We are pleased to announce that Ballet Help Desk has added podcasts! Not only are all of our previous videos available as podcasts, we are also launching a monthly, multi-part series that will dig deep into specific subjects related to ballet training.
Each series will feature blog posts as well as interviews with experts that will be published as podcasts. Our first series will cover cross-training and injury prevention and will include chats with strength and conditioning coaches as well as Pilates and Gyrotonic teachers, all of whom work with ballet companies as well as pre-professional dancers. We’ll round out the month by interviewing a wellness coach who helps students work on strengthening the mind, which is so important for serious ballet dancers.
As a kick-off to this series, we interviewed Aki Kawasaki, the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Houston Ballet and Houston Ballet Academy. Aki has been with the company and the academy for over ten years and holds more than 25 certifications related to strength, conditioning and bodywork.
He talks about his approach in working with both professional dancers as well as students. Aki not only focuses on physical conditioning, but he also emphasizes the need for dancers to educate themselves on how to listen to their body to determine what it needs at the time.
Throughout the interview, you will hear these same recurring themes of educating yourself and listening to your body as he talks about types of injuries he tends to see amongst dancers in professional training programs, as well as how to handle injuries when they arise. Give it a listen on August 9th – it should be interesting!
After that, we’ll be focusing on two other areas of interest. In September, it’s all about ballet competitions. Tune in to hear how studio heads prepare students for competitions and what parents should expect along the way. We’ll also talk with some coaches from large conservatories to understand how they approach the competition world. On the heels of that, competition judges will weigh in on what they look for in competitors, what they love to see and what drives them crazy. They’ll talk not only about what they look for on stage, but also in master classes.
The series will culminate with interviews with a few of the folks who founded and run these events. This is a great time to get some questions in to us about anything you’ve ever wanted to know about Youth America Grand Prix, World Ballet Competition as well as many others!
Then, in October, it’s time for our summer intensive “boot camp!” This series will cover everything from how to research different summer programs (hint: start with our summer intensive reviews!) and move on to finding where and when auditions are happening. For audition planning, Robert Fulton, founder of Ballet Scout, joins us. We’ll also look at summer intensives in other parts of the world and talk about the benefits and drawbacks of those. In one other piece, you’ll hear from a professional photographer on how to best shoot your audition photos and videos. And, we’ll talk to adjudicators from several summer programs to learn what they look for in potential students.
Finally, our boot camp will cover acceptances and rejections, how to make sense of scholarships and how to decide which program is best to attend.
We hope you enjoy the newest addition to our site and please be sure to subscribe to our series wherever you get your podcasts.
One response to “Introducing Podcasts And Our New Series!”
Met Brett in Pacifica yesterday and learned of this podcast. Listened to the most recent episode and was absolutely captivated by the content and frank discussions. I will definitely listen to the others on the list. I wish you every success and thank you for your efforts. This is a great service.