock: “You have a compression lumbar fracture. Your back is broken.”
I couldn’t understand how this could be happening. My future—my career as a dancer and choreographer—was uncertain. It felt like the world was crumbling around me.

Back in New Mexico, instead of living out my MFA dream in San Francisco, I was confined to a small apartment, alone and grieving. I watched friends move forward while I struggled with isolation and pain. The hardest part? Not being able to dance. My body, my soul, yearned for it.
But then, one day, it hit me: I had to come back to dance. No matter how impossible it seemed, I knew I couldn’t imagine a life without it.

My recovery was slow and painful, but a piece of advice from my spine specialist changed everything: “Approach this recovery like you’re 8 years old, learning to dance for the first time.”
At first, it felt like a setback, but slowly I realized this was the key to rebuilding not just my body, but my entire life. I had to start fresh, focus on what I could do, and take it one small step at a time.
This approach became a metaphor for how I could rebuild myself—without the pressure, without the comparisons, just with curiosity and intentionality.

I reflected on the fearless, joyful spirit of childhood and realized it held three important lessons for overcoming burnout:

1, Take off the pressure: Like an 8-year-old, I had to let go of expectations and simply feel the movement, instead of focusing on fixing or achieving.
2, Ask for help: An 8-year-old isn’t afraid to ask for guidance, and neither should we. Courage is found in supportive relationships, and I leaned heavily on my specialists, my family, and my community.
3,Trade comparison for curiosity: Children don’t measure their progress against others. They simply explore. By focusing on my own journey, I was able to rediscover the joy of dance—and life—on my own terms.

When I finally returned to the barre, it felt like Christmas morning. The simple joy of movement, of rediscovering my body, was a gift. I was no longer focused on perfection or timelines; I was just grateful to be moving again.
Through this process, I learned that the best version of me wasn’t behind me—it was ahead of me. The same is true for all of us. The best version of yourself is still to come, and it’s never too late to start again.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m Kaley, a wife and mother, a professional dancer, ballet and modern dance adjunct professor, Pilates teacher trainer, creator of the Mentoring Program for Dancers: Mindset to Movement, and advocate for sustainable creative practices. My career has been deeply shaped by my personal journey of overcoming a significant physical injury, which led to a transformative period of recovery and self-discovery. After sustaining a compression lumbar fracture in a car accident, I found myself at a crossroads, questioning not only my physical future but my purpose as an artist and educator. During this challenging time, I reconnected with the core of why I dance—the freedom, joy, and pure love for movement—and embraced a childlike approach to healing and creativity.
Today, I focus on mentoring dancers and creatives to rediscover their joy, rebuild resilience, and create sustainable careers that prioritize both artistic expression and well-being. My work centers on helping others overcome burnout, navigate setbacks, and approach their craft with a sense of curiosity and wonder, just as we did when we were children. I believe that by letting go of pressure, embracing support, and staying curious, we can continue to grow and evolve in our careers without sacrificing our health or happiness.
What excites me most about my work is the opportunity to see my students and clients transform—not just as artists, but as individuals. Helping them reconnect with their passion, redefine their creative goals, and rediscover the joy of their craft is incredibly fulfilling. I’m passionate about creating spaces where people feel empowered to take risks, ask for help, and pursue their dreams without fear of comparison or failure.
I’m also deeply committed to sharing the lessons I’ve learned about balance (especially in this current season of motherhood) with others. In a world that often encourages hustle and burnout, I want to challenge the idea that success must come at the cost of well-being. I believe in a sustainable approach to growth that allows for personal, family, and professional fulfillment.
Through my work as a teacher and mentor, I strive to foster a supportive, creative community where people can flourish, no matter where they are in their journey. Whether I’m working with a young dancer taking their first steps, an artist re-entering the world after a setback, or a mom looking to pursue both dance and motherhood, my goal is always the same: to help them find their unique path and purpose, reignite their passion, and reclaim the joy of creating.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back on my journey, there are three qualities that stand out as being absolutely pivotal in helping me navigate the challenges I faced and ultimately build a sustainable, fulfilling career: resilience, curiosity, and the ability to ask for help.
1. Resilience: The Power to Come Back Stronger
The ability to persevere through setbacks, whether physical or emotional, has been critical. After my injury, there were times when it felt like everything was falling apart—my career, my body, my sense of purpose. But resilience allowed me to see these moments as opportunities to rebuild and grow. I didn’t view my injury as an end but as a chance to approach my artistry and life in a new, more sustainable way.
Advice for those early in their journey: Resilience isn’t something you’re born with—it’s a skill you must choose to build consistently over time. Embrace challenges as part of the process, not as signs of failure. When things get tough, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this and how can I come out stronger?” Building resilience requires embracing discomfort and learning to navigate it with a sense of curiosity, rather than avoidance.
2. Curiosity: Embracing the Journey, Not Just the Destination
Curiosity has been my guiding light, especially when I had to pivot in my career. Instead of seeing my injury as an obstacle, I became curious about how I could rebuild my body and my practice. I asked questions, tried new methods (like Pilates which shaped so much of what I do today), and approached each challenge with a sense of wonder rather than fear. This mindset shift helped me reconnect with my passion for dance, even when I thought I might never be able to perform at the level I once had.
Advice for those early in their journey: Stay curious about every aspect of your work. Ask questions and never stop learning as a forever student. Your curiosity will fuel your growth. Let this be your focus over comparison, and seek to understand and believe so deeply in your own gifts and experiences that no one can take away from you. Trust in your own unique timeline.
3. The Ability to Ask for Help: Building Supportive Relationships
Finally, one of the most impactful lessons I learned was how to ask for help. Whether it was seeking guidance from a specialist, leaning on mentors, or asking my community for support, I realized that growth doesn’t happen in isolation and if we feel we can do it alone, we are not dreaming big enough! We all need a network of people who can offer advice, encouragement, and perspective. Asking for help didn’t make me weak—it made me stronger because it allowed me to approach my recovery and career with wisdom and confidence.
Advice for those early in their journey: Don’t try to do everything on your own. Building relationships with mentors, peers, and your community is one of the most important things you can do. Be open to feedback, seek guidance, and never underestimate the value of a supportive network. It’s OK to not have all the answers, and asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
In Conclusion:
As you begin your journey—whether in dance or any other field—focus on building resilience, staying curious, and seeking support from others. These qualities will not only help you navigate the inevitable challenges but will also allow you to thrive, even when the road gets tough. Above all, remember that success isn’t a linear path—so the more you embrace these qualities and celebrate every ounce of progress, the more you’ll experience joy along the way.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am always open to new collaborations and partnerships! I believe that the best work happens when different perspectives and talents come together. I’m particularly excited about partnering with individuals or organizations who are passionate about supporting sustainable careers in the arts, prioritizing both creative excellence and personal well-being.
I’m looking for collaborators who share a deep commitment to helping dancers and creatives rediscover their joy and thrive long-term. Whether you’re an educator, fellow performer, wellness professional, or even a corporate setting wanting to heal burnout and cultivate more passion, I’d love to connect with you.
Some areas where I’m currently seeking collaboration include:
Educational and mentorship programs: If you’re working with dancers or creatives and want to integrate a more holistic approach to performance and recovery, I’d love to meet you.
Wellness-focused initiatives: Pilates, injury recovery, and mental health in the arts are areas I’m passionate about, and I’d be excited to work with others in this space to foster healthy, sustainable practices.
Artistic projects: If you’re creating dance works that focus on resilience, healing, or joy, I’m all in for collaborating and sharing the message of coming back stronger.
Career Paths and Opportunities: If you’re working with students within the creative arts, navigating a sustainable path is something I am so passionate on. I love to prove wrong the “starving artist” mentality help students see what is endlessly possible for them!
If you feel that our work aligns and would love to explore how we can collaborate, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can connect with me directly via email at [email protected] , or through my Instagram at @mindsettomove. I look forward to building great connections, brainstorming new ideas, and creating something powerful together!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kaleyclaire and @mindsettomove
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaleyclairejensen

Image Credits

Brian Balloon Photography
Allan Gomez, DFWDP