The Adult Ballet Studio

Welcome to a very special episode of The Adult Ballet Studio! Today, we’re celebrating a milestone: our 50th episode!

It's hard to believe we've reached 50 episodes since launching this podcast in August of 2023, and I'm so grateful to everyone who has listened, shared their stories, and been a part of this incredible community of dancers who believe that ballet belongs to all of us, no matter our age, background, or ability.

For this episode, American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Skylar Brandt is in the studio!

Skylar began her ballet training at six years old at Scarsdale Ballet Studio in New York before going on to study at ABT's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. She joined ABT II in 2009 and steadily rose through the company's ranks, becoming a principal dancer in 2020.

Throughout her career, Skylar has brought to life some of ballet's most iconic roles. She's also received numerous accolades, including a Princess Grace Foundation Dance Fellowship and recognition on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list.

But beyond her remarkable accomplishments onstage, Skylar has also used her platform to inspire dancers around the world, encouraging individuality and advocating for yourself. In this conversation, we explore Skylar's journey from a young dancer with big dreams to one of ABT's leading artists, her recent performances, and how she continues to grow and discover new dimensions of herself as a performer. Skylar shares her perspective on finding her own voice as an artist and what she hopes to give back to the art form that has shaped so much of her life.

Thank you again to everyone who has helped make these first 50 episodes possible. I'm so excited to share this milestone with all of you, and I hope this conversation reminds you that there's a place for you in ballet, wherever you are in your journey. Check it out!

• Follow Skylar Brandt on Instagram: @skylarbrandt
• Learn more about American Ballet Theatre: http://www.abt.org
• Donate to The Adult Ballet Studio’s 50th episode fundraiser for United Palace Theatre: https://kindest.com/872422-restore-unitedpalace-organ
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

The Adult Ballet Studio has merch! https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to make dance accessible? Is it simply opening doors to more people, or is it about creating spaces where everyone feels that they truly belong once they’re through the door and into the studio?

On this bonus episode of The Adult Ballet Studio, Andrea Ziegelman is in the studio! She is the founder and executive and artistic director of Accent Dance NYC, a nonprofit organization that uses the dance to build bridges between communities, celebrate cultural diversity, and bring dance education and performances to children and families across New York City and lower Westchester County.

Since its founding, Accent Dance NYC has reached more than 45,000 school-aged children, introducing them to movement traditions ranging from ballet and flamenco to West African dance and hip-hop. The company explores important subjects like immigration, identity, and climate change through dance.

Andrea's own path is fascinating. She grew up in a family of professional classical musicians, trained seriously in ballet from a young age, and studied dance at the University of Utah. She also went on to build a career as an attorney in New York City, while continuing to dance, perform, and teach.

In our conversation, we talk about Andrea's lifelong connection to ballet, what inspired her to found Accent Dance NYC, and how dance can create understanding and connection across different cultures and experiences.

We also discuss Accent's October gala, Seen, including a new work by acclaimed ballerina Ingrid Silva, and the ongoing conversation around representation and belonging in the dance world.

And, of course, we bring it back to adult ballet and what meaningful access to dance really looks like for dancers of all ages. We discuss how we can create more welcoming spaces for adult dancers, and why it's never too late to see yourself as part of the dance community. Check it out!

• Learn more about Accent Dance NYC: https://accent.dance/
• Follow Accent Dance NYC on Instagram: @accentdancenyc
• Donate to The Adult Ballet Studio’s 50th episode fundraiser for United Palace Theatre: https://kindest.com/872422-restore-unitedpalace-organ
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

The Adult Ballet Studio has merch! https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isabella Rubietta, dancer, choreographer and founder of Minnesota Ballet Collective, is in the studio this month!

Isabella began dancing at just three years old, exploring ballet, tap, jazz, and musical theater before dedicating herself to classical ballet at the age of ten. She went on to train at Ballet Royale of Minnesota, perform with Twin Cities Ballet, and attend summer programs including with American Ballet Theatre and Kansas City Ballet.

Today, she is in her fourth season with Minnesota Ballet Collective, an organization that she founded in 2023. Minnesota Ballet Collective is committed to empowering advanced ballet dancers through creativity, collaboration, and artistic growth. The Collective also places a strong emphasis on building an inclusive and supportive community.

Her story doesn’t stop with dance! She holds a degree in biology, has explored choreography through her work at the University of Minnesota, where she has begun law school.

In our conversation, we talk about her journey from young dancer to artist, what she has learned from performing and choreographing, her experiences with Minnesota Ballet Collective, and the ways ballet has shaped how she thinks about public health, community, and advocacy. We also talk about the pressure and expectations that come with being a dancer, the importance of creating more inclusive spaces in ballet, and what it means to build a life that doesn’t fit neatly into just one career or identity. Check it out!

• Learn more about Minnesota Ballet Collective: https://mnballetcollective.org/
• Follow Minnesota Ballet Collective on Instagram: @mnballetcollective
• Donate to The Adult Ballet Studio’s 50th episode fundraiser for United Palace Theatre: https://kindest.com/872422-restore-unitedpalace-organ
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

The Adult Ballet Studio has merch! https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maureen Footer is an author and cultural historian whose work explores the ways artists, designers, and creators shape the culture around them, and she joined The Adult Ballet Studio this month!

Maureen is the author of several acclaimed books on fashion, architecture and design, and her newest book takes her into the world of dance with Feel the Floor: Restoring the Life and Legacy of Jazz Choreographer Buddy Bradley, published by Beacon Press.

The book tells the story of Buddy Bradley, a Black choreographer and teacher whose career began during the Harlem Renaissance and eventually took him from Broadway to London’s West End. There, his work helped transform theatrical dance. Bradley taught and influenced some of the biggest performers of his era, and his choreography drew from tap, jazz, ballroom, folk dance and mime.

Bradley’s influence also extended into classical ballet. His work helped shape the movement vocabulary of many choreographers, including George Balanchine, and contributed to the development of what would become neoclassical ballet. Yet, despite the reach of his influence, Bradley’s name largely disappeared from mainstream dance history, especially in the U.S. Feel the Floor seeks to change that by restoring Bradley’s story.

Maureen is also a lifelong ballet enthusiast and serves on the boards of New York City Ballet, the Jerome Robbins Dance Division of the New York Public Library, and the American Friends of the Paris Opera Ballet.

We talk about Bradley’s remarkable legacy, the ways racism and cultural hierarchies have shaped what gets preserved in dance history, and what his story can teach us about influence, inclusion and belonging in the world of ballet. Check it out!

• Get a copy of Feel the Floor: https://www.amazon.com/Feel-Floor-Restoring-Choreographer-Bradley/dp/0807045241
• Follow Maureen on Instagram: @maureenfooter
• Learn more about Maureen’s work: https://maureenfooter.net/
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

The Adult Ballet Studio has merch! https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jen Alden is in the studio this month! She is a choreographer, director, arts leader, and financial executive whose work spans professional performance, arts advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement.

She trained with the State Ballet of Oregon, Eugene Ballet, and the University of Oregon before performing as a soloist with the State Ballet of Oregon and dancing with contemporary companies in Portland. Along the way, she also developed a love for musical theater, choreographing her first production, West Side Story, at just 17 years old.

After moving to Tulsa, Jennifer co-founded what is now Oklahoma Movement, a nonprofit contemporary dance organization dedicated to using movement as a catalyst for conversation and change. Over the past 15 years, she's created more than 15 evening-length works exploring topics including mental health, addiction, social inequality, women's issues, and systemic racism. In 2020, the organization shifted its focus beyond performance to emphasize outreach, advocacy, and education, reflecting a belief that movement has the power to connect communities and inspire meaningful dialogue.

Jennifer's impact extends beyond the studio too! She's choreographed for Tulsa Opera, Theatre Tulsa, Tulsa Symphony, and numerous productions throughout the region, while also serving as chief financial and operating officer of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. There, she's helped secure funding to support one of Oklahoma's most important cultural institutions.

In this conversation, Jennifer challenges the idea that artists have to choose between creativity and practicality. We talk about balancing careers in both finance and the arts, building sustainable pathways for artists, creating welcoming spaces for adult dancers, and using dance to explore some of the most complex issues facing our communities. Check it out!

• Learn more about Oklahoma Movement: http://oklahomamovement.org
• Follow Oklahoma Movement on Instagram: @oklahoma_movement
• Learn more Tulsa PAC and find tix for Universal Theory: https://tulsapac.com/
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

The Adult Ballet Studio has merch! Shop here!

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Larry Keigwin, dancer, choreographer and artistic director of KEIGWIN + COMPANY, joined The Adult Ballet Studio for a bonus episode! Keigwin is a native New Yorker, choreographer, and curator who has danced his way from the Metropolitan Opera to Broadway and back. He has created 30 works, including his community-based piece for all ages - Rhapsody - that kicked off Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City festival this year.

This community dance work featured 40 New Yorkers, and the group was made up of dancers and non-dancers of all ages and backgrounds. Each version of Rhapsody is shaped by its location and ensemble of dancers and celebrates making art, humanity and shared space. Lincoln center’s Summer for the City festival is even more dance focused than before thanks to the launch of The Pasculano Collaborative for Contemporary Dance, which anchors this year’s festival. The season features New York-based talent as well as artists from around the world, wellness events, and education initiatives that are all offered for free or choose-what-you-pay. The collaborative also paves the way for Lincoln Center’s inaugural Contemporary Dance Festival – a new festival that will be offered each summer and winter. Check it this interview with Larry!

• Learn more about KEIGWIN + COMPANY: https://www.keigwinandcompany.com/
• Follow Larry Keigwin: @larry_keigwin
• Check out Lincoln Center's Summer for the City: Summer for the City
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

The Adult Ballet Studio has merch! Check it out: https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erica Centola, founder of Tournesol Dance in Rochester, New York, is in the studio this month! Have you ever felt like ballet wasn't built for your body—or because you started later, took a long break, or don't fit the "traditional" dancer mold, you somehow don't belong in the studio? Erica is so good at dispelling those myths and encouraging dancers at any stage of their lives or training to do what they love!

Tournesol Dance is an adult-only ballet school that's redefining what serious ballet training can look like for adult dancers. A former histology technician turned ballet teacher and studio owner, Erica combines her understanding of anatomy and biology with an individualized approach to teaching. She helps adult students build stronger technique while rediscovering confidence, creativity, and joy.

In this conversation, we talked about why dance is so much more than exercise. We explored how ballet can help heal the mind, reduce stress, reconnect us with our creative selves, and become a powerful source of resilience in adulthood.

Erica also shared her journey back to ballet after a long hiatus and why she ultimately created the kind of ballet school she wished had existed for adult dancers all along— where adults are taken seriously, given thoughtful corrections, and offered real opportunities to grow and perform. Check it out!

• Learn more about Tournesol Dance: https://tournesoldance.com/
• Learn more about Erica: @ericacentola
• Follow Tournesol Dance on Instagram: @tournesoldance
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

The Adult Ballet Studio has merch! Check it out: https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony-winning choreographer Omari Wiles is in the studio for a bonus episode! Omari is the founder and artistic director of The House of NiNa Oricci and Les Ballet Afrik, and he recently made his Broadway debut and won a Tony along with Arturo Lyons for their choreography on Cats: The Jellicle Ball on Broadway.

Les Ballet Afrik’s piece, New York Is Burning, was presented this year at Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City Festival as part of the outdoor Dance Encounters series, and I spoke with Omari afterwards about what it means to see vogue and ballroom culture represented on some of the world’s biggest stages. Check it out!

• Learn more about Omari Wiles: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/omari-wiles-or-les-ballet-afrik
• Connect with Omari on Instagram: @omari_wiles
• Check out Lincoln Center's Summer for the City: Summer for the City 2026
• Follow Lincoln Center on Instagram: @lincolncenter
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

The Adult Ballet Studio has merch! Check it out: https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura Victoria Ward is in the studio this month! She is a choreographer, somatic movement educator, musician, painter, performer, and maximalist artist. Her work intersects with ballet, theater, geometry, punk rock, and self-acceptance. And she’s so talented at all of it!

She is the artistic director of Octavia Cup Dance Theatre, a contemporary ballet company known for creating surreal, expressionistic works that push beyond traditional ballet vocabulary while still remaining in conversation with it. She’s also a movement analyst and a somatic movement educator.

Laura’s work makes space for contradiction, experimentation and complexity through the structure of ballet and the joy of improvisation. We discussed what belonging looks like in dance, and why some of her work wasn’t initially well received by audiences and how she pushed past it to create meaningful work that resonates. She also gave advice about connecting with mentors, collaboration and doing work you believe in. Check out our conversation!

• Learn more about Octavia Cup Dance Theatre: https://www.youtube.com/user/octaviacup?app=desktop
• Learn more about Laura: http://www.lauravward.net
• Check out her somatic movement work: https://www.youtube.com/@SOMATICSwithLauraVWard
• Follow Laura on Instagram: @lauravictoriaward
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reed Luplau is in the studio for this mid-month episode! He’s a dancer, choreographer, and performer and has built such a multifaceted and versatile career in the performing arts. He trained at the Australian Ballet School and performed with Sydney Dance Company, and he’s appeared in the original Broadway casts of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, and the 2015 revival of Fiddler on the Roof. As a choreographer, his work has spanned Broadway, opera, concert dance, large-scale live events, and festivals across the United States and Australia.

Now, he’s bringing his own work to the stage with the world premiere of How Will I Remember This, a new dance narrative presented by Reed Luplau Works in association with the Institute for American Musical Theatre. This piece is inspired by the history of Eldorado — the legendary queer cabaret nightclub in Weimar, Berlin, shut down by the nazis in 1933. The piece explores memory, identity, loss, and erasure through movement, music, and theatrical storytelling. The production will play for three performances only on May 22, 23, and 24, 2026, at the IAMT Theater in New York City. The link to purchase tickets is below!

In this conversation, we talk about Reed’s path from ballet to Broadway, the artistic transitions that shaped his career, and why dance became the medium through which he wanted to tell this story. We also talk about starting ballet late, mentorship and accessibility in the performing arts, and the importance of creating more inclusive dance spaces. Check out our conversation!

• Purchase tickets for How Will I Remember This: https://prezlymail.com/c/93902432-7c6f-4912-b47b-a3f290239ad3/a11eb31f/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simpletix.com%2Fe%2Fhow-will-i-remember-this-tickets-264925
• Learn more about Reed and his work: http://www.reedluplau.com/
• Follow Reed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reedluplau/
• Check out the Netflix documentary about Eldorado: https://www.netflix.com/title/81331646
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anne Easterling, founder and director of The Ballet Club, is in the studio this month! The Ballet Club is a New York–based school that Anne launched in 2011 with a mission to make ballet accessible to students of all ages.

Anne brings decades of experience to her work as both a performer and educator. She began her professional dance career performing classical and modern repertoire across the United States and Europe, and she also trained as a competitive figure skater. Since then, she’s been teaching ballet and developing an approach to training that blends strong classical technique with creativity and individuality.

She has an MFA in Dance from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and has taught at Broadway Dance Center, Ballet Hispánico, Peridance Center, and 92nd Street Y.

At The Ballet Club, Anne has created a unique environment welcoming everyone from toddlers as young as 18 months to adult students well into their 70s. Her philosophy centers on the idea that ballet is not just for performance or for a select few, but a lifelong practice that supports both the body and the mind.

In this episode, we talk about Anne’s journey into dance and how her experiences in both ballet and figure skating shaped her artistic path. We explore her teaching philosophy — including what she means when she says “ballet is for the brain” — and how she approaches working with adult beginners who might feel intimidated or unsure about starting later in life.

We also dive into The Ballet Club’s curriculum, the importance of staying a student even as a teacher, and why performance opportunities can be transformative for dancers of all ages.

For those who are curious about starting ballet as an adult, Anne shares insights into her on-demand course, All You Need to Know Before You Begin Ballet Class, designed to help beginners build confidence, understand the structure of class, and take those first steps in a supportive way. Check it out!

• Learn more about The Ballet Club: https://www.theballetclub.com/
• Check out The Ballet Club’s on-demand class for beginners, All You Need To Know Before You Begin Ballet Class: https://theballetclub.vhx.tv/
• Follow The Ballet Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBalletClub
• Follow The Ballet Club on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theballetclub/
• Subscribe to The Ballet Club on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@TheBalletClubOnline
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anabella Lenzu joined the studio this month! She is an internationally recognized dancer, choreographer, educator, and scholar whose career spans more than 35 years across the globe. She is the founder and artistic director of Anabella Lenzu/DanceDrama, a dance theatre company in New York City.

Anabella brings together ballet, modern, tango, and dance theatre, and she’s taught in more than 50 institutions worldwide. She currently teaches at NYU and Peridance Center in New York City. In addition to her performance and teaching career, Anabella is also a published author and the president of the American Dance Guild.

In this conversation, we explore her journey into dance and what led her to pursue it as a lifelong career, how her experiences across cultures have shaped her artistic voice and teaching philosophy, and what drew her to choreography as a means of expression.

We also dive into her newest book, Teaching and Learning Dance Through Meaningful Gestures, and unpack ideas like active imagination, the role of gesture in movement, and why visual documentation can be such a powerful tool for dancers.

She gives advice on how to approach dance with a sense of wholeness, how to navigate fear or self-doubt in the studio, and how to embrace your own body as a source of experience, history, and identity. Check it out!

• Learn more about Anabella: anabellalenzu.com
• Follow Anabella on Instagram: instagram.com/anabellalenzu
• Purchase her latest book: https://www.anabellalenzu.com/meaningful-gestures
• Donate to Anabella Lenzu / DanceDrama:https://www.anabellalenzu.com/donate
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Stathas, founder and artistic director of Peter Stathas Dance, and company dancer Lauren Twomley, are in the studio this month for a conversation that stretches across generations of New York dance history!

Peter and Lauren talk about how embracing curiosity and risking the unexpected keeps dance fresh, meaningful, and connected across generations. Peter began his dance career at SUNY Purchase before performing with the José Limón Dance Company. Then, he spent 30 years as a physical therapist and entrepreneur before returning to choreography in 2016. He talks about how emotional the experience was for him of returning to dance and gives his advice for other dancers who are stepping back into the studio or back on stage after some time away. In 2018, the duet Assuage sparked the creation of his company, rooted in a mission to create dance that reflects the human experience while advocating for sustainability, collaboration, and equity in the field.

In February of this year, Peter Stathas Dance Company presented its program, What We Hold, a cross-generational program at the Mark Morris Dance Center. The evening brought works from the 1980s back into the studio and onto the stage — not as a form of nostalgia, but as a living conversation across time, as the company describes it. These pieces were set on a new generation of dancers navigating today’s dance landscape.

Born in Brooklyn and a graduate of SUNY Purchase with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Arts Management, Lauren is one of those dancers. She has worked with a range of choreographers and has performed masterworks by Martha Graham, José Limón, and Merce Cunningham. She joined the Limón Dance Company in 2019 and now serves not only as a dancer with Peter Stathas Dance, but also rehearsal coordinator and social media manager. She’s also a teaching artist with the José Limón Dance Foundation, where she explores the deconstruction of Limón Movement Principles to make the technique more accessible and approachable.

In this interview, we talk about lineage, how dancers are constructing a moment in time and becoming part of history in the process, what it means to carry someone else’s artistic work in your own body, and how love, care, and devotion make a sustainable life in dance. Check it out!

• Learn more about Peter Stathas Dance: http://peterstathasdance.com
• Support the company: https://peterstathasdance.com/support/
• Follow Peter Stathas Dance on Instagram: instagram.com/peterstathasdance
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dance Data Project President and Founder Elizabeth Yntema is in the studio! Liza founded Dance Data Project in 2015 to shine a light on gender disparities in leadership, compensation, and programming in the dance industry, and since then, DDP has become a global force for accountability and change. Liza and her team are breaking down barriers in the dance field, revealing the data behind funding, leadership, and gender disparities, and showing how anyone — from dance fans to leaders of companies and boards of nonprofits — can use this information to create real change.

At 60 years old, Liza faced rejection that almost meant DDP didn’t happen, but her relentless drive turned an idea into a powerful movement for equity and transparency in dance. In this episode, she shares the story of starting DDP from scratch and how its research exposes the gender gaps and systemic bias shaping the industry. She also shares a first look at a new project DDP is working on that will continue its work of empowering women, emerging artists, and companies to challenge the status quo and create new paths.

We talk in this episode about strategies that dancers, donors, and arts advocates can use to support women-led initiatives and advocate for fair funding and inclusive leadership. We also talk about why data-driven advocacy is essential and how small actions, like thanking donors or getting to know the community, can ripple into meaningful industry-wide change. Check it out!

• Learn more about Dance Data Project: dancedataproject.com
• Follow Dance Data Project on Instagram: instagram.com/dancedataproject
• Donate to Dance Data Project: https://dancedataproject.com/donation-page/
• Check out the latest episode of DDP’s Raising the Barre: https://dancedataproject.com/raising-the-barre/
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month’s episode is the first part of a two-part series of interviews with Dance Data Project! Dance Data Project is an organization that promotes gender equity in the dance industry, including in ballet companies, by providing metrics-based research that is free and accessible to the public. Through its research, programming, resources, and advocacy, DDP showcases and uplifts women throughout the dance industry and provides data to inform decisions on inclusivity and moving the industry forward. The organization was founded by Elizabeth Yntema, who will be joining the podcast later in February!

For this episode, DDP’s external communications lead Nancy Dobbs Owen and senior research consultant and team training lead Junyla Silmon are in the studio!

Junyla is a performer and choreographer whose career spans concert dance, immersive theater, and contemporary companies. She began with Dance Data Project as an intern and now leads research and training. As a performing artist, she has worked with Susan Marshall, Roderick George, and Kayla Farrish, among others. Junyla is also a company member of Company SBB//Stefanie Batten Bland. As a choreographer, her work was presented at the 2022 Upsurge Dance Festival.

Nancy has decades of experience as a professional dancer, choreographer, educator, and arts administrator alongside a career in academia. She’s served as external communications lead for Dance Data Project since spring 2025. Her research focuses on how training, tradition, and embedded power systems intersect, affecting equity and accessibility in dance leadership. She currently serves as an assistant professor of dance at Southern Utah University and is a staff writer for LA Dance Chronicle. She’s danced with regional ballet, modern, and contemporary companies and has numerous theater credits, including the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera. She is also an award-winning choreographer for both stage and film, with award recognition from the Ovations, Stage Scene LA, and BroadwayWorld.com. Check out their interview!

• Learn about Dance Data Project: dancedataproject.com
• Follow Dance Data Project on Instagram: instagram.com/dancedataproject
• Donate to Dance Data Project: https://dancedataproject.com/donation-page/
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy new year! Claire Waite Brown is in the studio this month! She’s the host of the Creativity Found podcast and the founder of the Creativity Found directory and community, all dedicated to helping grown-ups reconnect with their creative spark. On her podcast, Claire speaks with people who’ve found — or re-discovered — their creativity later in life, unpacking their childhood experiences with the arts, the detours that pulled them away, and the brave, often joyful journeys back.

But Claire doesn’t just share these Creativity Found stories — she’s living one herself. In her 40s, Claire joined a hip hop dance group for adults, stepping into an entirely new dance style after studying contemporary dance for years. She talks openly about how challenging, humbling, and joyful it was to be a beginner again. She’s also returned to her love of theatre through improv and pantomime, and even started Creativity Found having never podcasted before, proving that you don’t need permission, experience, or a perfect plan to begin.

Claire describes herself as someone who isn’t afraid to take creative risks, and through her work, she’s realized something powerful: she has her own Creativity Found story coming back to so many of her creative passions in adulthood. She’s also a book editor and a dance fitness instructor! If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to start something creative, or if you’ve felt the pull to return to something you once loved, this episode is for you. Check it out!

• Check out Creativity Found: https://www.creativityfound.co.uk/
• Follow Claire on Instagram: @creativityfoundpodcast
• Subscribe to Creativity Found on YouTube: @creativityfoundpodcast
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month’s guest became a professional ballerina, not because someone told her she could, but because someone told her she couldn't. When an early ballet teacher told young Emily Sayre Smith that her leg shape meant she’d never make it, she did what any stubborn kid would do: she set out to prove them wrong. And she did.

Emily is a former pro dancer and memoirist, and she’s in the studio this month! She’s danced her way across two continents and discovered that even the most disciplined ballerinas aren’t perfect—they’re brave. Emily is a classically trained ballet and modern dancer who found an escape in ballet, a way to move out of the fear and chaos of her life and into her body and the music. She earned scholarships, traveled to London to dance at the Stella Mann College of Performing Arts, and ultimately, found love waiting for her in the dance studio and on stage.

Her debut memoir, Smartass: Memoir of a Mouthy Girl, published this year in October and is a blend of humor, grit, queerness, art, and survival—written, as Emily admits in this interview, because she really, really didn’t want to clean her house. Emily’s own journey includes addiction, sobriety, reinvention, and more than a few brushes with dance royalty. She speaks about how ballet shaped her, saved her, and sometimes nearly broke her. She also discusses body image in the ballet world, the culture shock of dancing abroad, what it meant to come out as gay as a young ballerina in 1981 during the AIDS crisis, and why she thinks everyone - even basketball players - should try ballet. Check it out!

• Purchase Smartass: Memoir of a Mouthy Girl: https://www.amazon.com/Smartass-Memoir-Emily-Sayre-Smith/dp/164742982X
• Connect with Emily on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583660417526
• Learn more about Emily: emilysayresmith.com
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a kid with a dream steps onto a Broadway stage for the first time? It’s pure magic. Wesley Wray is a an actor, musical artist, and BFA student at the University of Michigan, who is making his broadway debut this season in the Tony award winning show Buena Vista Social Club, and he joined the studio this month!

His career path has already spanned ballet, Afro-Caribbean movement, modern dance, music, theatre, film, and beyond. He shared his experiences in Buena Vista Social Club, backstage stories, and the audition process! And in a beautiful full circle moment, he talked about the Broadway dance workshop he recently taught at Ailey Extension, which invited dancers of all ages and levels to learn choreography from the show and experience the power of dance as community.

Wesley has roots with Alvin Ailey, studying at The Ailey School’s professional division summer intensives and AileyCamp Miami. He shared what his time studying at Alvin Ailey taught him about establishing safe dance spaces to explore multi-disciplinary training, and how that can shape you as an artist.

We also talked about his experience working with Tony winning choreographers Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck on Buena Vista Social Club and how ballet technique supports hybrid movement styles in the show. And he gives his best advice for adult dancers, emerging artists, and anyone who has the courage to try something new. Check it out!

• Follow Wesley on Instagram: @wesleywwray
• Learn more about Buena Vista Social Club: buenavistamusical.com
• Learn about Alvin Ailey: ailey.org
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kadeem Alston-Roman is in the studio this month! He is a Brooklyn, New York-based wellness coach, choreographer and theater artist who helps people find balance, peace, and happiness in their daily lives. What makes Kadeem’s work especially powerful is the way he bridges the worlds of dance, wellness, and theater. After spending more than a decade creating performances that fuse movement and mindfulness through Full Force Wellness and Dance Repertory, a company he co-founded, he later founded his wellness company, Kadeem One.

In this episode, we dive into Kadeem’s journey as a dancer and choreographer, how his work in the wellness space continues to shape his artistry and teaching, and the importance of creating a sense of belonging in ballet - a field that can feel very exclusive. Kadeem shares his advice for dancers who are still finding their place in that world. For all of the adult ballet dancers listening, Kadeem has a message for you: stop worrying about what other people think, and dance because you love it. Whether at the barre, on stage, or simply moving through life, Kadeem reminds us through this conversation that purpose and joy are always worth pursuing. Check it out!

• Follow Kadeem One on Instagram: @kadeemone
• Learn more about Kadeem One: kadeemone.com
• Check out Kadeem’s work: https://linktr.ee/kadeemone
• Watch the Alice Barker YouTube video here
• Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube: @adultballetstudio
•

A staged reading of Hidden in Plain Sight: The Story of Alice Barker will take place on November 7 and 8 at 7 p.m. at Dancewave Studio at 182 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217. Follow @hips1940 on Instagram for more information about the show or email hiddeninplainsightprod@gmail.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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Choreographer Stefanie Nelson is in the studio this month! This year marks a milestone for her impactful and groundbreaking contemporary dance company - the 25th anniversary of Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup. Founded by Stefanie in New York City in 2000, the company has been described as instinctual and untamed, pushing the boundaries of performance while creating meaningful connections between artists, audiences, and communities.

Stefanie has staged work all over the world from Lincoln Center and Jacob’s Pillow to international venues across Italy. She is also the founder of Dance Italia, a summer program in Lucca, Italy.

Stefanie’s impact extends far beyond the stage as well. In collaboration with AHRC NYC, she launched the Everyone Dance program, providing weekly classes and performance opportunities for dancers with intellectual and developmental disabilities across New York City. This spring, that work took center stage at Columbia University’s Miller Theater with Everyone Dance: Spring 25, a free performance featuring original works by award-winning choreographers—and an audience dance party to close it out.

Stefanie also founded The Moving Memory Project, an ongoing initiative that brings together artists, caregivers, and seniors to explore memory, identity, and dementia through performance.

She joined The Adult Ballet Studio to talk about 25 years of creating dance — her vision, her collaborations, and how her company continues to bring movement into new spaces of joy, healing, and transformation. Check it out!

• ​Follow Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup on Instagram: @sndancegroup
• ​Follow Dance Italia on Instagram: @dance_italia
• ​Learn more about Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup: https://www.sndancegroup.org/
• ​Learn more about Dance Italia: https://www.danceitalia.com/
• ​Purchase tickets to SND X West Harlem Arts Alliance: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/snd-x-west-harlem-arts-alliance-tickets-1652454208019?aff=oddtdtcreator
• ​Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio 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

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.