Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Adult Ballet Studio
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 19: Pirkko Markula | 06 Aug 2024 | 00:46:08 | |
Pirkko Markula, contemporary dancer and professor of socio-cultural studies of physical activity at the University of Alberta in Canada, is in the studio! She has a Ph.D in kinesiology and major sport sociology from the University of Illinois. Beyond academia, she’s a dancer herself, previously training in the Dance Department at the University of Illinois with an emphasis on Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, and José Limón techniques. She is currently a choreographer and dancer for Initial 6, a contemporary dance company for dancers above the age of 40 at the University of Alberta. Combining her love for movement and academia, one of her areas of research is dance and exercise in contemporary culture, with an emphasis on dance and the aging process. Through her Psychology Today blog, Fit Femininity, she examines how adult ballet dancers discover a new sense of self in a ballet class. A collection of essays Pirkko edited alongside colleagues and students in January 2018, titled “The Evolving Feminine Ballet Body,” explores a range of topics regarding the ways ballet has influenced contemporary culture throughout its evolution. In this episode, we discuss how the ideal ballet body - both celebrated and criticized at times - has evolved alongside ballet as an art form, how ballet has contributed to broader cultural narratives, and especially, how body ideals in ballet have influenced societal views of femininity, beauty, and womanhood. Check it out! **This episode discusses body image and touches on disordered eating, which can be a sensitive topic. That discussion begins around 14:00 and continues until 29:00, for any listeners who want to skip ahead.
Vote for The Adult Ballet Studio in the arts & design category for the Women in Podcasting Awards! Voting ends October 1st: https://www.womenpodcasters.com/vote Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 18: Cecelia Beam | 16 Jul 2024 | 00:44:11 | |
The Adult Ballet Studio has another special guest for this episode! Cecelia Beam, faculty member for adult ballet and dance classes for people with Parkinson’s at San Francisco Ballet, is in the studio. Cecelia is a former dancer, training at School of American Ballet in New York City and graduating from the high school ballet program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. After dancing in Oakland, California, North Carolina, Indiana and New York, Cecelia found teaching. She earned a master’s degree in ballet at Indiana University and has taught ballet at universities and private ballet schools, including Mills College, Indiana University, and San Francisco Ballet School. She has a passion for teaching ballet for adults, and in addition to that, she manages and is the lead teacher for San Francisco Ballet School’s Dance Class for People with Parkinson’s and has coordinated San Francisco Ballet Adult Education Programs for more than 15 years. She shared some of the ways she structures her classes to make them as inclusive as possible while remaining committed to ballet technique and challenging her students. She also talked about the ways she’s seen ballet change throughout her time studying it, and where she hopes things are headed in the future. Check it out!
Vote for The Adult Ballet Studio in the arts category for The People's Choice Podcast Awards! Voting ends July 31. https://www.podcastawards.com/app/signup Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 9: Dani Vitale | 05 Mar 2024 | 01:20:42 | |
Award-winning dancer, choreographer and creative director, Dani Vitale, is in the studio for our March 5th episode! She is a Los Angeles-based artist and has not only toured the world as a backup dancer for other top artists, but choreographed and creative directed world tours, awards shows, and music videos. She has also been a voice for the dance community, advocating on the boards of SAG-AFTRA and Dancers Alliance for fair industry wages and for dancers to be respected as athletes. As an Under Armor athlete in 2017, she returned to her hometown dance studio in Cleveland, Ohio, to give it a complete renovation so that it could continue to be a safe, inspiring, and creative place for its students. She spoke on this episode about her best advice for dancers to handle the industry’s challenges, how dancers can find a place where they fit within the dance world, and how instructors can build an inclusive environment in their studios. She shared audition advice, fun backstage memories from tours, and some recent, exciting projects she’s been working on!
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 8: Vanessa Woods | 20 Feb 2024 | 00:50:21 | |
Vanessa Woods, the founder of Vitality in Motion and Vitality Ballet and a former professional dancer, joined the Adult Ballet Studio for its mid-February episode! Vanessa trained at the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase, Princeton Ballet, Miami City Ballet School and STEPS on Broadway in New York City. She has performed with ballet companies around the country, including Suzanne Farrell Ballet in Washington DC, Pennsylvania Ballet and Colorado Ballet. She danced with the Saint Louis Ballet, performing soloist and principal roles for eight seasons. She was also on faculty with the Saint Louis Ballet School and has taught at other ballet schools across the country. She’s now teaching and bringing ballet classes to adults of all ages, with a specific focus on seniors in retirement communities and nursing homes. In this episode, she discusses her two companies and the work they’re doing to bring ballet to everyone, her ballet career, and what it was like transitioning from the stage to entrepreneurship.
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 7: Joanna Marsh | 06 Feb 2024 | 00:59:25 | |
Author, librarian, archivist, and adult ballet dancer Joanna Marsh joined The Adult Ballet Studio this month to talk all about books, history, ballet and more! She’s the author of two novels — Cantique and La Follia — that focus on the adult ballet community, and her work as a librarian and archivist has led her down some fun rabbit holes into the history of ballet. She’s also a visual artist and a ballet dancer herself, rediscovering ballet in her 20s after a brief experience with it in her teens. We talked about how dance has evolved throughout its history and why Joanna sees it as a countercultural art form, why it’s important to continuously surprise yourself and your audience as an artist, and she gives her best advice for adult ballet dancers to advocate for themselves in their training. She also offers some great writing tips!
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 6: Natalie Orr | 02 Jan 2024 | 01:10:13 | |
Happy new year! Natalie Orr, body-based intelligence coach and former professional dancer and instructor, is in the studio this month to talk about dance, embodiment, chronic illness, and more! She has more than 16 years of teaching experience both as a dance teacher and an English as a foreign language teacher. She taught in Madrid for many years and created an online dance movement for adults called Natalie Danza, where she ran classes, workshops and retreats in London, Madrid, and Málaga. For the past four years, she’s taken a step back from dancing to run a success coaching business where she helps clients become more in tune with their bodies. We spoke about her decision to take a break from dance, as well as her experience being diagnosed with endometriosis and the challenges of being a person who menstruates or has a woman’s body in ballet. She shared her advice for adult dancers to focus on nurturing their bodies as well as growth and why both are important. We also discussed why dancers need to be more careful about balancing their hard work and perfectionism with periods of rest and kindness to their bodies.
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 5: Phil Chan | 06 Dec 2023 | 01:05:02 | |
Phil Chan, co-founder of the non-profit Final Bow for Yellowface, joined the studio this month to talk about his work with the organization to improve representation of Asians in ballet and eliminate offensive stereotypes on stage. Phil co-founded the organization alongside Georgina Pazcoguin, former New York City Ballet soloist, and they are both doing great work to advocate for Asian artists within ballet and beyond. Phil is also the author of two books - Final Bow for Yellowface: Dancing between Intention and Impact and Banishing Orientalism: Dancing between Exotic and Familiar - as well as a choreographer and a stage director. He directed his first opera this summer, a reimagining of Puccini's 1904 classic Madama Butterfly, and is currently in the process of reworking the famous ballet La Bayadere to appeal to 21st century audiences. We talked about how his own experiences as a Chinese American during the COVID-19 pandemic shaped his approach to his work as a dancer and activist. We also talked about how dancers of any age can push through fear and get into the ballet studio. And, as if he’s not busy enough, Phil is also president of the Gold Standard Arts Foundation, an organization that works to elevate Asian voices in the arts. Phil does so much great work for dance and the live arts, and it was an honor to talk to him!
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 4: Julie Leung | 07 Nov 2023 | 00:55:48 | |
Julie Leung, founder of Broche Ballet, joined the studio this month to talk about her journey from being "a clumsy and inflexible teen" to taking her first ballet class at 17 and eventually opening her own studio for adult ballet dancers in 2017! Broche Ballet is now thriving as a fully online ballet studio offering classes and resources to help adult dancers follow their ballet dreams. She spoke about spending her early 20s in New York, where she connected with the teachers and studios that taught her hustle and perseverance, why facing fears is important to her and led her to try ballet in the first place, and her best advice for adult dancers to improve and achieve their goals at any age.
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 3: Leigh Purtill | 03 Oct 2023 | 01:04:53 | |
Leigh Purtill Ballet Company is an LA-based non-profit adult ballet company, and artistic director Leigh Purtill joined the studio this month to talk about its mission of bringing ballet to everyone! We chatted about the need for more women in leadership roles in ballet, breaking boundaries with storytelling and reaching those who don't fit the mold of the perfect dancer, zombies and a spooky-themed ballet (it is October, after all!), and how Leigh went from feeling frustrated with ballet in college to rediscovering its joys through teaching adults. Check out her interview!
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 2: Jana Carson and Abby Hudgins | 05 Sep 2023 | 00:55:03 | |
Two guests are in the studio this month! Jana Carson, professional photographer for the Oklahoma City Ballet, and Abby Hudgins, ballet instructor, mom and former pro dancer, chatted with me about founding Ballerinas by Night, a support community that provides resources for adults who are beginning or continuing their dance education. Both have been dancing since they were kids but took a break before re-connecting with ballet in adulthood. We talk about what that was like, how they decided it was time for a break, and ultimately, what led them back to ballet. A few tears were shed as we reflected on how important friendships and communities are in the dance world, and we talked about how dancers can work through barriers to entry in ballet like body image, financial challenges, competition, and physical demands.
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 1: Patricia Pyrka | 01 Aug 2023 | 00:49:44 | |
Hello and welcome to the first episode of The Adult Ballet Studio! Joining the studio is Patricia Pyrka, ballet technique level 3 teacher, coach for adult ballet beginners, and blogger at Ballet Misfits. She began ballet at age 37 and in just eight years, was accepted into Canada's National Ballet School for its teacher training program. She talks about the audition process (including failing her first audition and trying again three years later!), what she's learning about movement and perseverance from her son who has a physical disability, and why she's passionate about teaching adults ballet.
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 17: Daniel Watt | 02 Jul 2024 | 00:52:56 | |
Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker Daniel Watt is in the studio for this episode! Dan is producer and director of the award-winning documentary “Everybody Dance” — currently available on iTunes, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime, which is offering it for free in recognition of the month of July as Disability Pride Month. The film follows five kids with different disabilities and their families as well as their dance teacher, Bonnie Schlachte, as they prepare for their end of year recital. Bonnie is founder and director of Ballet For All Kids, a non-profit program that teaches classical ballet and other dance styles using The Schlachte Method - a certified curriculum developed by Bonnie to accommodate all abilities, body types, and learning styles in ballet. The film explores how dance has changed the lives of these kids and many others studying through Bonnie’s organization. “Everybody Dance” won in the category of best direction of a documentary at the 2023 Chita Rivera Awards. It was a 2022 Cleveland International Film Festival nominee, premiered at the 2024 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and most recently, was nominated for an Emmy in the independent programming category in Los Angeles. Dan began his dance career in Cleveland, Ohio, and continued studying in New York City and Los Angeles. He performed with the Joffrey Ballet in Los Angeles before transitioning into a career in film, in which he spent five years in film development at Columbia Pictures and five years working at Syco Entertainment, a London-headquartered music, television, and film production company founded by Simon Cowell with Sony Music Entertainment. Dan has previously worked on the 2013 documentary “One Direction: This Is Us” and was a producer on the award-winning documentary “The Center: Gibbons and Guardians.” He joined the podcast to talk about the process of creating “Everybody Dance,” his dance and film career, the importance of taking risks and following your passion, and what projects he’s working on next. Check it out!
Vote for The Adult Ballet Studio in the arts category for The People's Choice Podcast Awards! Voting ends July 31. https://www.podcastawards.com/app/signup Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 16: Julie Dupas | 18 Jun 2024 | 00:40:13 | |
Julie Dupas, founder of Amsterdam Amateur Ballet and Morlaix Ballet Camp, is in the studio for this episode! After beginning ballet in her 20s and noticing a lack of performance opportunities for adult ballet dancers, Julie founded Amsterdam Amateur Ballet, an inclusive and affordable amateur adult performance group based in Amsterdam. She also founded international summer camp Morlaix Ballet Camp, in which adult dancers take class, learn and perform a complete ballet alongside professional dancers in the course of eight days. Julie studied jazz as a form of dance for most of her childhood and eventually went on to become a scientist with a PhD in biology. She taught biology for five years before deciding to switch careers, founding two ballet non-profits and working as a pilates instructor. She joined the studio to discuss how her science background has served her in ballet, how dancers can build strength and flexibility with pilates, and what she hopes adults take away from her classes. She also discussed the anxieties, and ultimately, the benefits of making a mid-career shift and her advice for other adults beginning ballet later in life. Check it out!
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 15: Adriana Pierce | 04 Jun 2024 | 00:53:18 | |
Adriana Pierce is a dancer, choreographer, and director based in New York City, and she joined the studio to talk about her work elevating queer artists in ballet, creating community, and her career in classical ballet as well as musical theater! Adriana is the founder of Queer the Ballet, an initiative with the mission to widen the scope of classical ballet by producing queer work by queer dance artists. Queer the Ballet says on its website that it seeks to “queer” our ballet spaces and explore choreography often absent from ballet stages. After training at School of American Ballet, Adriana began her dancing career with New York City Ballet and Miami City Ballet before realizing another dream of hers - working in Broadway, film and tv! She appeared in the 2018 Broadway revival of Carousel, in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 West Side Story film, and in the 2019 limited series on FX, Fosse/Verdon. She’s currently the associate director and associate choreographer for Justin Peck’s “Illinoise" on Broadway. Adriana’s other choreographic work features movement and partnering that allows dancers of all genders equal agency, dismantling the traditional gender dynamics of dance. Her choreography has been performed by American Ballet Theatre, Carolina Ballet, Columbia Ballet Collaborative, Ashley Bouder Project, and more. She’s also completed residencies with Center for Ballet and the Arts at NYU and Bridge Street Theatre, and she was recognized by Dance Magazine as one of 25 to watch in 2022.
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 14: Sander Blommaert | 21 May 2024 | 00:54:25 | |
Sander Blommaert is in the studio for this episode! He’s the founder and director of Blommaert Ballet School in Birmingham, England, and a former first artist at The Royal Ballet company. Since the school’s official founding in 2021, BBS has become known as an audition preparation school, working with young students pursuing professional ballet careers as well as offering classes for all ages. Over the last two years, students studying with BBS have secured over 100 places at vocational schools. Sander spoke about his time dancing professionally at The Royal Ballet company, his work as an instructor and ballet school owner, as well as his work with the adult ballet community. Founding BBS in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns made him realize that offering online one-on-one teaching services as well as online classes is an important part of his school’s mission to expand access to ballet. Sander also shared that he taught 100 ballet classes in 100 days over Instagram live during the pandemic shutdowns, raising seven thousand pounds for the UK’s National Health Service. Check out the episode to hear more!
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 13: Leigh Brockman Horowitz | 07 May 2024 | 00:59:19 | |
Ballet instructor, classroom teacher, mom and former pro dancer Leigh Brockman Horowitz is in the studio for this episode! She’s talking about mental health, physical health, brain science, neurodiversity in ballet and the arts, and more. Leigh is a certified ballet and character dance teacher who has been teaching dance for more than twenty years. She is currently based in St. Louis, where she teaches adult ballet. She’s served as a faculty member at the Center of Creative Arts in St. Louis and in the ballet department at Loyola University in her native city of New Orleans. Leigh has made it her mission to spread the knowledge of ballet and make it as accessible as possible, especially through her Instagram content as Sassy Southern Ballet Mama! As someone with ADHD and multiple sclerosis, much of her work focuses on how the ballet world can become more accommodating for neurodivergent dancers or those with mental and physical health challenges. She discusses how teachers can create classrooms that accommodate all types of learners and what her journey with her mental and physical health has taught her about working with adult ballet students. Check it out!
Follow Leigh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sassysouthernballetmama/
Stay tuned for updates about Leigh’s work: www.sassysouthernballetmama.com
Music in this episode:
Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky
Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod
Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310
Artist: http://incompetech.com/
@eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com
Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
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| Episode 12: Aubrey Lynch II | 16 Apr 2024 | 00:54:47 | |
Aubrey Lynch II, dean of students and director of ABT Wellness and RISE with American Ballet Theatre in New York City, joined the studio to talk about his work to further mental health and DEI initiatives at ABT and beyond! He focuses on mentoring students at ABT and providing resources for them, as well as expanding access to mental health resources that support the whole dancer in and out of the studio. He also works to build upon ABT’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to make ballet a more welcoming place on stage, in the audience and behind the scenes. Prior to joining American Ballet Theatre, Aubrey was the dance director and chief education and creative programs officer at The Harlem School of the Arts. Before transitioning to arts administration, he was one of the final dancers hand-selected by Alvin Ailey to join Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Aubrey was an original company member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and he was an original cast member of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Disney's The Lion King. Aubrey also acted as the production's associate choreographer, and later, the associate producer. We talked about the importance of self-reflection in ballet, providing visibility for BIPOC and female dancers and choreographers, and why access to mental health is so important for dancers.
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 11: Rachel Toburen | 02 Apr 2024 | 01:07:06 | |
Rachel Toburen is a multidisciplinary artist working with paint, photography, perfume, and dance, and she’s in the studio this month talking all about her exploration of memory, mental health, and adult ballet! Rachel uses her artwork to explore memory and the experience of memory, and she shared how those concepts show up in her dancing and choreography. We talked about how sights, sounds, and smells can trigger certain memories and how artwork can change as the mind takes in new experiences and memories evolve. Rachel returned to ballet in 2018 after a nearly 20-year absence from dance and has been training rigorously, even through the pandemic. In 2022, she began exploring the choreographic side of her interests, and this year, she’s working on developing a full short ballet as a retelling of the story of Medusa in five movements. She spoke with me about the experience of returning to ballet and performing as an adult, how she connects her painting and perfume work to dance, and how mental health is a big part of the work she does as she sees dance as a full body and mind experience. Check it out!
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 10: Jessica Wallis | 19 Mar 2024 | 01:02:07 | |
Jessica Wallis, founder and executive director of the non-profit organization, Ballet in the City, joined the studio for the March 19th episode! Ballet in the City presents programming and events to promote and enhance the culture of ballet in cities all over the world. It works to connect ballet enthusiasts with professional dancers, scholarships, and educational opportunities. Jessica is a dancer and a two-time honors graduate of The University of Akron. She has been honored for her work with an official proclamation from the City of Cleveland in her home state of Ohio and was presented with a Distinguished Alumni award by the Cuyahoga Falls Schools Foundation in 2018. On this episode, she discusses how she’s working to expand inclusivity and access to ballet all over the world with programs like the Ballet in the City Scholarship, which began in 2015 in collaboration with Misty Copeland to promote equality in the arts for Black dancers. Ballet in the City also has a Guys Dance Too program to make dance more accessible for men of all ages and abilities and an adult ballet program, including a pointe program for adults who want to return to pointe or begin it for the first time.
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 20: Helen Banks | 03 Sep 2024 | 00:49:31 | |
Joining the studio for this episode is Helen Banks, owner and CEO of the sustainable dancewear brand, Imperfect Pointes! Helen founded Imperfect Pointes in 2020 out of frustration at the lack of dancewear brands focusing on sustainability. After working in fast fashion and seeing the darker side of the fashion industry, she was upset by the amount of waste going to landfills and the poor working conditions in some factories where dancewear is made. To support her journey in launching a more sustainable method of producing and selling dancewear, she studied sustainable business leadership at the University of Cambridge and is now on a mission to bring about what she calls “a dancewear revolution.” While not a dancer herself, Helen became interested in the dancewear space in part by watching her daughter develop a love for ballet. Imperfect Pointes’ main objectives are to create a community where everyone who loves ballet can feel included through representation, diversity, and body positivity, and to make sure that the company isn’t adding to landfills and is helping to keep plastic waste out of oceans. The company is committed to repairing, reusing and recycling while aiming for zero waste. All of Imperfect Pointes’ products are made from recycled materials, such as nylon. Helen also wants to encourage the broader ballet community to make changes by educating other dancewear brands on switching to more sustainable production practices. In this episode, she shares tips about what everyone, from individual dancers to studios to brands and companies, can do to practice sustainability. Check it out!
Vote for The Adult Ballet Studio in the arts & design category for the Women in Podcasting Awards! Voting ends October 1st: https://www.womenpodcasters.com/vote Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 21: Chelsea Weidmann | 17 Sep 2024 | 00:58:32 | |
Chelsea Weidmann joined The Adult Ballet Studio for this episode! She is a ballet instructor and the founder of Geeky Ballerina, a platform offering resources and curriculums for ballet instructors and students alike. Chelsea has been teaching ballet for more than 25 years, She taught for Ballet West Academy for four years and has an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts. She’s fully ABT certified, fully certified in mUvmethod and certified in level 1 of PBT. She says teaching is a big passion for her and has dedicated her time to developing in-depth teaching resources, curriculums for various levels of ballet, and a framework for what she views as the nine elements of artistry, all available on her website. She also has a monthly newsletter and moderates the New Ballet Teachers Group on Facebook. In this episode, Chelsea shares her journey to finding her own space in the ballet world and offers her advice for other dancers to do the same. She also shares insights on developing a classroom for adult ballet dancers versus for kids and teens and ways adults can take care of their mental and emotional well-being while engaging in an art form that is physically demanding. Check it out!
Vote for The Adult Ballet Studio in the arts & design category for the Women in Podcasting Awards! Voting ends October 1st: https://www.womenpodcasters.com/vote Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 23: Marilyn Klaus | 12 Nov 2024 | 00:43:22 | |
This month’s guest for The Adult Ballet Studio is Marilyn Klaus, the visionary artistic director and founder of Ballets with a Twist, a New York City-based ballet company that brings the glamour and charm of Old Hollywood to life through dance. Marilyn’s company redefines classical ballet, adding a pop-culture twist with choreography inspired by iconic American cocktails, like the Mai Tai and Martini, in its signature production, Cocktail Hour: The Show. With original choreography by Marilyn, music by Grammy-nominated composer Stephen Gaboury, and costumes by Catherine Zehr, each performance offers a unique experience, weaving elements of improvisation and Hollywood-inspired drama and humor. In our conversation, Marilyn shares how Ballets with a Twist attracts diverse audiences by making ballet accessible and exciting, bringing it back into the cultural mainstream. We dive into her journey from LA to NYC, her early influences, and how she’s crafted performances that appeal to both ballet enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Marilyn’s passion for reimagining ballet shines through, and this episode offers insight into how she’s breaking new ground in the dance world. Check it out!
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 22: Dante Puleio and Kayla Farrish | 01 Oct 2024 | 00:41:08 | |
The Limón Dance Company is presenting its 78th season this year, and on this episode of The Adult Ballet Studio, we have two incredible guests to celebrate: Limón Dance Company Artistic Director Dante Puleio and Choreographer Kayla Farrish! After a career performing with The Limón Dance Company, touring national and international musical theatre productions, television and film, Dante received his MFA from the University of California, Irvine. His research focuses on contextualizing mid-20th century dance for the contemporary artist and audience. Dante shares his vision for honoring the company’s rich history while evolving its storytelling to resonate with modern audiences. Kayla is a New York-based dancer, choreographer, director, and photographer who has been commissioned to create a new piece for the company’s upcoming season that examines two of Limón’s previous works, “Redes” and El Grito.” Her multi-disciplinary work has been recognized by Sundance, the New York Times, and the Harkness Promise Award. She was also awarded a Bessie Performance Award for her solo “People Above the Moon.” In this conversation, Dante and Kayla discuss the intersection of ballet and modern dance, the responsibility of preserving history while pushing creative boundaries, and the ways dance can inspire social change. Check it out!
Purchase tickets to Leigh Purtill Ballet Company's upcoming performance, Sweet Sorrow: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sweet-sorrow-a-zombie-ballet-tickets-952037418547 Use this access code for a 10% discount on tickets: ADLTBALL10 Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 24: Janine Kovac | 03 Dec 2024 | 00:51:52 | |
Janine Kovac joined the studio for this episode! As a retired professional dancer turned award-winning author, she shares her journey from the stage to the page after a twelve-year international ballet career spanning Iceland, Italy, and the U.S. Her latest memoir, The Nutcracker Chronicles: A Fairytale Memoir, intertwines her personal experiences in ballet with stories from one of ballet’s most iconic tales, offering a reflection on ambition, artistry, and identity. It’s available now from She Writes Press! Janine’s accomplishments extend beyond the stage as well. As a graduate of UC Berkeley, she has authored multiple books. Her memoir, Spinning: Choreography for Coming Home, won a National Indie Excellence Award, and she’s been published in outlets such as Salon, Writer’s Digest, and Publishers Weekly. Janine’s contributions to literature have earned her fellowships, residencies, and literary awards, solidifying her reputation as a voice in both the ballet and literary worlds. In this episode, Janine discusses her transition from the demanding world of professional ballet to the equally challenging and sometimes much more solitary world of writing. She talks about how her dance background shapes her creative process today, the parallels and differences between dance and writing, and why she’ll always identify as a ballet dancer. She also discusses her experience teaching adults and how amateur adult dancers can find their identity in a ballet studio too. Check it out!
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 25: Eduardo Vilaro | 07 Jan 2025 | 00:37:35 | |
Eduardo Vilaro, artistic director and CEO of Ballet Hispánico, is in the studio this month! Ballet Hispánico was founded back in 1970 by Tina Ramirez, and the company has spent more than five decades celebrating the vibrant diversity of Latino cultures through dance. The company says it’s not just about performances—it’s also about breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and making space for Latino/Latina voices on stages all around the world. Eduardo originally joined the company as a dancer and educator in the ‘80s after taking a class and being hand selected by Tina. After spending his next ten-year chapter as founder and artistic director of Luna Negra Dance Theater in Chicago, his career brought him back to Ballet Hispánico as artistic director in 2009 - becoming the second person ever to head the company since its founding - and CEO in 2015. Born in Cuba and raised in New York, Eduardo not only shaped the company’s contemporary style but has also expanded its reach. We talked about his career and his approach to carrying Ballet Hispánico’s legacy forward. He also shared what he learned from Tina, a trailblazer in New York’s ballet community, and what it means to connect his community with this art form and tell stories through dance that resonate across generations. He spoke about why dance is an important vehicle for Latino artists to honor their heritage and explore their identities. Check it out!
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 27: Kathryn Morgan | 04 Mar 2025 | 00:47:15 | |
Kathryn Morgan is in the studio this month! She is a trailblazing ballerina - or bunhead - as she described herself in this interview - who has redefined what a ballet career can look like beyond traditional company life. She began her professional career in 2006 with the New York City Ballet, rising to the rank of soloist before making the difficult decision to leave the company to focus on personal health challenges. She made a return to the stage with Miami City Ballet in 2019. In 2020, in the midst of pandemic shutdowns that challenged every industry — including the performing arts — she went to work to transform the ballet landscape by founding her brand, Kathryn Morgan & Friends. This is a community dedicated to celebrating dancers for who they are, beyond only their technical skills. Her platform offers online classes, workshops, and retreats, emphasizing the joy of dance and creating a supportive environment for adult ballet dancers in particular. Through her online classes, YouTube channel, social media platform, and workshops, Kathryn continues to inspire and empower dancers at all levels, challenging traditional norms for ballet and advocating for a more inclusive culture within the art form. Her willingness to speak out against toxic ballet culture and instead create a welcoming environment in her classes has not only enriched ballet but has sparked meaningful conversations about what being a successful, healthy and well rounded dancer truly looks like. This conversation discusses body image and health struggles particularly related to diet culture and weight, which can be a sensitive topic for some listeners. Those topics are throughout this conversation, so please be kind to yourself and fast forward if you hear something that’s difficult for you. There are two places where that discussion is particularly detailed — around minutes 4:00-11:00 and again during minutes 21:00-27:00. Check out what Kathryn had to say!
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Ad: Support Author Meg Groff and her book Not If I Can Help It: A Family Lawyer’s Battles for Justice for Victims of Domestic Violence and the Poor. A book release party will be held at Puck Live in Doylestown, PA.
Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 26: Rob MacCaul | 04 Feb 2025 | 00:40:17 | |
Adult ballet dancer and board member for the Children’s Dance Theater of Okanogan County in Washington, Rob MacCaul, is in the studio this month! Rob’s story about discovering ballet is a testament to passion, perseverance, and self-discovery. It began in 1982 with a chance encounter at a dance studio in Waikiki—an experience that sparked a lifelong love for ballet. From taking classes in Pasadena to performing on stage as an adult in Seattle, Rob spoke about how ballet helped him discover and express his identity and taught him that he can still challenge himself in adulthood, whether it’s through performing on stage as an adult or taking the step of going en pointe at age 58. His story goes beyond ballet as well. It’s about finding the courage to express himself authentically, navigating societal expectations, and building a community that embraces everyone in dance. Check it out!
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Follow The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@eblosfield91 Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 28: Annemarie Cabri | 01 Apr 2025 | 00:34:21 | |
Former dancer and senior teaching artist for The National Ballet of Canada, Annemarie Cabri, joined The Adult Ballet Studio this month!
Additional thoughts from Annemarie, lightly edited for brevity: I had a moment of ‘esprit d’escalier.’ This is a new-to-me French expression that means the things you think about after the fact. Elizabeth asked me what it is about ‘every day movement’ that inspires me to create dance? Prior to this question, there was some talk about how we are meant to move and dance, and my fascination with our eight fundamental movement patterns babies sequence through in their first year of life. But what I realize now is that not only do these patterns set us up to be ready learners, and able to function at our highest potential, they also allow us to develop a lot of the attributes found in studying ballet. As a dancer, I’ve been told that I observe and move through the world always from a dancer’s viewpoint. I am not a dancer only when on stage or in the studio. And here lies the connection perhaps to a life philosophy: to move gently in the world and give more than take. This is important to me that ballet is more than the steps or costume or story. Ballet movement, philosophy, and the music that coordinates with ballet includes deep emotions and physical expression. The feeling of ourselves in space and ability to imagine many different ways to move can be deadened as we age. How to simulate the exhilaration we feel and have known in a class when the participants can no longer run? The last question posed by Elizabeth was how do I envision ballet in the future? I would like teachers to bring joy to the students, knowledge of the roots of each step, why they were created, and how we can bring quality of movement to feel and see the artistry that ballet was developed for. People were interested in, and understood, how feeling, seeing, and surrounding oneself in beauty, and things of beauty improved oneself. From inside and out, you could have your world stretched. As for ballet on stage, it’s a big question. Ballet directors are coming together to ask these very serious questions from all around the world. The Dutch National Ballet started the conference ‘Positioning Ballet’ in 2017, and this month for the first time, the conference will be held at Canada’s National Ballet Company. How do we preserve the historic ballets with their gendered roles and story lines in today’s experience? How do we retain the physical history from the original choreographers as we get further and further away from anyone alive today to pass this knowledge on? I would like to see a variety of ballets on stage from the preserved ballet technique and style that was created in the older ballets to new works that take the ballet technique to a new plane. I would like to see the dancers on stage represent our world today. How this is done, I’m not quite sure, but I am hopeful there are creatives who will know how and have the desire to do so. Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com | |||
| Episode 29: Sarah Witherup | 06 May 2025 | 00:46:22 | |
Adult ballet dancer and volunteer studio manager at Dance Theatre Northwest in Washington, Sarah Witherup, joined the studio this month! We spoke about how ballet became not just a passion for her, but a lifeline. As a highly trained endurance athlete, Sarah is no stranger to challenges. But after the loss of her son and at the age of 49, Sarah stepped into a ballet studio for the first time and says it was one of the most difficult and fulfilling steps she’s taken. Discovering ballet began a journey that would intertwine with her gender transition, self-discovery, and healing. In this episode, she talks about what it means to enter the traditional and highly structured world of ballet as a transgender woman, how dance became a vital part of stepping fully into her identity, and the challenges and joys she’s encountered along the way—from pointe classes and performing on stage to unexpected in studio laughs and dress code dilemmas. Sarah also shares the work she’s doing to make ballet more inclusive, including establishing a nonbinary dress code and an adult ballet intensive at Dance Theatre Northwest. Sarah’s story reminds dancers to rethink what grace and strength can look like, to take up space inside and outside of the ballet studio, and to consider the importance of finding a place to belong.
*This episode discusses suicide, depression and PTSD. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7/365. These services are free and confidential.* Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 30: Jess Spinner | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:41:37 | |
Jess Spinner, former pro dancer turned health, wellness and lifestyle coach for dancers, is in the studio this month! She’s the founder of The Whole Dancer - a platform where she seeks to transform the way dancers approach health, body image, and self-worth both inside and outside of the studio. Jess is a lifelong dancer, but she says her professional career ended partly because of an injury and partly because she never worked through a disordered relationship with food and her body. In 2009 while she was still dancing, she became one of Whole Foods Market’s first Healthy Eating Specialists trained in Nutritarian Plant Based Nutrition. In 2013, she became a Holistic Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and eventually founded The Whole Dancer. Through this platform, she’s worked with aspiring and professional dancers around the world as well as retired dancers, adult ballet students, and dance teachers. And she realized something in the process: True success in dance doesn't come from perfection, but from balance, well-being, and self-compassion. Now, through The Whole Dancer, Jess is empowering dancers to build healthy habits, heal their relationship with food, and finally feel confident in their bodies — without sacrificing their dreams. Check out what she had to say! *As a heads up, this episode addresses body image, weight and diet culture, and disordered eating.
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 32: Crystal Nicholls | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:54:09 | |
Crystal Nicholls is in the studio this month! She is a wellness coach and former West End dancer born in Barbados and now based in London. Crystal spent six years in The Lion King on the West End, and she also danced on cruise ships, and in TV, commercials, and film projects before transitioning into the health and wellness space for the performing arts. She’s spoken about how performing eight shows a week, while an amazing experience, was also relentless and led to a sense of burnout. That experience ignited another passion for her: helping other performers feel their best. During the 2020 lockdowns, Crystal got to work retraining as a holistic health coach and nutrition specialist. With a BFA in Performance Dance and more than a decade on the stage, she combines lived experience with science-backed strategies in her coaching work. Her clients include West End performers, commercial dancers, TV actors, companies, and even performers who are transitioning into new careers. She spoke with me about her journey from dancer to coach and how she works to support performer health and change the narrative each dancer carries about their body and their career. She also shared some behind the scenes stories and insights from her dance career and gave her best advice to adult dancers about how to hold on to joy when dancing, balance busy lives, and ways they play a crucial role in the wellness conversation. I loved hearing from Crystal about why health and wellness shouldn’t be a luxury, but one of the foundations of dance as an art form. Check it out!
The Adult Ballet Studio is now on YouTube! @adultballetstudio Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||
| Episode 31: Abigail Keyes | 01 Jul 2025 | 01:06:11 | |
Abigail Keyes is in the studio this month! She is a former CIA political weapons analyst turned professional belly dancer. With a BA in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton and an MA in Dance Studies from Mills College, she blends academic insight with expressive movement and a deep amount of knowledge from her government background. She’s also an educator currently teaching two lecture courses at Skyline College in San Bruno, California. In this episode, we dive into how dance is more than art—it's protest, resistance, and cultural connection. Abigail shares how accessible, inclusive dance education can empower individuals and communities to push back against oppression, while reclaiming joy and autonomy. We also chat about her book Weird Dance: Curious and Bizarre Dancing Trivia, her viral social media moments, and how ballet itself is evolving—thanks in part to adult dancers showing up, challenging tradition, and reshaping the space. Check it out!
Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link | |||