Today, I chat with Tom who lives across the pond in the UK.

He’s always been fascinated with ballet, but only started dancing a few years ago. Before that, he began his journey with mindfulness practice, which helped pull him out of a dark time. That led him to yoga, and finally now to ballet.

He now teaches both yoga and mindfulness, and enjoys ballet for the purity of the movement, and strives to enjoy every step of the journey without getting caught up into goals. The process and living in the moment is what brings the joy.

Enjoy!

Today, I chat with Patricia, the creator of Late to the Party Ballet blog and Instagram account.

She started ballet 6 years ago, after doing ice hockey, hip hop, a little pole dancing, and then ballet. She cares for her son who has cerebral palsy.

Her incredible breadth of life experience gives her a very unique perspective on ballet, and our conversation winds to many fascinating places, from the concept of turnout and how it relates to her son’s cerebral palsy, to anxiety, and cross training.

For more from Patricia, be sure to follow her on Instagram @latetothebartyballet or check out her blog, LateToThePartyBallet.com.

Enjoy!

Today, I chat with Kat all the way from Tasmania in Australia.

She started ballet just a few weeks before lockdown. She’s also a writer and an illustrator, and we discuss the similarities and differences between how one learns those artistic pursuits and how she’s learning ballet.

She also provides a fun look into the experience of a beginner, so whether it’s been a while since you had to think about pointing your toes, or if you still can’t remember to point them, you’ll enjoy her fresh perspective on the ballet world.

Enjoy!

Today, I chat with Jamie.

She’s legally blind and despite only being able to see light, dark, shapes and colors, Jamie started ballet 3 years ago after attending a magical sensory-friendly ballet performance. About 2 years before that, she had decided to grab the bull by the horns and embarked on a weight-loss journey, losing about 120 pounds.

From performing in her local community, to her dreams of pointe, ballet keeps her motivated, brings her joy, and is a wonderful spark in her life. You can follow Jamie’s story on Instagram @blossoming_ballerina.

Enjoy!

Today, I chat with Danielle all the way over in The Netherlands.

After a magical experience watching a ballet performance as a child, she danced for several years in her youth. She took a break at age 13, and returned to ballet at age 40 after having her second child. From ballet to the oboe to crocheting, Danielle loves to try fun new things, work hard, and persevere through challenges.

Her positive and determined attitude is bound to inspire you and leave a smile on your face.

Enjoy!

Today, on the show, I chat with Elizabeth from The Whole Pointe.

We talk about her journey starting ballet at age 14 and getting her first professional contract at age 19. But, that didn’t come without its challenges, and we talk about her experience with disordered eating and how she has rediscovered her self-worth after spending her ballet career at the bottom of the ballet hierarchy.

The conversation winds to many lovely topics, including the exciting future possibilities of the budding world of online performances.

She now leads the Beyond Ballet community, which is a membership group that helps adult dancers develop positive mindsets to support their lifelong love of ballet through journaling, meditation and visualization.

Enjoy!

Today, on the show, I chat with Kelsey.

She started ballet during grad school after retiring from a competitive swimming career in high school and college. Much of her ballet training to date has been in classes with teenagers.

We go deep about a traumatic event in Kelsey’s life that led her to be diagnosed with PTSD. This event caused her to work through perfectionism and body image challenges, and she turned to dance to express that which she had no words for.

She believes mental health is a strength, not a weakness, and that every person should have access to counseling to help them grow, improve their minds, and reach their potential.

Enjoy!

Today on the show, Julie chats with Jana, who is one of the two fabulous Ballerinas by Night, a staple of the YouTube and social media world of adult ballet.

We talk about the challenges we have faced through the COVID time, the mixed relationship with ballet that we and our fellow dancers have felt, and just take a minute to commiserate.

We hope that if you’re in the same boat, you’ll find some solace in the conversation, and we hope to leave you with some food for thought.

Enjoy!

Today, I chat with Rosy, a kind soul, private ballet coach for adults, and a professional dancer.

Even though this was the first time we’ve met, we quickly connected over so many topics, including mental health challenges that dancers and athletes face, a little about our own mental health running our businesses, and why we both love working with adult dancers.

Enjoy!

Today on the show, I chat with Lucy all the way from Belgium.

We talk about her experience moving all over as a child, and how she walked into her first ballet class just 2 years ago! Just as much as she used to love the flow state of surfing as a teenager off the coast in Morocco, she loves ballet for the magic of quieting her internal chatter.

Enjoy!

Today on the show, Solange I and get philosophical. We hardly talk about ballet, but we talk about life, loss, perfectionism, what it means to be happy and live a passionate life in our short time on this earth, and how to find the right environment to follow your dreams.

This episode is jam-packed with inspiration, wisdom, and you’ll leave with a smile on your face, ready to dance!

Enjoy!

Today on the show, I chat with Denise. Ballet has been in her heart for decades, since the age of 6. Flat feet, pigeon toes, a stroke, a horseback riding accident, and a tornado have all kept her away from the barre, until now. And she couldn’t be happier dancing the days away.

Enjoy Denise’s fascinating story of how she’s finally found her way to the barre.

Today on the show, I chat with Lauren, who started ballet for the first time less than a year ago. She danced in a small local studio with little kids and found us online during quarantine.

We talk about turnout, getting discouraged, and being obsessed with ballet.

Enjoy!

Today on the show, I interview Cody, one of the dancers who danced with us in our Denver studios.

We talk about how ballet calms her mind, a little about her hyper-mobility and her experience with perfect turnout.

But then we get real about quarantine and the effect it’s had on us all, and how sometimes, dancing at home is just a sad reminder of how much we miss our friends and our old life. If you’ve been struggling with this time, we help Cody’s words help you find peace.

Enjoy!

Today on the show, Mai joins me all the way from Saudi Arabia to talk about her journey with ballet.

We talk about her passion for exercise starting way back from watching Jane Fonda VHS tapes as a child, to how she created time for the things she loved while studying abroad for med school in London, and finally beginning ballet once she returned home to Saudi Arabia.

Enjoy!

Today on the show, I talk with Jessie, a dancer who started ballet for the first time ever as an adult, about 3 years ago.

We talk about her absolute love for ballet, how it has helped her build self confidence after a difficult time with post-partum depression, and how her hard work has transformed her from her tomboy teenage years struggling with pigeon toed legs to a beautiful ballerina about to get her first pair of pointe shoes.

Enjoy!

Today on the show, we have Erin, who formerly danced with us in Denver before moving to London about a year ago. We talk about her struggles with ballet as a very serious teenage dancer, her return to the barre after an 8-year break, and how she finds the joy in dancing in a new body, for new reasons, and for, well, fun.

Enjoy!

Today on the show, we have Erica, an adult ballerina who is opening her own broche-inspired adult ballet studio in Rochester New York.

We get philosophical, covering everything from her start with ballet as a baby ballerina, to her very long hiatus from 6th grade until after the birth of her second child, to her journey back to the barre after on a quest for ballet technique, and most importantly, self-fulfillment.

Enjoy!

Today on the show, we have Casey, a late-starter who has found her place in the dance world as a ballet dancer, teacher, and aerial performer. Listen to her story of how she got her start, forged her path, and pushed through her insecurities to become the beautiful butterfly that she is today.

Enjoy!

Today on the show, we have Jackie, our very own podcast editor and a Broche dancer and instructor!

On this episode, we talk about the community of ballet, why we love dance, and Jackie’s journey to becoming a teacher.

Enjoy!