Pushing Over the Box – Details, episodes & analysis

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Pushing Over the Box

Jasmine Jain

Arts

Frequency: 1 episode/16d. Total Eps: 20

Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset — hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain.

Through candid ballet interviews with leading figures in the dance world — from principal dancers at American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet to choreographers, dance physiotherapists, and photographers — Jasmine explores the real stories behind the beauty: discipline, injury, recovery, resilience, artistry, and what it really takes to keep going.

Past guests include Misty Copeland, Isabella LaFreniere, Cassandra Trenary, Skylar Brandt, and more.

New episodes biweekly.

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https://pushingoverthebox.com
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http://pushingoverthebox.com
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https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1
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https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742
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Jonathan Chmelensky, Royal Danish Ballet Principal — On Promotion & Success | Pushing Over the Box

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 • Duration 34:21

Jonathan Chmelensky was about to premiere the lead role in John Neumeier's Mahler's Third Symphony when the Danish prime minister announced the country was shutting down for COVID — eyeliner still on his face from rehearsal. The premiere got postponed. When it finally happened, his performance won him Denmark's Reumert Award for Dancer of the Year.

In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Jonathan Chmelensky — principal dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet, trained in Paris and Havana, and the 2021 Reumert Award winner for Dancer of the Year. They talk about growing up in a family of dancers, the four days in Cuba that turned into a contract with the Royal Danish Ballet, the night he found out he'd been promoted to principal at his Swan Lake premiere, what two months away from the stage taught him about listening to his body, and how he defines success now that the title was never really the point.

TIMESTAMPS:

[06:55] Getting Discovered in Cuba and a Contract from the Royal Danish Ballet
[10:54] His Swan Lake Premiere and the Night He Found Out He Was a Principal
[33:24] Redefining Success — On and Off the Stage

ABOUT THE GUEST: Jonathan Chmelensky is a principal dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet. Born in Paris into a family of dancers, he trained at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris and the National Ballet School of Cuba before joining the Royal Danish Ballet, where he was promoted to principal dancer following his premiere as Siegfried in Swan Lake. In 2021, he received Denmark's Reumert Award for Dancer of the Year for his performance in John Neumeier's Mahler's Third Symphony.

ABOUT PUSHING OVER THE BOX: Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset, hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain. Through interviews with leading ballet professionals, the podcast explores discipline, artistry, injury, resilience, and what it takes to pursue excellence.

CONNECT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/

Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742

#ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset #dancepodcast #jonathanchmelensky #royaldanishballet #danishballet #reumertaward #balletinterview #principaldancer

Topics discussed: Jonathan Chmelensky interview, Royal Danish Ballet, Reumert Award, ballet promotion story, ballet injury recovery, ballet and identity, pandemic and ballet, advice for young dancers

Guest: Jonathan Chmelensky — Principal Dancer, Royal Danish Ballet

Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com

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Roni Mahler — On Turning Down Joffrey, Swan Lake, and Disturbing Molecules | Pushing Over the Box

Episode 19

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 • Duration 31:02

Roni Mahler was three performances into her career at American Ballet Theatre when Cynthia Gregory sprained her ankle. She had 24 hours to learn Odette.

In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Roni Mahler — former corps dancer with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, principal dancer with the National Ballet of Washington, and soloist with American Ballet Theatre, celebrated teacher at Juilliard, the Alvin Ailey School, and Ballet Academy East, and author of the memoir Tomboy Ballerina: My Life from Baseball to American Ballet Theatre and Beyond. They talk about turning down Robert Joffrey to honor a commitment, dancing at the White House, what she learned from ten months on crutches, training the Cleveland Browns, and the one thing she has always tried to do on stage: disturb molecules.

TIMESTAMPS:

[13:40] Her Favorite Role and the Night She Danced Swan Lake on 24 Hours' Notice

[19:01] What Ten Months of Injury Taught Her About Mistakes and Resilience

[28:41] Disturbing Molecules — How She Defines Success

ABOUT THE GUEST: Roni Mahler began her career in the corps de ballet of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo before becoming a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Washington and a soloist with American Ballet Theatre. A celebrated teacher and artistic associate, she has taught at the Juilliard School, the Alvin Ailey School, Ballet Academy East, and Kansas State University, and served as artistic associate to Dennis Nahat at Cleveland Ballet — where she also trained the Cleveland Browns. Her memoir, Tomboy Ballerina, was published in 2022.

Kathryn Morgan — On Hashimoto's, Seven Years Off, and Life Beyond the Tiara | Pushing Over the Box

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 • Duration 23:02

Kathryn Morgan was a soloist at New York City Ballet, dancing Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, when her muscles started giving out on pointe and she couldn't understand why. Weeks later, she was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Two years after that, she left the company. Seven years passed before she danced professionally again.

In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Kathryn Morgan — former NYCB soloist, former Miami City Ballet soloist, and one of ballet's most beloved voices online with over 600 YouTube videos and a platform built on helping dancers know their worth. They talk about the night she was given 24 hours' notice to start her NYCB apprenticeship, what it felt like when her body gave out during Aurora rehearsals, how she rebuilt herself during seven years away from the stage, and the message she comes back to over and over: you are a human being first.

TIMESTAMPS:

[07:08] Getting Her Apprenticeship — 24 Hours' Notice to Start

[10:52] When the Symptoms Started During Aurora Rehearsals

[20:01] You're a Human Being First — Her Platform's Core Message

ABOUT THE GUEST: Kathryn Morgan is a former soloist with New York City Ballet and Miami City Ballet. After being diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and taking seven years away from performing, she returned to professional dance and simultaneously built one of ballet's most prominent online platforms, with over 600 YouTube videos offering technique tips, career advice, and honest conversations about life as a dancer.

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Deborah Ory — On Injury, Photography, and What She Looks for in Every Shot | Pushing Over the Box

Thursday, June 18, 2026 • Duration 12:54

Deborah Ory went to college for dance. In her second semester, she got injured. Everyone had already registered for classes and she didn't know what to do — until she spotted her father's camera and talked her way into a photography class that was already full.

That was the beginning of everything.

In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Deborah Ory — acclaimed dance photographer, co-founder of NYC Dance Project, and author of three books including The Art of Movement, winner of the International Photography Award. They talk about how a dance injury accidentally launched one of the most celebrated careers in dance photography, what she's really looking for when she picks up her camera, how she captures movement in a single still frame, and what she'd tell her 13-year-old self about patience.

TIMESTAMPS:
[02:14] How a Dance Injury Led to Her Photography Career
[04:26] How She Captures Movement in a Still Image
[11:54] What She'd Tell Her 13-Year-Old Self

ABOUT THE GUEST: Deborah Ory is an acclaimed dance photographer and co-founder of NYC Dance Project. Her editorial, commercial, and fine art work has appeared across major publications and campaigns. She is the co-author of The Art of Movement (2016 International Photography Award winner), The Style of Movement: Fashion and Dance (2019), and Martha Graham Dance Company: 100 Years.

ABOUT PUSHING OVER THE BOX: Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset, hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain. Through interviews with leading ballet professionals, the podcast explores discipline, artistry, injury, resilience, and what it takes to pursue excellence.

CONNECT:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/
Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742#ballet #balletpodcast #balletphotography #dancepodcast #deborahory #nycdanceproject #dancephotography #artofmovement #balletinterview #dancephotographerTopics discussed: dance photography, ballet photographer interview, NYC Dance Project, injury and pivot, The Art of Movement, capturing emotion in photography, advice for young dancers, dance and fashionGuest: Deborah Ory — Dance Photographer & Co-Founder, NYC Dance ProjectPushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at

Emilie Gerrity, NYCB Principal — On Falling, Comparison, and Your Own Path | Pushing Over the Box

Episode 16

Wednesday, June 3, 2026 • Duration 26:43

Emilie Gerrity was a competition kid. Star Power. Disney World. Hip hop, lyrical, tap, jazz — all of it. At 12, she walked away from competitions and decided she was going to try to get into New York City Ballet. Three years at SAB later, she did.

In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Emilie Gerrity — principal dancer at New York City Ballet and recipient of the 2009 Mae L. Wien Award. They talk about leaving home at 15, waiting eight years in the company before being promoted to soloist, what happened the night she fell completely sideways on stage during a solo, and the moment she finally stopped comparing her journey to everyone else's.

TIMESTAMPS:

[13:07] Falling on Stage — and What Her Partner Said

[21:26] Letting Go of Comparison and Finding Peace in Your Own Journey

[24:05] Advice She'd Give Her 13-Year-Old Self

ABOUT THE GUEST: Emilie Gerrity is a principal dancer at New York City Ballet and the recipient of the 2009 Mae L. Wien Award. She is known for her clarity, speed, and expressiveness on stage.

CONNECT:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/
Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ

Emma Von Enck, NYCB Principal — On Promotion, Nerves, and Real Success | Pushing Over the Box

Episode 15

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 • Duration 33:45

Emma Von Enck quit ballet when she was 12. She wanted to try acting. She hated it. She begged her mom to put her back in.

A few years later, she was standing in the wings at New York City Ballet, still in her Rubies costume, being told she'd just been promoted to principal.

In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Emma Von Enck — principal dancer at New York City Ballet, Fordham University graduate, and two-time Princess Grace Award nominee. They talk about the long road to SAB, what nobody tells you about being a soloist, the moment she found out she was a principal (mid-show, in costume, her dad waiting backstage), how she handles pre-show nerves, and what she wishes her 13-year-old self had known about trying hard.

TIMESTAMPS:
[11:46] The Night She Found Out She Was a Principal
[19:07] How Emma Manages Pre-Show Nerves
[28:53] What She's Learned About Real Success

ABOUT THE GUEST: Emma Von Enck is a principal dancer at New York City Ballet. A graduate of Fordham University, she is a two-time Princess Grace Award nominee and the 2016 recipient of the Mae L. Wien Award. She is known for her speed, clarity, and vivacious presence on stage.

ABOUT PUSHING OVER THE BOX: Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset, hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain. Through interviews with leading ballet professionals, the podcast explores discipline, artistry, injury, resilience, and what it takes to pursue excellence.

CONNECT:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/
Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742
#ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset #dancepodcast #emmavonenc #nycb #newyorkcityballet #principaldancer #princessgraceaward #balletinterviewTopics discussed: NYCB principal dancer interview, ballet promotion, ballet nerves, pre-show routine, Princess Grace Award, ballet success, ballet mindset, advice for young dancersGuest: Emma Von Enck — Principal Dancer, New York City BalletPushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at

Darla Hoover, Former NYCB Dancer — On Balanchine and the Art of Teaching | Pushing Over the Box

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 • Duration 27:05

Darla Hoover started dancing in a barn. Her teacher took one look at her and told her parents: "You need to save your money — she's going to end up in New York." She did.

In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Darla Hoover — former New York City Ballet dancer, syllabus coordinator at Ballet Academy East, and one of ballet's most respected teachers and répétiteurs. They talk about growing up under the legendary Marcia Dale Weary, navigating homesickness at the School of American Ballet, what it was like to dance for Balanchine, the panic of performing Serenade when you don't know when the flick happens, and why Darla believes the most important thing she can pass on to her students has nothing to do with technique.

Darla was honored in 2021 with a congressional commendation for her dedication to arts and education and with the Marcia Dale Weary Legacy Award.

TIMESTAMPS:
[01:08] How Darla Started Dancing — and Marcia Dale Weary's Prophecy
[13:00] The Serenade Panic Story
[22:33] Balancing Perfectionism in Dance

ABOUT THE GUEST: Darla Hoover is a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet and currently serves as syllabus coordinator at Ballet Academy East. She is one of the Balanchine Trust's most trusted répétiteurs, staging works across the world including Serenade, Rubies, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. In 2021, she was honored with a congressional commendation for her contributions to arts and education and with the Marcia Dale Weary Legacy Award.

CONNECT:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/
Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com Spotify: Apple Podcasts:

Alexa Maxwell, NYCB Soloist — On Injury, Musicality, and Life at NYCB | Pushing Over the Box

Episode 13

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 • Duration 34:29

When Alexa Maxwell arrived at New York City Ballet as a brand new apprentice, she expected a few weeks to find her footing. Instead, on her very first day, she was emergency-cast in Nutcracker and told she was performing that night — in her SAB uniform, while every company member around her was in sweatpants and sneakers.

In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Alexa Maxwell, soloist at New York City Ballet and a graduate of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and the School of American Ballet. They discuss what it felt like to be thrown into the deep end from day one, how a serious patellar tendon injury and two surgeries changed everything she knew about taking care of herself, and what she'd tell her younger self about perfectionism and comparison.

TIMESTAMPS:

[08:42] Being Cast on Her First Night at NYCB

[11:54] The Role That Changed How People Saw Her

[18:09] The Injury That Changed Everything

ABOUT THE GUEST: Alexa Maxwell is a soloist at New York City Ballet. She trained at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and the School of American Ballet before joining NYCB, where she is known for her musicality and expressive presence on stage. She also teaches at the CPYB summer intensive and is currently a student at Fordham University.

CONNECT:

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/⁠

Seth & Sarah Orza, Former PNB Principals — On Reinventing the Ballet Shoe | Pushing Over the Box

Episode 12

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 • Duration 17:35

Seth and Sarah Orza danced at the top of their field — and then used everything they learned about the dancer's body to completely rethink the ballet flat. The story of how a plantar fascia injury and a Dr. Scholl's heel cup from Duane Reade turned into an entirely new ballet shoe company is one of the most unexpected and inspiring stories this podcast has told.

In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Seth and Sarah Orza, former Principal Dancers at Pacific Northwest Ballet and founders of Orza Ballet Shoes. They discuss how a career-threatening injury sparked the idea for the shoe, the difference between the Orza Pro 1 and 2, and the advice they'd give their younger selves about enjoying every part of the journey.

TIMESTAMPS:

[06:18] The Origin Story of Orza Ballet Shoes

[11:07] The Difference Between Orza Pro 1 and 2

[17:09] Advice for Young Dancers

ABOUT THE GUESTS: Seth and Sarah Orza are former Principal Dancers at Pacific Northwest Ballet, where they each had careers spanning nearly 20 years. Prior to PNB, they both danced with New York City Ballet and trained at the School of American Ballet. They are the founders of Orza Ballet Shoes, a company dedicated to rethinking ballet shoe design to better support the needs of today's dancers.

CONNECT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/

Naomi Corti, NYCB Soloist — On Artistry, Injury, and What Success Means | Pushing Over the Box

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 • Duration 49:37

Naomi Corti tore her ACL, both menisci, her MCL and PCL just one month after getting her corps contract at New York City Ballet — and she says she wouldn't trade that injury for anything. Her honesty about who she is without ballet, what it took to come back, and the moment her promotion finally hit her mid-bow is something every dancer needs to hear.

In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Naomi Corti, Soloist at New York City Ballet and recipient of the 2024 Janice Levin Award. They discuss what it was really like getting taken as an apprentice at NYCB, how a devastating knee injury completely changed who she is as a person and a dancer, and the advice she'd give her younger self about building taste, finding real friendships, and absorbing as much art as possible.

TIMESTAMPS:

[12:03] Getting Taken as an Apprentice at NYCB

[31:04] Tearing Her ACL and What Injury Taught Her

[43:17] Advice for Young Dancers

ABOUT THE GUEST: Naomi Corti is a Soloist at New York City Ballet, where she has performed since joining the company as an apprentice. Originally from the South of France, she trained at the School of American Ballet after being spotted at Pacific Northwest Ballet. She is the recipient of the 2018 Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Talent and the 2024 Janice Levin Award.

CONNECT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/

Pushing Over the Box – Details, episodes & analysis

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Pushing Over the Box – Details, episodes & analysis

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