Category: Uncategorized
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Dancer Stories: Charlotte Junge of Madison Ballet on Going Pro, Paying Rent, and Finding Yourself

What does it really take to go from pre-professional student to professional ballet dancer? Charlotte Junge, a company member with Madison Ballet, shares the unfiltered version of her journey from competition dance roots in Houston to training at…
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Madison Ballet’s Ja’Malik Is Done with the Old Way

Madison Ballet’s Ja’Malik didn’t arrive to tinker around the edges. He came to change things, and four years in, it’s working. He shares a journey that started with Michael Jackson’s Thriller in his front yard and led him through the Joffrey Ballet…
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#NoThirds: Bullying in Ballet: The Lobby, the Queen Bee & You

In the final episode of our four-part bullying series, we’re joined again by Kelsey Fyffe, a therapist who works with pre-professional dancers, and Suzette Takei, a veteran academic school administrator and educator, as we get into the messy stuff….
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Elena Kunikova on Teaching, Training, and the Art of Ballet

What does it actually feel like to train at the Vaganova Academy, the school that produced some of the greatest dancers in history, and then go on to perform at one of Russia’s most storied companies? Elena Kunikova has lived that story, and she’s…
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#NoThirds: Bullying in Ballet: Addressing Weight Comments and Abusive Language in Ballet Training

In part three of our bullying series, we tackle some of the toughest conversations ballet parents face: what to do when teachers make harmful comments about weight, body image, or use abusive language in class. Psychotherapist Kelsey Fyffe and…
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How Ballet Austin Built a Post-Grad Program That Actually Works

We sit down with Michelle Martin, Associate Artistic Director of Ballet Austin, for a refreshingly honest conversation about their complete training pipeline: the tuition-free Butler Fellowship program, Ballet Austin TWO, and the path into the main…
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Tights Under: Going Pro with LeeAnaca Moore and Natalie Bowman

LeeAnaca “Lee” Moore (Pacific Northwest Ballet) and Natalie Bowman (St. Louis Ballet) are the duo behind , the popular social media account showcasing the realities of pre-professional and professional ballet life. In this episode, Lee and Natalie…
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Lynne Charles on English National Ballet School’s GAP Programme

Lynne Charles, Artistic Director of , discusses the school’s new (GAP), a postgraduate program that combines performing with English National Ballet and continued education. Unlike traditional programs where students serve as “free labor,” GAP…
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Encore: #NoThirds Mailbag with Fran Veyette (Extended Episode)

Listeners asked, and Fran Veyette answers! We’re bringing back this fan-favorite #NoThirds “Fran’s Mailbag” episode, now combined into one extended conversation. Fran breaks down how casting really works, whether principals dance less, what happens…
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CiCi Houston Sudholt on Saint Louis Ballet’s Career Pipeline

CiCi Houston-Sudholt, Rehearsal Director at Saint Louis Ballet, discusses their unique approach to dance education that puts students at the center. From integrating all levels of training to tailoring performance opportunities based on individual…
