Choreographer, Educator & International Dance Adjudicator

In this episode of the Dance Real Podcast, Kate Histon sits down with Adam Scown for an open, reflective conversation about building a sustainable career in dance across countries, cultures, and career stages.

Adam shares his journey from training and working in Australia to establishing himself in the UK, offering insight into the realities of international dance careers, shifting industry expectations, and what truly supports longevity beyond talent alone.

Together, Kate and Adam explore dance pedagogy, competition culture, judging, individuality, and the evolving needs of today’s dancers. This is a grounded, experience-led discussion that speaks to dancers, teachers, parents, and creatives navigating long-term pathways in the performing arts.

• Sustainable careers require more than technical excellence

• Self-belief and consistency matter as much as opportunity

• Judging is subjective but grounded in the present moment

• Dance success looks different for different people

• Fulfilment and wellbeing remain valid outcomes

Adam Scown is an Australian-born choreographer, educator, and international dance adjudicator based in the UK. His career spans performance, choreography, higher education, and adjudication across multiple countries. Adam works closely with emerging dancers, focusing on professionalism, individuality, and long-term sustainability in the dance industry.

🩰 Stay Connected with Kate Follow Kate for more episodes, personal reflections, and real-talk on healing and integrity in the dance world: 🌐 Website: www.katehiston.com

📷 Instagram: @katehiston @Dance_Real_Podcast @Master_Dancer_Mindset

🎧 Podcast: Dance Real Podcast – Available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms

Disclaimer: The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share and what my guests share, is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation, not to harm or misrepresent. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.

After a year of recording The Dance Real Podcast, this new introduction felt necessary.

When I began, I knew what I wanted to question. Over time, I became clearer about what I was here to build: a space that honours high-level training while holding equal regard for wellbeing, agency, and relational integrity. A space where dancers, educators, and parents can reflect together on culture, leadership, the long-term impact of how we train, mindset for dancers, as well as inspirational journey's of those who have paved the way.

This updated introduction reflects that clarity. It acknowledges the realities many experience in the industry, including unspoken pressures, while remaining oriented toward thoughtful progress and conscious leadership. It brings my lived experience into closer alignment with the conversations on the podcast and the future I hope we continue shaping together.

The Dance Real Podcast has grown into a place for honest dialogue, shared responsibility, and a more human understanding of excellence. Thank you to everyone who has listened, reflected, and stayed curious along the way.

Season 4 begins February 2.

If you have been listening for a while, I would love to know which themes have mattered most to you this past year.

Happy New Year! As we enter 2026, many people begin the year with resolutions. Kate opens this episode with a different view. She does not subscribe to New Year’s resolutions because they imply something about the self needs fixing. She does believe in goals. Goals offer direction, structure and growth without the self-judgement that resolutions often carry. This episode explores the psychology of setting meaningful goals for dancers, teachers, studio owners and parents. Kate reflects on how the way we set goals reveals our relationship with growth, control and self-worth. She explains why some goals energise us while others drain us, and how our underlying motivation shapes our experience of progress. Key themes include the difference between goals and expectations, the role of values in shaping direction, and the importance of pacing for nervous system regulation. Kate outlines a clear process for effective goal setting and describes how leaders can use these principles to strengthen communication and culture within their communities. The conversation also examines common traps such as perfectionism, rigid outcomes, all-or-nothing thinking and external validation. Kate offers insight into rebuilding a healthy relationship with goals through small commitments that restore self-trust. Listeners are invited to approach 2026 with steadiness and clarity. The focus is on who we become through the process of intention, action and reflection.

🩰 Stay Connected with Kate Follow Kate for more episodes, personal reflections, and real-talk on healing and integrity in the dance world:

🌐 Website: www.katehiston.com

📷 Instagram: @katehiston | @dance_real_podcast | @Master_Dancer_Mindset 🎧 Podcast: Dance Real Podcast – available on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms

Disclaimer: The Dance Real Podcast is a space for open, honest conversations rooted in real-life experiences within the dance world. What I share and what my guests share is based on personal perspective, not professional advice. If you’re seeking support for your mental health, legal matters, or business decisions, I encourage you to speak with a qualified professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and don’t always reflect mine. Any references to people, places, or situations are shared with respect and the intent to spark reflection, learning, and conversation not to harm or misrepresent. By engaging with this content, you acknowledge and agree that the host, guests, and Dance Real Podcast are not liable for any decisions made based on the information provided.