The Brainy Ballerina Podcast

Audition season is coming up quickly, and it's time to make sure your dance resume is ready to go!

In this solo episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I'm breaking down the dos and don'ts of creating a professional dance resume that helps you make a strong first impression before you even step foot in the studio.

Key “Pointes” in this Episode:

From a young dancer who cried through her first ballet recital to spending eight years in the corps de ballet at New York City Ballet, Gabriella Domini’s journey is a beautiful reminder of how much we can grow through the art of dance.

Gabriella shares how her younger sister inspired her to pursue ballet, the difficult decisions she and her family made as she began training away from home, and the teachers who helped shape her career.

We talk about her transition from student at the School of American Ballet to professional dancer with NY...

There is no one right way to build a career as a professional dancer, and Ella Titus is a perfect example of that.

After spending a decade with Miami City Ballet, Ella made the leap to New York City to pursue a freelance career, where she has since danced with Tom Gold Dance, BalletCollective, the New York Philharmonic, and more.

We talk about her journey from becoming an apprentice with Miami City Ballet at just 16 and eventually joining the corps de ballet, as well as what inspired her to leave the company and start freelancing...

What does it really look like to build a career with New York City Ballet?

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by Laine Habony, a dancer in the corps de ballet at New York City Ballet, to talk about her journey from studying at the School of American Ballet to performing on one of the most prestigious stages in the ballet world.

Laine shares what it was like to move to New York at just 13 and takes us behind the scenes of her transition from student to professional dancer, including ho...

What if the path to a professional ballet career doesn't look the way you think it "should"?

In this solo episode, I’m sharing the unconventional choices I made as a pre-professional dancer that ultimately still led me to a career in ballet (and helped me stay in love with dance along the way).

From staying at my home studio through high school to skipping summer intensives, scaling back my dance training during my senior year, choosing college over immediately pursuing a company contract, and even joining a college dance team, my path looked different fr...

Khi’Shawn Robinson began dancing at 14 and initially set his sights on a career in classical ballet. After studying ballet at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, he unexpectedly took a professional job with Royal Caribbean, which opened the door to a completely different side of the dance industry.

Today, Khi’Shawn is a performer and dance captain with the national tour of The Wiz. In this episode, he shares his journey to The Wiz (including auditioning multiple times before finally booking the show), proving that sometimes “no” really does mean “not right now.”

We also...

In dance, feedback can shape much more than how you perform. It can influence how you see yourself, what you believe you’re capable of, and even the choices you make in the studio and beyond.

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by Kristin Deiss and Michelle Loucadoux, co-founders of Danscend, to talk about how feedback can affect a dancer’s confidence, identity, and sense of self-worth.

We discuss why dancers can be particularly vulnerable to internalizing what teachers say, how our own insecurities can change the way we receive feedba...

Choosing a ballet variation can feel overwhelming. With so many options, and so much pressure to choose the “right” one, it can be easy to focus only on what looks impressive or what might earn the highest score.

In this episode, I’m joined by Carrie Euker, founder of Étoile Dance Competition, to talk about how dancers, teachers, and parents can approach variation selection (and the entire competition dance landscape) more thoughtfully.

Key “pointes” in this episode:

In this week’s episode of The  Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by New York City Ballet Soloist Sara Adams.

In this episode, Sara shares her journey from taking her first ballet class on Cape Cod to training at the School of American Ballet and ultimately joining New York City Ballet. We talk about the transition from student to professional, finding confidence, dealing with comparison, and what she's learned from nearly two decades in the company.

We also talk about pursuing a college degree while dancing professionally, finding interests outside of ballet, and why Sara...

Audition season can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to.

In this solo episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m walking you through my recommended timeline for preparing for professional dance auditions, starting in September and continuing through the end of audition season.

Instead of waiting until January to start thinking about auditions, you’ll learn how to use the fall months to get your materials, finances, company research, and audition strategy in place, so you can head into the new year feeling prepared and confident.

Audition Resources:

FREE DOWNLO...

In this week’s episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I sat down with Garrett Anderson, Artistic Director of Ballet Idaho, to talk about his journey from professional dancer to arts leader and what it really takes to build a lasting career in dance.

Garrett spent 20 years performing with companies including San Francisco Ballet, The Royal Ballet of Flanders, Trey McIntyre Project, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago before stepping into his current role. We talk about how he got his start in ballet, the mentors who shaped him along the way, and the pivotal moments that took hi...

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, former professional ballerina Caroline Simpkins shares her inspiring journey from professional ballerina to earning a PhD in biomechanics and creating Ballet Science, a platform dedicated to making dance research accessible to dancers, teachers, and educators.

After dancing professionally for 12 years, Caroline found herself facing burnout, uncertainty about her future, and a life-changing thyroid cancer diagnosis at just 29 years old. That experience became the catalyst for reimagining her career, leading her from ballet to scientific research and ultimately to a mission of improving dancers' health through evidence-based education.

...

What does it take to go from a competition dance studio to the stage of New York City Ballet?

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by Vanessa Mlyniec, who recently completed her first season in the corps de ballet at New York City Ballet. Vanessa shares the path that led her from Rhode Island to the School of American Ballet, what drew her to Balanchine technique, and the whirlwind moment she unexpectedly learned she would be joining NYCB for The Nutcracker.

We also dive into the realities of life inside on...

It’s no secret that many dancers in the industry are underpaid and overworked. And while we’re pushing for change, the reality is that many of us will take on side gigs to support ourselves financially, especially when we’re first starting out.

I found it necessary to have a side gig during my entire professional ballet career in order to support myself. Of course, some of these gigs were better than others and eventually I fell into my dream job!

Have you ever wondered what kind of side gigs might work for a profes...

What does it take to sustain a professional dance career for 15 years while always finding new ways to grow as an artist?

In this episode I’m joined by Madison Ballet company artist Shannon Quirk to discuss her journey from a young ballet student in Southern California to a longtime professional dancer and co-founder of the newly launched North Star Dance Theatre.

Shannon reflects on her decision to pursue a BFA at UC Irvine, the realities of transitioning from college into the professional world, and the lessons she's learned through rejection, leadership changes, and career lo...

What if becoming a stronger dancer had less to do with pushing harder and more to do with creating space to breathe?

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by former professional dancer and founder of Inner Studio, Rylie Beck, to talk about burnout, dancer identity, nervous system regulation, and the mental habits that so many dancers struggle with behind the scenes.

Rylie shares her journey from student to professional, and how repeated experiences with burnout ultimately led her to create Inner Studio - an online platform offering guided meditations, visualizations, an...

What happens when a ballet company invests in its dancers' futures both on and off the stage?

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by Jill Marlow Krutzkamp, former professional dancer and current Artistic Director of the Louisville Ballet Studio Company.

Jill shares the story behind an exciting partnership between Louisville Ballet and Bellarmine University that allows dancers to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration while continuing their professional training.

Key “Pointes” in this Episode:

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by professional dancer Ashley Talluto to talk about the realities of building a career in New York City.

Ashley dives into how she transitioned from ballet into musical theater and how auditions, casting, and unions work in the musical theater world.

She also shares what it’s like to tour with major productions like West Side Story, Flashdance, and An American in Paris and gives us invaluable insight into the life of a swing and dance captain.

This episode is full of wisd...

In this solo episode of the Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m sharing practical advice for professional dancers and aspiring teachers looking to connect with studio owners and build a sustainable teaching career in the dance industry.

Drawing from my own experiences as an experienced dance educator and former school director, I’m breaking down the realities of finding teaching work, from preparing your materials and making initial contact with a studio to understanding what studio owners actually value most in a teacher.

Key “Pointes” in this Episode:

Ashley Thorndike is a licensed clinical professional counselor, longtime dance educator, and founder of Dance and College Counseling. With a PhD in Dance Studies, an MEd in Counselor Education, and a BFA in Modern Dance, she brings a rare combination of mental health expertise and firsthand academic experience to college and career planning for dancers.

Ashley and I are both products of college dance programs and have gone on to mentor dancers through this process, so I absolutely loved connecting over this topic! Our conversation is jam-packed with everything from the complex admissions process to building a...

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by professional dancer (and one of my former students!) Kendall Lademann for a full-circle conversation on the unexpected twists and turns that have shaped her dance career.

We dive into Kendall’s transition from student to professional at Mareck Dance, including what it was like dancing alongside former teachers and how that environment helped her grow as both an artist and an adult.

We also talk about how Kendall moved forward with her dance career after Mareck Dance unexpectedly folded, finding new opportunities at Lexi...

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by former professional dancer and Arts in Health professional Kate Webb Berk to explore the powerful connection between dance and health.

Kate shares her journey from dancing professionally with Verb Ballets (now Ohio Contemporary Ballet) to pursuing a master’s degree in Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida, where she focuses on social prescribing and arts-based health interventions.

We dive into the growing field of arts in health, why dance is uniquely impactful for mental and physical wellbeing, and how movement and comm...

In this solo episode, I dive into everything dancers need to know to make the most of their summer intensives. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned pre-professional, this episode is packed with insight to help you thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally during one of the most transformative times in your dance training.

Key “Pointes” in this Episode

🩰Why summer intensives are critical for growth in technique, artistry, and professionalism

🩰The importance of journaling and reflection - before, during, and after

🩰Tips for adjusting socially and forming lasting connections

🩰Staying h...

Physiotherapist and dance medicine specialist Erika Mayall, founder of Allegro Performance + Wellness in Vancouver, BC, joins us to share expert guidance on managing and preventing injuries during a dancer's busiest seasons.

Erika breaks down why high-stakes periods like auditions, competitions, and intensives carry such elevated injury risk, and what dancers can do to protect themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. She walks us through how to build a smarter annual training calendar, how fatigue directly increases injury risk, and practical strategies for recovery even when a full night's sleep isn't realistic.

Key "Pointes" from this Episode:<...

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by Hayley Meier: dancer, choreographer, and educator currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada

Hayley shares her journey from competition studio training to intensive ballet education, and how she ultimately carved out a career that blends performance, choreography, and teaching. We talk about her time dancing with Rochester City Ballet and River North Dance Chicago, including the persistence it took to land her dream job and why not getting hired right away doesn’t mean “no” forever.

We als...

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by my mom, Brenda Younker, for an honest conversation about what it’s really like to raise a professional dancer.

After hearing from so many parents who feel overwhelmed trying to navigate the ballet world, I decided to bring my mom on the pod to share her firsthand experience. We dive into everything, including the whirlwind of pre-professional training, summer intensives, injuries, college decisions, and ultimately building a professional dance career.

From backstage memories and pointe shoe fittings to navigating casting disappointments and learning how...

In this episode of the Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I am joined by Stanton Welch, Artistic Director of Houston Ballet and internationally renowned choreographer.

Stanton shares the unconventional path that led him to ballet, from growing up backstage with his parents, principal dancers with the Australian Ballet, to falling in love with dance at 16 and training at San Francisco Ballet School before joining The Australian Ballet.

We talk about his transition from dancer to choreographer to artistic director, how his creative process has evolved over the years, and what inspires him when creating new works. Stanton...

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by Courtney Anderson - former dancer with San Francisco Ballet, The Royal Ballet of Flanders, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and now the founder of The Workshop.

The Workshop is a series of 5 week-long summer intensives created for professional dancers seeking deeper artistic growth, expanded versatility, and meaningful creative process. Dancers will work with internationally recognized choreographers and répétiteurs including:

I can’t believe we made it to the 100th episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast!!!

Only a small percentage of podcasts make it this far, and I’m so grateful to you for making this show part of your week. I wouldn’t be here without you.

In honor of 100 episodes, I’m reflecting on one theme that has shaped my entire dance career: doing things that scare me.

Key “pointes” in this episode:

This week on The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Tiffany Rea-Fisher: Artistic Director of EMERGE125, award-winning choreographer, and a true force in the dance world.

Tiffany shares her journey from growing up as a competition kid on the West Coast, to discovering modern dance at SUNY Purchase, and now celebrating her 10th season leading EMERGE125, a contemporary modern dance company in New York City.

Tiffany’s perspective on leadership, from servant leadership to a more collaborative, transformative model, is something every dancer (and human!) can learn from. I am incredibly inspired by t...

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by Seth and Sarah Orza - former principal dancers with Pacific Northwest Ballet and the founders of ORZA.

Seth and Sarah share their incredible journey from meeting as teenagers at the School of American Ballet to building careers together both on and off-stage. We dive into the realities of dancing through pain, the lack of innovation in ballet footwear, and how their personal injury experiences led to a groundbreaking solution.

Seth takes us behind the scenes of developing the first-ever patented shock-absorbing ballet shoe, de...

Anna Mai Fitzpatrick, Principal Dancer with Riverdance, joins The Brainy Ballerina Podcast ahead of the company’s April 14-16th performances at the Overture Center in Madison, WI.

Anna shares an inside look at her journey from a young Irish dancer to performing on stages around the world with Riverdance. We dive into the unique demands of Irish dance, what it’s like to transition from competitive dancer to professional performer, and how Anna found her voice as a Principal Dancer.

Key “Pointes” in this Episode:

Penny Saunders is an absolute force in the dance world and a choreographer every dancer dreams of working with. But before she was a choreographer, she was a dynamic performer dancing with companies including American Repertory Ballet, Ballet Arizona, MOMIX, Cedar Lake, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

She is now an acclaimed choreographer who has created works for companies including Grand Rapids Ballet, Hubbard Street, Cincinnati Ballet, Whim W’Him, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Parsons Dance, Oklahoma City Ballet, BalletX, Sacramento Ballet, The Royal New Zealand Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Diablo Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Eugene Ballet, ArtEmotion/Ballet West an...

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by former professional dancer and writer Gavin Larsen and renowned dance photographer Gene Schiavone to discuss their collaborative book Infinite Steps: Thirty-Three Dancers and Their Lives in Ballet, a powerful collection that pairs intimate essays with striking photography.

Together we explore how storytelling and imagery reveal the humanity behind ballet, the diverse paths dancers take, and the deeper purpose that sustains a life in dance.

Key Points in this Episode:

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by Natalie Bowman and LeeAnaca Moore, the creators behind Tights Under - a social media platform that began as a creative outlet during their time in the Professional Division at Pacific Northwest Ballet.

What started as a way to document the “in-between” stage of ballet life has grown into a beloved and refreshingly honest look at the realities of pursuing a professional ballet career (and beyond!).

Natalie and LeeAnaca share what pre-professional life is really like, how they navigated audition season, what surprised them most a...

In this episode of the Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by dance body image mentor Katrena Cohea to unpack a recent pop-culture moment that sparked major debate in the ballet and opera communities.

After a prominent actor publicly dismissed ballet and opera as art forms that “no one cares about anymore,” dancers and arts organizations responded with outrage, humor, and viral marketing.

We unpack why the comment struck such a nerve for dancers who have devoted our lives to the art form. But beyond the initial reaction, we dive deeper into the bigger questions the mo...

In this episode, I’m joined by sports psychologist Dr. Chelsea Pierotti and personal trainer and coach Wendy Reinert to explore powerful mental performance lessons from the Winter Olympics. From autonomy and burnout to confidence, resilience, and handling mistakes, we break down what elite athletes can teach dancers about performing under pressure.

Key Points in this Episode

As dancers, we tend to be creative people. During our training, our focus is on technique and artistry as opposed to the business aspect of our career. As we advance into the professional world and are offered our first contract, it can be a rude awakening. Most dancers don’t know what they should be looking for, or even how contract negotiations will develop.

In this episode, I’m joined by ballet dancer-turned-attorney Cielomar Puccio, founder of Brandllet Law to get the scoop on what dancers need to know. Together, we break down the essential parts of a da...

This week on The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by Janessa Urwin: former professional ballerina, Resident Costume Designer for American Repertory Ballet, and founder of Florimund’s, a luxury ballet costume rental company.

Janessa shares her unique journey from dancer to designer, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the world of ballet costuming. We talk about everything from constructing tutus that survive decades of performances to helping dancers feel confident and transformed the moment they step on stage. We also chat about career pivots, creative entrepreneurship, and the many meaningful ways to build a life in ball...

Felix Molinero Del Paso of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo joins The Brainy Ballerina Podcast ahead of the company’s February 26th performance at the Overture Center in Madison, WI.

Raised in Spain and later trained at the collegiate level in Germany, Felix shares the bold email he sent that led to a life-changing opportunity with the world-renowned all-male ballet company.

Known for parodying the conventions of classical ballet while maintaining exceptional technical standards, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo requires its dancers to master both male and female roles, on and off pointe.