What happens when the work that has shaped your identity begins to change? How do you keep hold of a sense of self in a world built around performance, comparison and high expectations? And how do we support each other when life brings experiences that are difficult to talk about at work?
In this episode of People Soup, I'm joined by Chris Rodgers-Wilson, who spent much of his working life as a professional ballet dancer, performing with Birmingham Royal Ballet and The Australian Ballet. These days, his work brings together psychology, coaching and supporting dancers as they navigate their careers and life beyond the stage.
Chris takes us back to the moment a five-year-old boy watched Romeo and Juliet on VHS and was completely transported by the dancing, storytelling and music. That early fascination eventually took him to the Royal Ballet School in London and a career on stage.
But this conversation goes well beyond ballet.
We explore the pressures of high performance, the challenge of comparing ourselves with others, and the difficulty of holding on to our sense of self when we don't get the opportunities we hoped for. Chris reflects on the sudden loss of his mum, the experience of grieving while continuing to perform, and the extraordinary importance of the people who saw him, trusted him and helped him through.
We also talk about perfectionism, knowing when it's time to move on, and how a moment on stage as Romeo helped Chris recognise that he might be ready for a new chapter.
And Chris leaves us with a thought-provoking perspective on practice and performance: what if practice isn't simply preparation for the next performance, but a daily process that shapes who we become?
In this episode, we explore:
- Finding your calling — and what happens when you lose touch with it.
- The pressures of high-performance environments and the trap of comparison.
- Maintaining a sense of identity when success depends partly on other people's judgements.
- Grief at work, and why the people around us matter so much.
- Perfectionism, high standards and the different expectations we place on ourselves and others.
- Recognising when you've reached a meaningful peak and are ready to move on.
- Building a new professional identity after a major career transition.
- Why daily practice can be about much more than preparing to perform.
Chris's takeaway
High performance isn't just about the big moment. It's about the commitment to daily practice, negotiating the challenges we face and taking steps towards how we want to show up.
About Chris Rodgers-Wilson
Chris Rodgers-Wilson is a former professional ballet dancer who performed with Birmingham Royal Ballet and The Australian Ballet. His current work combines psychology, coaching and psychometric work, alongside supporting dancers through Dancers' Career Development as they navigate personal development, education and career transitions.
Chris's song choice
Aperture by Harry Styles.
If this conversation makes you think differently about performance, identity or the people behind the work, please share it with someone who might find it useful.
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