About – Mind to Movement Method

Meet Laura Brailsford

Helping performers develop confidence, resilience, and perform at their highest potential—from the inside out.

For more than four decades, Laura Brailsford has dedicated her life to the performing arts as a dancer, choreographer, educator, mentor, and lifelong student of human potential. Today, she combines her extensive experience in performance, movement, mindfulness, and personal development through the Mind to Movement Method—a transformative approach that equips performers with the mental and emotional tools to thrive under pressure, build lasting confidence, and unlock their full potential—both on and off the stage. Laura is certified in yoga, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), hypnotherapy, and meditation. By integrating these disciplines with decades of experience in dance education and performance coaching, she helps performers cultivate resilience, strengthen mindset, and develop the inner skills that allow exceptional artistry to emerge when it matters most.

It Started With Dance

Laura’s journey began with a passion for movement and performance that has spanned more than 40 years. A graduate of the Regional Arts Program at Cawthra Park Secondary School, she continued her training in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at Toronto Metropolitan University.

At just 18 years old, Laura founded Freefall Modern Dance Company, creating opportunities for emerging choreographers and performers to develop and showcase their work. While the company was built on vision and passion, her own limiting beliefs and fear of failure ultimately held it back, and Freefall quietly disbanded within a year.

That experience became a defining turning point, inspiring her lifelong pursuit of understanding the psychology behind confidence, performance, and human potential. Her professional performance career included working with renowned dance companies, further deepening her understanding of the connection between artistry, mindset, and performance.

From Performer To Educator

While performance shaped her foundation, teaching became her calling.
For decades, Laura has worked with dancers of all ages and abilities, teaching:

Throughout her teaching career, she noticed something important. Many talented dancers struggled not because they lacked ability, but because they lacked confidence, emotional resilience, and the tools to navigate the pressures of performance. That realization would eventually become the foundation of the Mind to Movement Method.

Exploring The Connection Between Mind And Movement

Determined to better understand what helps people perform at their best, Laura expanded her studies beyond dance.

She became certified in:

Through this work, she discovered powerful connections between movement, mindset, emotional regulation, confidence, and performance.
Rather than treating these disciplines as separate, Laura began integrating them into her work with dancers and educators.
The results were transformational.

Why The Mind to Movement Method Exists

The dance world has long emphasized technical excellence. Yet many dancers continue to struggle with:

Laura recognized a significant gap in traditional dance education.
Dancers were being taught how to move.
Few were being taught how to manage the thoughts, emotions, and pressures that influence performance.
The Mind to Movement Method was created to bridge that gap.

Laura's Mission

Laura believes that dance has the power to shape far more than performers.
It develops:

Confidence
Leadership
Discipline
Self-awareness
Resilience
Creativity
Emotional intelligence

Her mission is to help dancers, educators, and organizations develop these skills in a way that creates lasting impact both inside and outside the studio.
Because the lessons learned through movement often become the lessons that shape a lifetime.

Professional Highlights

Education

Founder

Performance Experience

Teaching Experience

Additional Certifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still teach and work directly with dancers?

Yes. Laura continues to work with dancers, educators, studios, and organizations through workshops, training programs, and speaking engagements.

Is the Mind to Movement Method suitable for all dance styles?

Absolutely. The principles apply across all dance disciplines and performance environments.

Do you travel for workshops and events?

Yes. Both local and travel-based opportunities are available.

Can programs be customized?

Yes. Every workshop and training experience can be adapted to the needs of the organization.

More Than A Dance Educator

Laura’s work sits at the intersection of movement, mindset, mindfulness, and human development.
Through the Mind to Movement Method, she helps dancers and educators build the confidence, resilience, and self-awareness needed to perform, grow, and thrive.