Ballet legend Dame Darcey Bussell: 'the resilience you learn as a dancer, training, & the knocks'

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I’m Fine hosted by Jean Campbell meets Dame Darcey Bussell DBE – the celebrated Former Principal of The Royal Ballet and current President of the Royal Academy of Dance to discuss artistry, discipline, grace and perseverance in life – and her journey with dance. From the psychology, the all-immersive, physical and mental strength to the evolution of a dancer’s career, Darcey reflects on shift of identity, pushing through pain, retiring and reinvention as they discuss the pressures of perfection, motherhood, the importance movement, education, wellbeing and reinvention. 

Darcey Bussell is a former Principal Dancer of The Royal Ballet, renowned for her athletic yet lyrical style. She joined the company in 1988 and, in 1989, became their youngest ever Principal, at just 20 years old. She ‘retired’ from ballet in 2007 and pursued a successful career in television, and was a judge on Strictly Come Dancing from 2011 to 2018. In 1995 Bussell was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the for services to ballet, in 2006 she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and in 2018 she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to dance. She has written books and is involved in numerous charities and serves as the President of the Royal Academy of Dance and is the Creator of @diversedancemix.

About I’m Fine:
“I’m Fine is more than a Podcast — it’s a service. A space for the millions of people navigating pain in silence, often without the resources or language we all deserve. The world isn’t set up to support people in pain and we want to help change that.” Jean Campbell. I’m Fine is a Podcast hosted by Model, Writer and Mental Health Advocate Jean Campbell is a safe space and platform where high-performance people talk honestly about their life experiences and healing as Jean explores the inner world behind their outward success. Jean has navigated chronic pain since she was 12 years old, this experience inspired her to create I’m Fine to help reshape the stigma around pain - emotional, physical, and mental - to give a voice to the many who hide behind the words: ‘I’m Fine’. The series features conversations about mental health, identity, resilience, and how we cope when life doesn’t go to plan. 

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With Very Special Thanks to Natasha SilverBell
Technical Production by Copperbeach
Creative Production Patrick Armstrong of Sidekick Productions
Pre-Production Sophie Tall
Series Producer Camilla Morton
Founder and Executive Producer Jean Campbell

This episode of I’m Fine Series Two is kindly supported by Natasha SilverBell and SilverBell Global https://silverbellglobal.com @Natasha SilverBell is the CEO and Founder of SilverBell Global, established in 2012 to provide informed care and attuned presence to individuals and families navigating the complexities of mental health. A thought leader and keynote speaker, Natasha curates dialogues with leading practitioners around mental health, wellbeing, and spirituality. She participated in the first Lord Mayor Global Family Office Summit at Mansion House, London, is an Ambassador for Partnership to End Addiction, and is the founder of the Megan Anne Foundation for survivors of domestic violence and co-founder of Inservice Foundation.