Chandini Lacarce - Mindset Mastery

Chandini can you please tell us more about your upbringing in the south of France where you say access to cultural and artistic activities was limited? 

I grew up in the ’90s in a village where we barely had a cinema, and cultural activities were almost nonexistent. Back then, access to the arts was a privilege reserved for cities, and only a few sports activities were available. However, my parents were very invested in cultural experiences, so whenever we went on holiday, they would always take me to museums, zoos, or cultural festivals. Looking back, I believe everything I’ve made possible today comes from the seed they planted in me.

At that time, dance wasn’t on my radar at all. The only style I ever heard about was classical ballet, and it didn’t match my taste. There was a music school in my town, but I quit after a year because, again, I wasn’t interested in classical music, and the jazz school was too far away. So while access to cultural activities in my hometown was limited, my mind was expanding through our travels across France.

I used to complain a lot about living in what I called a "cow place," but of course, things have changed a lot since then!

You came across Egyptian Belly Dancing at the age of 17 and said this experience was truly life changing. Can you tell us what it was about your experience with Egyptian Belly Dancing that had such a transformational impact on you and your life? 

That was really the start of everything. At first, it seemed like a coincidence, but now I understand it was my own manifestation. When I was 12, I became fascinated with Egyptian antiquities and even told myself, "I’m going to be an Egyptologist one day." Then, randomly, my mom saw a newspaper ad about a teacher coming to the nearest city for a discovery workshop on Egyptian belly dance. I’ll be honest—I had no idea what that was. I was simply drawn to the word Egyptian. I had never really danced before. I watched a lot of American dance music videos, but I never considered that I could actually dance. When I attended the workshop, it was a wow experience. The music—with its hypnotizing violins and darbouka rhythms—completely captivated me. I discovered movements I didn’t even know my body could do. To me, it looked so feminine and graceful. That first teacher told my mom I was a fast learner and insisted I should join her classes. She was teaching in the biggest city in my region—the same city I was already planning to move to for my studies. That’s how I entered the dance world, and she became my first teacher for the next four years.

While at University you also pursued your dance training and transitioned from belly dance to South Indian dance, which resonated more deeply with you. What was it about South Indian dance that you connected with? 

This is another crazy story! At that time, I had never been exposed to Indian culture in my life, yet one morning, I woke up with this sudden obsession: I want to watch an Indian movie. To this day, I have no idea where that urge came from—it’s still a mystery to me. Since I was living in a big city, I went to the Virgin store, browsed the international DVD section, and picked out a few Bollywood movies. And that was my second click. I watched them and thought, I want to do that.

Bollywood dance felt more expressive, bold, and feminine, but with added strength. Since I was already developing body awareness through belly dance, I started teaching myself by copying the movies. I’ve always been a self-learner. I traveled across Europe to attend workshops with international dancers and immersed myself in Hindi music.

Then came my third click. While performing, I met South Indian people who introduced me to their dance, music and languages. The moment I saw and heard it, it felt like the last missing piece of my puzzle. South Indian dance was stronger, more masculine, and deeply grounded in the floor. It resonated with a hidden part of me—the part that was bold and fierce. I had started feeling incomplete with only the feminine side of dance and longed for something that allowed me to fully express myself.

It was as if my soul recognized it—this is what is meant for me. I kept diving deeper, not just into the dance but into the culture itself. Eventually, I even lived in South India. Not mentioning that i learned english all by myself when all teachers told me i would never speak a word ..haha

Chandini you started to create your own fusion style. How do you honour the roots, culture, history, stories and values of the dance styles informing your fusion style while also honouring yourself and your need for your own creative self expression? 

That’s a great question because I still see a lot of debate on this topic within the dance community.

For me, it starts with awareness. I’ve studied Indian classical dance, various folk styles across India, and performed on international stages for belly dance. I deeply understand the roots, the stories, and the cultural context behind these forms. I hold that knowledge with respect. But I also came to a realization—my overly creative personality made me a mismatch for being someone who solely transmits a dance tradition. That was the reason behind my rebellion in dance, what people call fusion, but for me, it’s just Chandini Style.

I’ve always been fascinated by scientific visionaries—people who think beyond existing models and refuse to settle. I believe tradition and innovation can coexist. We absolutely need people to preserve and teach traditional dance forms, but humanity is also about evolution and revolution. That’s where I feel most authentic.

To deconstruct something, you first need to understand what it’s made of—its origins, its meaning, its structure. Otherwise, it’s just chaos or “confusion”. The dance industry can be very judgmental, maybe out of fear of losing control over something new. But I believe there is space for everything and everyone. Not all of us fit in the same mold, and to me, the most important thing is to follow your path—even if it doesn’t exist yet.

The “fusion” style I created is a reflection of my multiplicity, my complexity. I’ve been immersed in different cultures. I will never be Indian, but I’ve had Indians tell me they sometimes forget that because I understand so much about their culture. I’ve lived in rural villages in South India. It has shaped me, just as my European roots have. My dance is a representation of all these influences filtered through my perception.

I experiment constantly—whether it’s blending classical dance with hip-hop or incorporating traditional Tamil folk movements into my choreography. I follow what feels right to me, and me is multiple. Now, I feel limitless. I never get bored because I have an infinite number of ways to express what I feel, what a song inspires in me. I have so many tools at my disposal, and I don’t put limits on myself. I’m not claiming to spread a culture—I’m spreading my creation.

You became a professional dancer and began teaching at your mentors dance school at 25. During this time you also realised you wanted to break away from the mold and unapologetically embody your unique artistic vision. Your style became a mix of belly dance, Indian dance, and urban dance. Eventually, you opened your own dance school and worked independently and then we had covid. How was this time for you as a woman, a dancer and a business owner?

COVID forced all of us out of our comfort zones—whether that comfort was good or bad.

At the time, my school was thriving. I was teaching every day, new students were constantly joining, and I was in the middle of producing an innovative show. And then suddenly… everything stopped.

I transitioned to Zoom classes, but only about 10% of my students showed up. As a business owner, I was challenged to rethink everything. I had to explore new possibilities online and reimagine what a dance school could be in a virtual world. I even participated in an online dance competition, and suddenly, festivals were happening with dancers performing from their homes across the world. It was insane—but at the same time, I ended up connecting with more people than ever before.

As a dancer, I was fine. I kept training, started my own video production, and refined my editing skills.

But as a woman, things became much harder. My relationship with my ex-husband was already strained, and suddenly, I was trapped at home with him. I realized that I had been running away through my career, using my work as an escape. Now, I couldn’t escape anymore. That period forced me to confront some harsh truths—it was time for things to change.

So in the end, COVID was a mix of good and bad. It was unfair in many ways, but it also accelerated certain necessary actions. And in the midst of it all, I found something valuable: time to develop new skills, like video production and editing. That was a gift.

After covid you went travelling, reconnected with your true purpose and explored mindset mastery. Can you tell us more about the countries you visited, your purpose you rediscovered and the mindset mastery you explored? 

After COVID, my dance school felt like a ghost town. Many students had given up, while some remained, but I could sense a defensiveness around commitment. The hardest part was realizing I would never be able to bring the dance show I planned to life . With my most engaged students, we shifted to video production, but deep down, I knew something had changed—I no longer felt happy running the school. I could have fought to rebuild it, but the passion was gone.

So, I made the scariest decision of my life: I closed the school, gave up my rented home, packed a bag, and left with my new partner. We flew to New York (never thought it could be possible for the small girl who grew up in a farm town) with no plan, no idea what was next, using our savings. At that moment, I even thought dance was over for me, that it would go back to being just a pastime like when I first started.

We traveled through the U.S. and Canada—New York, L.A., and Montreal—where I discovered an entirely new world of business entrepreneurs making millions doing what they loved in a completely unconventional way. I was in awe, thinking, What is this?! I hired a mindset coach who introduced me to concepts like quantum leaps, manifestation, and energetic alignment. Everything I once thought was impossible suddenly became real—multiplied by ten.

And it all made sense because it brought me back to my first love: science. It felt like the missing piece of my puzzle had finally clicked into place, giving me a deeper sense of purpose. I then worked with a business coach to map out my skills, experiences, and vision. That’s how I transitioned into coaching, consulting, and building an online business—one that gives me total freedom over my schedule, travel, and family time.

You freed yourself from burnout, self-doubt, and the constant sacrifices you used to make by starting a business that reflected who you are. Many women will relate with your experience of burnout, self doubt and self sacrificing behaviours. What would you to say to those women who really want to live their best, most authentic, joyful lives, claiming their health and power back? 

I could talk for hours about this! First, I invite every woman to start recognizing her own patterns—overworking, sacrificing, taking on all responsibilities, always prioritizing others, and settling for less. These behaviors are not just “who we are”—they are conditioning. And this conditioning silences our true intuition, weakens our willpower, and dims the voice of our soul.

Burnout is simply a symptom of misalignment. It’s a sign that we are living in a way that isn’t true to us. But here’s the good news: having, being, and doing anything you desire is all about mindset and energetic alignment. It’s not about learning to cope with what’s given to us—it’s about creating the life we dream of. This isn’t delusion, it’s not magic—it’s science. And it’s a deeply researched, documented, and fascinating field.

I used to think it was too good to be true, but now I’m living proof that it works. The fact that I’m answering this interview right now, against all odds, is proof of what’s possible when you break free from limitations and rewrite the game. 

You've discovered a new way of being that brings healing, rather than trying to fix anything within, you instead focus on who you’ve always meant to be. How you do you support yourself and other women to connect with themselves in this way?

It’s actually very simple—so simple that our logical, conscious mind often struggles to accept it at first. The key is to create a new subconscious program because the subconscious mind controls 95% of our expectations, beliefs, assumptions, behaviors, and emotions. It’s the one running the show—even when we think we’re making conscious decisions. But we’re not.

There are plenty of tools to help reprogram the subconscious (not one-size-fits-all, but there’s definitely a method for everyone). The goal of mindset work is to identify with your most favorable identity—love, ease, success, abundance, feeling cherished, etc.

How have you manifested everything in your life so far—whether good or bad? Through your thoughts, perception and interpretations. So, I had to change all the thoughts that were keeping me stuck in an unfavorable reality, ones that weren’t aligned with my ideal timeline. And the results? I overcame 30 years of insomnia, night terrors, lactose intolerance, and travel sickness. I rarely get sick, I attract incredible business opportunities, I always have enough money, and I wake up feeling confident every day—when before, I was an anxious wreck struggling with panic attacks.

This shift brings indirect healing, which is what I love most. You no longer have to identify with past trauma for it to heal—because when you stop focusing on it, it loses power over you. That’s the real transformation. Mindset work solved issues for me in six months that years of therapy and psychology never could.

It all comes down to deep self-trust—knowing with certainty that if you desire something, it’s already yours. The answers are always within you. The more you align your energy and mindset, the faster things will align in your reality. You become the validation first—before anything happens. It’s a completely different way of perceiving and interacting with life itself.

It has been a year since you launched your mindset coaching business, where you guide dancers to own their vision and dance on their own terms, helping them overcome the limiting beliefs that hold them back. Can you tell us about one challenge and one break through you have had in your first year of business?

I had this reflective moment last month… The biggest challenge? Not falling into my old patterns again.

I spent a decade fighting for my freedom in dance, breaking free from the industry’s rules, and figuring everything out on my own. And yet, here I was, facing the same pattern in business—getting shaped by a mentor in ways that didn’t feel aligned, feeling the need to prove myself again, dealing with imposter syndrome… all my old “friends” resurfacing.

It was a test. And just like before, I had to take a leap of faith and apply the same mindset principles that had already transformed my dance career. The lesson? Every new level of growth will try to pull you back into old patterns unless you stay aware. It’s so easy to doubt yourself and think, Maybe this isn’t possible for me. But that’s just your brain lying to you.

The breakthrough? Realizing that these challenges aren’t setbacks—they’re invitations to level up. The more you practice mindset work, the easier it gets. You become so good at knowing yourself—without judgment, without fear. It takes bravery, but it’s so worth it.

Honestly… it’s the biggest healing ever—mentally, physically, emotionally. And on top of that, you get to transform your entire life.

Like… where do we sign?! Haha!

You’ve witnessed how dance can serve as a powerful tool for women to reconnect with their bodies after traumatic events. This is huge as there is an enormous number of women who have experienced some kind of violence in their lives. Speaking to women who have experienced a traumatic event, what do you want to say to them if they are considering dance as a part of their healing and want to overcome barriers to take that step? 

Absolutely. Your body is your home, and dance is one of the most powerful ways to reclaim it. It allows you to reconnect with yourself, to feel at home in your own skin again, and to be amazed by what your body is capable of—things you may not even be aware of yet.

I see dance as an intimate conversation with your body—a new relationship built on trust and self-expression. If you believe you can’t be feminine, let me guide you: adjust your posture, open your arms, lift your gaze… and suddenly, you’ll meet a version of yourself you didn’t know existed. If you feel like hiding your body, movement will gradually help you appreciate it again and even inspire you to take care of it.

Many dancers—including my clients—use dance as a way to cathartically release trauma, just as a writer pours their pain into words. Movement allows you to transmute your emotions into art—to take the weight off your shoulders and set yourself free.

There are so many ways dance can support your healing. If you’re considering it, do it for YOU. Forget about skills, techniques, or how it “should” look. Start with what feels good. Explore different styles until you find one that expands you, liberates you, and feels like home.

Many of the systems girls and women are supposed to fit into, don’t honour and elevate them, but do the opposite and often oppress them. You have a vision to guide a new generation of visionary dancers who prioritize their authenticity and personal desires over conforming to trends or fitting into molds they were never meant to fit. Can you tell us more about this? 

Trends come and go. What stays is legacy. Look at Apple—they don’t follow trends; they create them. They build entire systems that aren’t even compatible with what already exists. That’s the mindset of true innovation.

Conforming will only lead to burnout, survival mode, and a life that feels unsustainable. We’ve seen it over and over—idols who reach the top, only to have their lives collapse because they were never living for themselves in the first place.

But authenticity? That can’t be judged, compared, or taken away from you. It’s unique to you. It’s already inside of you, ready to evolve with you. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that true confidence, fulfillment, and inner peace can’t be bought. No amount of fame or success will compensate for a life lived out of alignment. That’s why even millionaires turn to coaches—because they feel miserable, despite having everything on paper. Authenticity is your greatest asset—use it. It’s a choice, a decision, a commitment, and, most importantly, an act of self-love. Mindset work gives you the tools to build that trust in yourself, and once you do, results become inevitable.

It takes practice to tune out distractions and remain unbothered by external noise. One of the first things I ask my clients is:

👉 If you had all the resources—money, time, health—what would your purpose be?👉 Who do you want to become? What do you truly desire to do?

That’s where the real path begins.

You've seen many dancers find empowerment and self-expression on stage but have seen them revert to limiting identities in their personal lives. You believe dance can be a powerful primer for change, but it’s crucial to harness and expand on its potential in a way that uplifts and empowers, this is where you integrate mindset work for dancers. Tell us about this mindset work? 

I see mindset work—though I don’t love calling it "work"—as a deconditioning process that allows dancers to break free from self-imposed limitations and access their full potential. The goal is to make this mindset shift feel as natural as doubting yourself once did—except this time, you're rewiring your default state for confidence, ease, and success.Literally a new identity (for the same personality)

There are several layers to this process:

🔹 First, we identify dominant limiting beliefs—the ones that shape reality without dancers even realizing it. For example, the belief that “dance is a scarce career, and only a few make a living from it” keeps so many talented artists stuck in survival mode.

🔹 Then, I introduce the science behind mindset and the quantum field. This helped me personally—once I understood how it works, I could challenge my own thoughts and call out the BS my mind tried to feed me.

🔹 Based on each dancer’s personality and experience, I create a custom game plan with tools to reprogram the subconscious mind while aligning the logical mind with these new beliefs. It’s about collaboration, not force.

🔹 To make the process fun, I introduce what I call “proof of manifestation.” It’s about playing with daily small wins to build trust in the process. For example, I started believing that no matter how full the streets were, there would always be a parking spot waiting for me—and it has never failed! Small proofs like this make bigger transformations feel more tangible.

Of course, some beliefs are deeply ingrained, and shifting them can trigger emotional rollercoasters and physical responses. That’s why I also teach:✨ Emotional intelligence – so dancers can navigate ups and downs without self-sabotage and drastically reduce their intensity✨ Nervous system regulation – so they remain solid, calm, and unbothered, no matter what happens.

Every dancer carries a collection of limiting beliefs, shaped by their culture, past experiences, body image, or past mentors. And these beliefs don’t just exist—they actively shape reality because they dictate what’s possible in a dancer’s mind. I’ve seen incredibly talented dancers self-sabotage, rely on caffeine and sleeping pills, and push themselves to exhaustion because they were taught that dance success requires hard work, sacrifice, and struggle.

But here’s the truth: skills, technique, and hard work only make up 5% of success. The other 95%? Mindset. That’s why I created my MIND SET YOU training—because every dancer is either unconsciously setting themselves up for ease or for struggle, for success or for burnout.

For me, dance isn’t just an art—it’s the ultimate journey of self-discovery. And just like dance, building a business as a dancepreneur is another path to uncovering your truth.

Dancers often come to me for a specific goal—**standing out on stage, overcoming anxiety, having more freedom—**but what they discover is something much bigger: a full life and dance design. True sovereignty. More than just results, they step into who they were meant to be.

It's an ongoing process that, over time, they become familiar with and can navigate on their own. Many choose to stay in my world because I love bringing creativity into every experience I create. I also support them in the business and marketing aspects, making the journey fun and exciting. Together, we challenge their possibilities—without the pressure