After Class: The Adult Ballet Podcast

Do you ever walk out of ballet class feeling heavier than when you walked in? Whether you're stuck in a plateau or just being a little too hard on yourself lately, this episode is full of beautiful mindset shifts that will help you find your joy in ballet again, and keep that joy at the center of your practice for the long haul.

I'm joined by Tiekka Tellier, founder of Everyday Ballet, an online and in-person studio for adults based in NYC. After 16 years dancing professionally, first as a Principal with Houston Ballet then as...

Have you ever walked into a ballet class and felt like everyone else got a rulebook you never received? Where to stand, how to move across the floor, when to ask questions? If you’ve ever found out the hard way that you were breaking one of ballet’s unspoken "rules", you’re not alone... Most adult ballet classes don't cover this info!

Which is why I'm so excited to be joined by Suzanne Jolie, a professional dancer, my own ballet teacher, and one half of the hilarious duo behind Models Doing Ballet. We walk throug...

Where do your eyes go when you're dancing? If your honest answer is the mirror.. or the floor... or the dancer in front of you... you're in good company! As adult dancers, most of us are never told exactly where to look. But eyeline is one of the simplest ways to make your dancing look more expansive, expressive and natural, and it's something you can start working on in your very next class!

I'm joined again by Chelsea Weidmann, also known as the Geeky Ballerina, for the next episode of our series on the elements...

After Class is a podcast for adult ballet dancers: beginners, dancers returning after years away, and anyone balancing training alongside a busy life. Because ballet as an adult comes with its own questions, challenges and joys, and this show is here for all of it. 

I'm Hannah, and when I started dancing as an adult, I struggled to find content I could relate to. There was plenty made by professionals, but not much from the perspective of the adult ballet student. So now I create the content I was looking for. And we're diving into the questions a...

If you've ever thought about signing up for an adult ballet retreat or intensive, you know the internal debate that comes with it: Is it worth the money? Is it worth the time off work? Will I spend the week feeling in over my head? I asked myself every one of those questions. This week, I'm handing the mic over to someone with all the answers...

I'm joined by Maria Montanez, whose adult ballet events I've personally attended and trusted for five years running. In 2022, she co-founded KM & Friends with Kathryn Morgan, and together they built one...

If you're an adult dancer, chances are most of your training happens in a studio with a big mirror at the front of the room. It's easy to let that mirror become your main reference point for whether something looks right. But the mirror can only show you one flat angle of movement that's actually happening in three dimensions.

In this episode, I'm joined again by Chelsea Weidmann (also know as The Geeky Ballerina) for the next installment in our ongoing series on the elements of artistry, as she defined & explored them in...

If theraband work has been the foundation of your ankle-strengthening routine, this episode is going to change the game for you...

I'm joined again by fan-favorite guest, Allie Christensen, Founder of the Dancer Strong platform, and a strength and conditioning coach who works specifically with adult dancers. We discuss why relying on your theraband alone won't build the strength your feet and ankles actually need for ballet, including a study comparing dancers who trained with resistance bands to dancers who did loaded strength work instead. We also cover the early, easy-to-overlook signs that your feet...

If you're an adult dancer, you probably know this feeling: the teacher gives the combination once, maybe twice if you're lucky, and then the music starts... and somewhere around count five, your brain goes completely blank. 

In this episode, I'm digging into something almost every single one of us has struggled with: remembering choreography. It's easy to write this off as a gift you're either born with or you're not — some people just "have a good memory" and some people don't. But I'm pushing back on that, because the research says otherwise. Memorizing choreography is a trainable ski...

Ask someone to picture a ballet dancer, and posture is probably the first thing that comes to mind — that effortless, upright poise that reads as ballerina the second you see it. But if you've ever felt like you struggle to achieve it as an adult dancer, you're not alone!

In this episode, I'm joined again by Chelsea Weidmann for the next installment in our ongoing series on the elements of artistry, as she defined & unpacked them in her thesis on artistry in ballet. This time we're digging into the fundamentals of ballet posture: what it ac...

If you’ve ever walked out of ballet class replaying every mistake in your head — the turn you fell out of, the combination you messed up, the step that just won’t click — you’re not alone...

As adult dancers, we often hold ourselves to incredibly high standards. And while that drive can be a powerful motivator, it can also quietly take the joy out of dancing, and even sabotage our progress.

In this episode, I’m joined by Kirsten Kemp, a high-performance mindset coach who works specifically with dancers, to talk about how perfectionism shows up in...

In this episode, I'm sharing some of my favorite ballet hacks. The tips, tricks, and discoveries that have made my life as an adult dancer easier and more comfortable.😄

Some I figured out on my own, some were passed along by teachers or fellow dancers, and all of them are just too good not to share, like:

You've conquered the basics en pointe.... So now what? This is the final episode in my three-part series on the adult pointe journey with Julie of Broche Ballet, who has coached hundreds of adult dancers (myself included) through their pointe journeys.

In this episode, we talk about how to build a sustainable, realistic training plan around a busy adult life, why short frequent practice sessions are so effective, the recovery habits that will support your body for the long haul, how to work through the fear of learning new steps, and why play might be...

You've got your pointe shoes and you've survived the first few months, but now you're in that weird in-between phase: still clutching the barre but dreaming of center, wondering if what you're feeling is normal or if you should be further along by now. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. 

I'm back with Julie of Broche Ballet for part two of our three-part series on the adult pointe journey, and this episode digs into the messy middle: what those first few months in pointe shoes actually feel like, how to finally let g...

For so many adult dancers, pointe is the dream, whether you're returning to it after years away or dreaming about it for the very first time. But how do you actually know if you're ready? And if your teacher says not yet, what does that actually mean?

This is part one of a three part series on the entire adult pointe journey, and I'm joined by Julie of Broche Ballet, who has coached hundreds of adult dancers (myself included) through the process of going en pointe.

We get into adult pointe readiness in...

Saving money on ballet doesn't have to mean cutting corners on your training, and that's exactly what this episode is about. Where I live, the cost of everything has gone up, and ballet is no exception. Classes are more expensive, dancewear is more expensive, and don't even get me started on pointe shoes.

I'm sharing all my favorite ways to save money as an adult dancer, how to use YouTube strategically, how to get more studio classes for less money, maximize private private lessons, ways to save on dancewear, how to make your shoes and tights last...

You can have clean technique, beautiful lines, and perfect musicality and still leave an audience completely cold. The missing ingredient? Acting. And for most of us, it's the element of artistry we've spent the least amount of time developing.

In this episode, I'm back with Chelsea Weidmann, The Geeky Ballerina, for the next installment in our ongoing series on the essential elements of artistry in ballet. Chelsea breaks down what acting in the context of ballet actually entails, why it's historically been neglected, and how to start developing this element of artistry, whether...

If you've ever felt like ballet is the first thing to get dropped when life gets busy, this episode is for you.

I'm joined by Rebecca Holden, a fellow adult dancer who is also a wife, a mom to a son with autism, and a full-time manager  and someone who has figured out how to make ballet a consistent, guilt-free part of her life. We get into the real,  stuff: how she protects her training days when everything else is competing for that time, how she deals with burnout, and how she navigates taking breaks.

If you have a ballet intensive coming up (or you're thinking about doing one) this episode is your complete guide to showing up prepared, taking care of your body, and getting the absolute most out of the experience.

I'm walking you through everything: what to do in the week before (including how much to train, and my best tips for rest, fueling and hydrating), how to pack strategically, choosing your footwear, and how to actually navigate the week itself — the social side, the logistics, the evening recovery, and the mindset stuff. Whether it's your first intensive or yo...

If you've ever received a correction in class and thought, "Why won't my body won't just do that.." this episode is for you.

I'm back with Erica Centola, founder of Tournesol Dance and creator of The Ballet Body Blueprint, for a conversation that I genuinely wish I'd had at the very beginning of my ballet journey.

We walk through the anatomy that actually determines what ballet looks and feels like in your unique body... Not a generic "ballerina body." YOUR body. We cover:

- Foot shape: the difference between...

Musicality is one of those qualities teachers ask for constantly, and yet almost never explain. "Be more musical. Feel the music. Let it move through you..." But what does that actually mean?

In this episode, I'm back with Chelsea Weidmann, The Geeky Ballerina, as part of our ongoing series unpacking the elements of artistry she identified in her thesis on Artistry in Ballet. Today's topic: musicality — one of the most personal and most debated elements of all.

In this episode we talk about whether musicality is something you're born with or so...

In this episode, I'm sharing some of my favorite ballet hacks — the tips, tricks, and discoveries that have made my life as an adult dancer easier and more comfortable.

Some I figured out on my own, some were passed along by teachers or fellow dancers, and all of them are things I actually do/use and swear by, like:

- The nipple cover situation no one talks about (and the product that finally solved it for me)

- Using toe spacers in your ballet slippers (NOT just for pointe shoes) to reduce bunion di...

If you have hyperextended knees, you've probably spent a lot of time in class feeling like your body is working against you. You get corrections like "straighten your legs" and no matter how hard you try, nothing seems to change. Closing in fifth without bending your knees feels impossible, your standing leg feels unstable, and nobody has ever actually explained why.

In this episode, I'm joined by Shane Wuerthner, a former professional ballet dancer, who is now a ballet coach and the founder of Athletistry. And as someone with significant hypermobility in his own knees, Shane is...

For a lot of adult dancers, a professional photoshoot feels exciting and overwhelming in equal measure. You want beautiful images that capture how far you've come. But knowing how to actually prepare and show up confidently in front of the camera? That part can feel pretty daunting.

I sat down with professional dance photographer Katie Ging, who has photographed dancers of every level and has a real gift for making everyone look and feel their absolute best. We talk about how to choose the right photographer, what to wear (including whether you need to be flexible to...

You know it when you see it. That effortless, magnetic quality professional dancers have, the way their bodies seem to cut through space with clarity and length. But do you know what you're actually looking at?

In this episode, we're back with Chelsea Weidmann, aka The Geeky Ballerina, as part of our ongoing series unpacking the elements of artistry as she identified and explored them in her thesis on artistry in ballet. Today's topic: LINE. One of the most foundational and most misunderstood elements of all.

In this episode we cover:
...

If you've ever walked into a dance store and been completely overwhelmed (Canvas or leather? Split sole or full sole? What size? What width? Ahhhh!!) fret no more! This episode is for you.☺️

In this episode, I'm diving deep into everything you need to know about buying ballet slippers as an adult dancer. Whether you're brand new or you've been dancing for years and still haven't found your perfect shoe, this one covers it all. 

In this episode:
- Canvas vs. leather: the key differences and when each makes sense
- Split sole vs. f...

What does it take to bring ballet to a place where it doesn't exist yet? Today's guest, Lauren, found herself living in Islamabad, Pakistan — a city of over a million people with no ballet studio — and decided to build one herself.

In this episode, Lauren shares how a love story brought her from Fargo, North Dakota to the capital of Pakistan, and how her lifelong connection to ballet eventually led her to found the Islamabad School of Ballet. We talk about how she got started teaching out of a converted storage room, the seminar she put...

Makeup in ballet can feel a bit complicated as an adult dancer. Should you wear makeup to class at all? If you do, what actually works when you're sweating through a full barre? And when it comes to performing, what does it actually take to make your face read under bright stage lights and from a distance?
 
In this episode, I'm joined by Suzanne Jolie, my ballet teacher and one half of the creative duo behind Models Doing Ballet, to demystify ballet makeup for both class and the stage. Suzanne brings years of experience as a...

In ballet, we spend a lot of time thinking about what our dancing looks like, our lines, our placement, what we see in the mirror. But artistry isn't just visual. It's also deeply connected to what we're actually feeling and sensing inside our bodies while we move.

This episode is part of an ongoing series with Chelsea Weidmann, also known as The Geeky Ballerina, where we unpack the nine specific elements of artistry that Chelsea identified and explored in her thesis, and later her book, on artistry in ballet. In today's conversation, we're diving into <...

If you’ve ever walked out of ballet class replaying every mistake in your head — the turn you fell out of, the combination you messed up, the step that just won’t click — you’re not alone...

As adult dancers, we often hold ourselves to incredibly high standards. And while that drive can be a powerful motivator, it can also quietly take the joy out of dancing, and even sabotage our progress.

In this episode, I’m joined by Kirsten Kemp, a high-performance mindset coach who works specifically with dancers, to talk about how perfectionism shows up in...

Many adult dancers have experienced walking into class one day feeling strong and energized, and another day feeling completely depleted... even though NOTHING about their training has changed!

For female dancers, those fluctuations can often be connected to something that’s rarely discussed in the ballet world: how our bodies shift throughout the menstrual cycle.

In this episode, I’m joined by Jess — dancer, nutrition coach, and founder of The Whole Dancer — to talk about how women can fuel their training in a way that supports both performance and hormonal health.

We discuss why unde...

After months (or maybe even years) of practice, do your pirouettes still feel inconsistent, shaky, or unstable?

In this episode, I’m joined by Allie Christensen, founder of Dancer Strong, to break down what actually makes a pirouette successful, and why adult dancers often struggle with turns even after years of training.

Allie explains the most common reasons dancers wobble or fall out of pirouettes, how to build strength in the standing leg, and what cues are helpful to think about while turning.

We also talk through a realistic progression for go...

Have you ever wished there was an adult ballet program that felt both serious and supportive, where you could train with intention, but without sacrificing your health, confidence, or sense of belonging?

In this episode, I’m joined by Lisa, adult dancer and founder of The Ballet Project — a growing adult ballet community in the UK created to give dancers a space where they can pursue real progress through high-quality, science-backed instruction while feeling encouraged, respected, and safe.

In this conversation, we talk about:

Have you ever left ballet class with hip or low back pain and wondered… Is this normal?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Sebastian Gonzales, D.C., a licensed chiropractor specializing in sports injuries and rehabilitation, to talk about one of the most common concerns adult dancers experience: hip pain and discomfort.

This conversation is based directly on listener-submitted questions, and we cover:

• How the hips, pelvis, and low back actually work together
• What different types of hip pain can feel like in day-to-day life
• Why piriformis tightness...

Jealousy isn’t something most of us want to admit, especially as adults.

But if you’ve ever found yourself genuinely happy for another dancer while quietly feeling that ache of comparison… you’re not alone.

In this solo episode, I’m talking honestly about jealousy in adult ballet — why it feels so complicated, why ballet seems to intensify it, and how to handle it without letting comparison drain your motivation.

If you’ve ever struggled with feelings of jealousy, whether in the studio or online, this conversation is for you.

✨ This Episode is...