I’m Leah (MS, CNS, LDN), a Professional dancer, clinical nutritionist and dance educator specializing in caring for dancers and athletes.
Leah is a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) and licensed nutritionist with a master’s degree in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine from the University of Western States. Her post graduate training was with Clinician’s Incubator, where she is currently the coordinator for their work with Project HEAL. Her interests in nutrition include sports nutrition, RED-S, disordered eating, body image, eating disorders, mental health, and stress.
I come to the health and wellness community from a unique background. I am a professional ballet dancer turned licensed nutritionist as well as a self-proclaimed foodie, squat enthusiast, and outdoors lover. I had the amazing opportunity to train at the Pacific Northwest Ballet and danced professionally with Deos Contemporary Ballet, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet and has been a guest artist with companies like Ballet Memphis and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. My interest in nutrition came from my own experiences as a pre-professional and professional ballet dancer dealing with under-fueling, recurring injuries, and a negative relationship with food and with my body. At the time, I did not have the resources to help me to thrive early in my career.
After dancing professionally while finishing my Bachelor’s Degree in business, taking a hiatus to make ice cream for a living, returning to school to study nutrition, and then having a second wind in my professional dance career, my identity as an artist and goals for my career have dramatically shifted. Properly fueling my body and focusing on caring for my whole self has allowed me to live out my passion in a way I never thought possible. I am far from getting this right all the time, but I now see health as a journey towards wellness, and not the destination of outward perfection.
There is a growing need in performing arts for education to address matters such as mental health, emotional well-being, coping with injuries, body image, functional nutrition, and relationship with food. What Fuels a Dancer exists to fill that gap. As an licensed nutritionist, my mission behind What Fuels a Dancer is to:
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Provide individualized nutrition care to dancers and students by offering support and tools to thrive in the art form and find balance in everyday life
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Partner with ballet companies, dance schools, and other performance groups to establish scientifically-backed nutrition programs for artists and students that prioritize a dancer’s physical, mental and emotional health inside of the organization and beyond.
Finding balance as a dancer is tricky, whether performing Aurora in the famous Rose Adagio or finding time to practice self-care, cook nourishing meals, and have a social life with a schedule packed with rehearsals and performances. It can often feel overwhelming, stressful, and draining, but I am here to help you find the sweet spot of pursuing your passion with dedication, abundance and freedom. I would love to listen to your story and provide you with encouragement as you discover what fuels your life with vibrancy and passion inside and outside of dance. Head over to my Work with Me section to learn more about Life Fuel and what it means to work with me, or go to my Contact Me page and send me a message.
Not in the world of dance? What Fuels a Dancer is for Any artist, athlete, or busy professional.
I would love to walk alongside you as you explore who you are in the center of your being and help you establish healthy habits to take with you for the rest of your life. You can find me over at Life Fuel Nutrition.