Today we’d like to introduce you to Chloey Turner.
Hi Chloey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started as an 8-year-old girl in England who happened to catch Riverdance on television, back when it was just a 7-minute interval act during the Eurovision Song Contest. I remember sitting there completely captivated. I turned to my parents and said, “I want to do that.”
That one moment changed the trajectory of my life.
I began Irish dancing shortly after and went on to compete for many years. Eventually, I had the opportunity to audition for Riverdance. I was accepted, and within 18 months I stepped into the role of principal dancer. I spent the next 12 years touring the world, performing in some of the most iconic theatres across the globe.
But the story was not as straightforward as it might sound.
Behind the scenes, I was a highly anxious young woman. Anxiety and periods of depression nearly stopped me from continuing dance altogether. At one point, I quit. I genuinely believed my dream of becoming a professional dancer might slip away, not because of ability, but because of my own mind.
It was actually my dad who encouraged me to just “practice again.” No pressure. Just dance for joy. He quietly sent in my audition tape to Riverdance without telling me, and that decision changed everything.
Those years on tour were extraordinary, but they also taught me something deeper. Talent alone is not enough. Mental resilience, physical preparation, recovery, and mindset are the foundations that sustain a career.
Towards the end of my professional dance career, I found myself thinking constantly about how I could give back to the Irish dance community. I reflected on what had helped me thrive and what I had struggled with. Managing stress and anxiety. Understanding strength training. Developing mobility safely. Learning how to take care of my body instead of simply pushing through.
That reflection led to the creation of The From Head to Toe Academy, a holistic wellness platform for Irish dancers worldwide. The Academy brings together experts in strength and conditioning, performance psychology, nutrition, mobility, and recovery. We offer an on-demand library of classes and workshops, structured programs, and one-to-one services, all designed to support dancers not just technically, but as whole people.
I also coach locally in Raleigh at Oak and Iron Fitness, which, in my opinion, has one of the strongest communities I have ever experienced. It is not just a place to train. It is somewhere I genuinely look forward to going, even on days when motivation is low. That environment of connection and accountability matters.
There, I run Elevate Irish Dance Strength and Conditioning, a program that blends athletic development with the specific demands of Irish dance. Local dancers train in person, while others join virtually from around the world.
Alongside coaching, I consider myself a strong advocate for positive mental health. I have had the privilege of speaking on resilience and wellbeing at The Mental Health and Wellbeing Summit in Dublin, delivering talks for Littlewoods Ireland and TTM Healthcare, and running a wellbeing workshop for the Irish Olympic Boxing team, as well as numerous Irish dance schools internationally.
I am currently working on a book that shares more of my personal journey, the unseen side of performing at the highest level while navigating anxiety, and the tools that helped me rebuild a healthier relationship with performance and with myself.
If there is one thread that runs through my story, it is this. Success is never just about what the audience sees. It is about what you build internally. Strength. Resilience. Support. Self-understanding.
That is what I am passionate about helping others develop now.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been a smooth road.
From the outside, it might have looked that way. Performing internationally, stepping into a principal role, living what many would consider a dream. But internally, I struggled a lot.
I was an anxious child who became an anxious adult. I experienced periods of depression, intense self-doubt, and a constant fear that I was not good enough. There were moments when I considered walking away from dance entirely. In fact, I did step away for a time because the pressure felt overwhelming.
One of the biggest struggles was learning that success does not silence anxiety. Achieving a goal does not automatically create peace. I had to actively learn tools to manage my mind, regulate my nervous system, and build resilience, just as intentionally as I trained my body.
Touring also brings its own challenges. Constant travel, high performance expectations, injuries, fatigue, and being far from family for long stretches of time. It is incredible, but it is also demanding.
Looking back, I would not change those struggles. They shaped me. They pushed me to understand the importance of mental health, physical preparation, and community support. They are ultimately what led me to create the Academy and to advocate for a more holistic approach to performance.
So no, it was not smooth. But the growth that came from the difficult seasons is what allows me to do the work I do today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The From Head to Toe Academy was born from a simple realization. Irish dancers are extraordinary athletes, yet for many years they were not being trained or supported like athletes.
My business specializes in holistic performance development for Irish dancers. That means strength and conditioning designed specifically for the demands of Irish dance, mobility training grounded in biomechanics, performance psychology, recovery strategies, and nutrition education. Everything we offer is evidence-based and delivered in a way that is accessible to dancers, parents, and teachers alike.
What sets us apart is that we bridge two worlds. I understand the artistic and competitive demands of Irish dance from 12 years as a professional principal dancer, but I also deeply value science-backed training principles. We do not guess. We assess, we educate, and we build programs intentionally.
Through our online platform, dancers from around the world access on-demand classes, structured programs, workshops, and one-to-one coaching. Locally in Raleigh, I run Elevate Irish Dance Strength and Conditioning at Oak and Iron Fitness, creating a space where dancers can train like athletes within a strong community environment.
Brand-wise, what I am most proud of is the culture we have built. We promote excellence, but not at the expense of wellbeing. We talk openly about mental health. We encourage resilience without glorifying burnout. We teach dancers that longevity matters more than quick wins.
If readers should know one thing, it is this. My work is about helping people understand that their identity is bigger than a result, a title, or a stage. Whether I am coaching young dancers, competitive athletes, or adults training in Raleigh at Oak and Iron, the foundation is the same. Train intelligently. Respect your body. Strengthen your mind. Build habits rooted in values, not ego.
When you approach performance and training this way, you do not just improve physically. You build confidence, resilience, and self-trust that carry into every part of life.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
First and foremost, my dad.
Without his support, patience, and unwavering love, none of this would have happened. Supporting someone through anxiety and mental health struggles is not easy, and he carried that with quiet strength.
He is no longer with us, but he is present in my daily life and decision-making in ways that are hard to put into words. I carry his belief with me in everything I build.
I also owe so much to my dance teachers and coaches growing up. They shaped my discipline, work ethic, and technical foundation. My close circle of friends deserves credit as well. They have been steady, patient, and supportive through every chapter.
Professionally, I am incredibly grateful to Breandán De Gallaí, who was the dance director of Riverdance when I auditioned. He not only cast me but later entrusted me with the lead role. He saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself, and that opportunity altered the course of my career. I remain deeply thankful for that trust.
And now, here in Raleigh, the community at Oak and Iron Fitness has played a meaningful role in this chapter of my life. It is more than a gym. It is a place of connection, accountability, and support. I am especially grateful to Matt and the team there for the opportunities to grow my coaching work and build community locally.
No career is built alone. Mine certainly was not.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fromheadtotoeacademy.com
- Instagram: @chloeyturner_wellness and @fromheadtotoe_academy
- Facebook: Chloey Turner
