5.6.7.EIGHT

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Leda Ghannad, a primary care sports medicine physician at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush with a special interest in treating dancers, performing artists, and adolescent athletes.

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra sits down with Nicolas Blanc, Ballet Master and Principal Coach for the Joffrey Ballet. Prior to his current role, Nicolas received formal dance education from a number of esteemed schools, including the Paris Opera House, and danced with a number of internationally recognized ballet companies, including the Nice Opera Ballet, the Zurich Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet. Blanc garnered countless awards spanning multiple continents and was even recognized as one of the "Top 25 to Watch" by Dance Magazine.

As Nicolas has come to find, the transition from dancer to coach isn't an easy one and involves, in many ways, having to reform your identity. On the podcast, Nicolas recounts his ballet journey and vulnerably shares the difficulty of moving beyond his past phase of life to his current phase of life. However, in the midst of the heartache, Blanc has positioned his current role with a positive frame of mind — that being a coach is a matter of generosity and sharing your skills to enhance the performances of future generations.

Moving Quotes:

"[When transitioning from dancer to coach], I lost so much of my identity. Because, as a dancer, so much of your value is what you produce. Our bodies are such an instrument that, once you don't work with this instrument, you have to recalibrate things."

"In changing from a dancer to a ballet master, it gives you a broader view of things. As a dancer, because you have so many demands, you have to focus on yourself or the ballerinas you're dancing with. Once you step aside, it's about refocusing your generosity — not necessarily to an audience but to the people who are around you."

"Dancers are the brushes for a painter."

"The best victories for ballet mastering is when someone tells you, 'What you said clicked in my mind like a lightbulb.' Or when you see someone that had a beautiful performance, you know that they've listened to your corrections, and because of what you gave them, their performance was enhanced in quality."

"Being a ballet master is all about sharing your knowledge and letting the dancers dance to the best of their ability."

"When I was a Principal with San Francisco Ballet, I always made a point to go see other dance forms. I would always look at other performances because I thought it was a really enriching experience, rather than staying a little bit too much in my bubble."

"I love the European dance style. When I come back and see the Paris Opera, it is so pretty and clear, and every movement is so pristine and so well-achieved. The elegance in Europe is quite unique. The European work has been praised for a reason for that."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:03: Nicolas discusses his role at the Joffrey Ballet and, at a high level, how being a ballet master differs from the life of a ballet dancer.

5:08: Nicolas shares the most difficult aspect of transitioning out of dance — having to reform your identity — and gives some encouraging words to dancers making this type of transition.

8:39: Blanc discusses some of his most recent choreography and what he's working on currently.

10:15: Nicolas retells his ballet journey and how he initially wanted to be a jazz dancer.

12:57: Blanc continues his ballet story and discusses why he especially loves the European style of dance and was able to carry over this style to his performances in America.

17:50: Nicolas shares about his positive experience with the San Francisco Ballet and his fondness for the city of San Francisco.

20:38: Nicolas discusses what's next for him, both personally as an artist and professionally as a ballet master.

Bullet List of Resources –

Nicolas Blanc

• Nicolas on the Joffrey website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra sits down with Nicolas Blanc, Ballet Master and Principal Coach for the Joffrey Ballet.

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Emily Hsu, Owner and Founder at Emily Hsu Design. Prior to being an entrepreneur, Emily was a Broadway, TV and film star, having appeared in over a dozen Broadway musicals. Hsu now runs a full activewear line — the Emily Hsu Designs collection — which is a favorite amongst the Rockettes, Broadway dancers, and top NYC fitness instructors. Her signature high-waist legging creates a sleek, smooth line and stays in place so that you can spend your time and energy getting the most out of your workout.

On the podcast, Emily discusses her accidental journey into entrepreneurship. Hsu began sewing leggings in 2014, when she had trouble finding fashionable leggings with an amazing fit at an affordable price point, but before long, these leggings — which she had only made for her family members — began receiving external attention. Emily is passionate about her product and discusses, among many other things, how that type of intense passion is necessary to succeed in the sometimes not-so-glamourous world of entrepreneurship.

Moving Quotes:

"You can create something out of nothing. This business just happened out of nothing. I don't come from a family with businesses. I dreamt it, and through hard work and perseverance, I made it happen. You can make your dreams happen too. That's what I want my brand to represent."

"You have to set very clear and achievable goals for [your employees] so that you can help them succeed and not be micromanaging every time. It's a fine line."

"I can't be somebody else. I have to be the best version of myself. I have to trust my instincts, my taste, do what I think looks beautiful — what I love. And hope that people respond, and they love it too. As opposed to trying to copy what someone else is doing."

"Just make the list — start checking things off — and just start doing. When you set and think about what may go wrong, it doesn't help. You just have to start doing one thing at a time — one foot in front of the other."

"There are so many things that people across the world deal with on a daily basis. And we're just making leggings. So it's all going to be okay."

"If you don't really love [your business], entrepreneurship is hard, and you're not going to be able to muster and stay strong through all of the challenges if you don't feel like, 'I have to do this, and I love it so much. And it means so much to me.'"

"I think it's tough for women [entrepreneurs] because we've been brought up in society to be polite and be this and be that. But it's okay to say, 'This is what I expect. This is what I want.' And ask for it."

"Don't be afraid to ask for help. Don't try to pretend to know more and be more than you are. You should be proud of every step you're on along the way."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:00: Emily tells the story behind her unintentional entry into the fashion and activewear industry.

9:25: Emily discusses how she decides on the unique patterns and product designs that her products are known for.

13:07: Hsu explains why it's important that her products are made in the United States.

14:39: Emily retells a situation in her business where failure was imminent but quick thinking and flexibility made her come out a stronger person and businesswoman.

18:15: Hsu explains how she got connected with Miss Teen USA, which did a feature on her activewear line.

19:49: Emily discusses her favorite thing about being an entrepreneur, which involves something that her clothes are known for — flexibility.

21:56: Emily shares what is, in her opinion, the most difficult thing about being an entrepreneur — knowing when and how to delegate responsibility to others.

26:15: Emily explains why believing in your business is of utmost importance as an entrepreneur.

28:16: Hsu discusses where she'd like to see her business in 5 years and shares some inspirational thoughts around hard work and perseverance.

Bullet List of Resources –

Emily Hsu

• LinkedIn

Emily Hsu Design

• Company Website

• Instagram

• Facebook

• Twitter

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Emily Hsu, Owner and Founder at Emily Hsu Design.

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra chats with Mariaelena Ruiz, a dance prodigy, dance coach and, now, Co-Owner and Director of the Professional Training Program at Cary Ballet Conservatory. Ruiz has danced professionally since the young age of 14 with several esteemed ballet companies. Since an injury forced her to step away from dance, Mariaelena has since fallen in love with teaching, having taught 14 years at the Rock School for Dance Education and, now, teaching at her own conservatory.

On the podcast, Ruiz's love for teaching really shines through, as she covers a plethora of topics including the importance of finding (and holding onto) a good teacher, the positives and negatives of modern technology, how to fight through the lie of instant gratification, and much more. Additionally, Mariaelena spends ample time covering her own story and relays some advice for any aspiring dancers looking to follow in her footsteps.

Moving Quotes:

"Teaching found me and saved me."

"If you don't find a teacher that's going to get the best out of you, you are probably going to get lost in the shuffle."

"[With the next generation], I want to teach them all of the amazing things about the art form [of dance], but also remind them that, in life, this is not going to happen tomorrow."

"I want to bring our art with us moving forward as a society, but I don't want us to lose that classical feel. It still has to be an amazing piece of art."

[On owning her own dance school] "It's been very very difficult. Would I do it again? Absolutely. And I've learned a lot."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

2:32: Mariaelena discusses the two reasons why she originally became involved with ballet and how she was fortunate to have the teachers that she did as she was learning the art.

5:47: Mariaelena describes her love of teaching and how teaching helped her get through an extremely difficult time in her life.

11:20: Ruiz discusses her current role — Co-owner and Director of the Cary Ballet Conservatory — and the benefits and challenges to owning and running your own business.

15:36: Mariaelena looks back at her time as a teacher at the Rock School of Ballet and tells how that opportunity "shaped" her into who she is today.

19:37: Ruiz speaks on the future of dance and her desire to teach the future generation to put in the hard work and not believe the lie of instant gratification.

24:56: Ruiz explains how parents and teachers can fight against the myth of instant gratification that's pushed by things like technology and social media.

28:44: Mariaelena gives some advice to aspiring dancers and to dancers who are currently considering other opportunities in dance-related fields.

33:04: Mariaelena lists out some goals she'd like to achieve in the next five years — both personal goals and professional goals.

Bullet List of Resources –

Mariaelena Ruiz

• Personal Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

Cary Ballet Conservatory

• Company Website

• Instagram

• Facebook

• Twitter

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra chats with Mariaelena Ruiz, a dance prodigy, dance coach and, now, Co-Owner and Director of the Professional Training Program at Cary Ballet Conservatory.

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Emily Harrison, a registered dietitian nutritionist, public speaker, and experienced writer, who has worked alongside hundreds of dancers to encourage healthy eating and positive body image. Emily, who is an elite-level ballet dancer, has garnered both a bachelor's and a master's degree in nutrition from Georgia State University. She now resides in Atlanta, Georgia and spearheads her own private practice — Nutrition for Great Performances — where she counsels dancers and athletes on healthy living.

On the podcast, Emily spends some time describing her experience as a dancer and, currently, as an entrepreneur and elaborates on what drew her towards nutrition in the first place. Emily spends some time walking through the importance of nutrition for dancers and walks through the diet that she considers integral for active performers. Emily also speaks on the nature of success and how we can achieve our goals, as long as we're being driven by a singular focus.

Moving Quotes:

"If you're going to be a dancer, your body is literally your instrument."

"[Nutrition is] more than just pounds on a scale."

"My message to dancers is always, number one, that you have to eat. But, number two, you have to be strategic and smart about what you eat."

"In athletics, you see many more people understanding the value and impact of nutrition, but in the dance world, we're slow to come to that. And I think we're experiencing a Renaissance in that thinking now."

"So many times, my clients will say, 'I just a want to be a dancer.' Well, what does that mean? What company? Who are your favorite choreographers? Who are your idols? Where is your body type a right fit? … It's a tough field. You have to have such single-minded focus. You have to give everything you've got to this career."

"Having a private practice has been a real blessing in my life because I can be there for my kids when they need me, but I can also have a career as well. I think the flexibility of the nutrition field has been a real benefit in my life."

"The kinds of diets I put my clients on are not only performance enhancing and injury preventing, but they also help dancers, frankly, look better in tights."

"One of the most challenging things about being an entrepreneur is that I have to do it all."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:25: Emily discusses the point in her life when nutrition became a field of interest for her and the importance of nutrition to dancers' lives.

7:26: Emily shares some information about her own business — Nutrition for Great Performances — and the different ways her business helps clients.

10:34: Emily explains the diet that she believes has most to offer for active dancers — smaller, more frequent meals.

15:20: Harrison describes what drew her towards the field of nutrition and what she loves most about being an entrepreneur.

19:02: Harrison explains the most rewarding and most challenging aspects of entrepreneurship.

21:41: Emily gives some advice for aspiring dancers or entrepreneurs in dance-related fields, largely centered around having a singular focus and pushing towards that goal.

25:17: Emily discusses what's next for her in the field of nutrition and how our own personal nutrition choices could help save the planet.

Bullet List of Resources –

Emily Harrison

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Nutrition for Great Performances

• Company Website

• Facebook

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra interviews Emily Harrison, a registered dietitian nutritionist, public speaker, and experienced writer, who has worked alongside hundreds of dancers to encourage healthy eating and positive body image.

This week on 5.6.7.EIGHT, Aleksandra sits down with Kathryn Morgan, an accomplished ballerina who, in spite of an autoimmune illness, has become a multimedia dance superstar — running a YouTube channel nearing 160,000 subscribers, recording her own podcast, and writing a regular column for Dance Spirit Magazine. Kathryn studied at the School of American Ballet, danced for the New York City Ballet, and is currently a soloist at the Miami City Ballet. Morgan also serves as a judge for the Youth America Grand Prix.

Kathryn's story is one filled with determination, perseverance, and reinvention. Kathryn, who saw an early rise to ballet prominence, was hired onto the New York City Ballet at the young age of 17, but just years later, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that forced her to step away from the stage for 7 years. However, in her time away, Kathryn birthed an incredible online presence and has ultimately now found her way back to the stage. On the podcast, Kathryn walks through her entire journey and recaps incredible lessons that she's picked from her eventful life, which are many.

Moving Quotes:

"[With critics] you have two choices. You can either agree with them or disagree with them. And it's a matter not of what they think but of how you react to it."

"Don't let other people put you down… It's not me trying to prove [my critics] wrong. It's me trying to prove to myself that, no, I'm not any of that. And I have more to offer. And that's no matter what field you're in."

"I know so many people have big ideas and goals, and yes, you need to think positive. But if you don't act on those goals — if you don't go for it — you can't just wish things into happening."

"[In auditions], the judges only see 50 percent of your solo. Because during the other 50 percent, they're looking down, writing. So, if something goes wrong, don't let it throw you off… Mistakes don't necessarily count against you. It's how you handle them."

"If you want to be a dancer, you have to have the proper training. It's not one of those careers you can wish to happen. You've got to put in the work for it."

[On overcoming adversity] "I didn't want to tell that little 3-year-old me that you're done. I've worked my whole life to be in this industry, and just to have it end was not an option for me. So, I was going to try and stay relevant however I could."

Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

2:16: Kathryn walks through her entire story, from her quick rise to her sudden fall to finding unforeseen success in a new arena to being reunited with the artform she loves.

11:24: Kathryn speaks on the origins of her personal branding and discusses how her YouTube topics come to be.

13:10: Kathryn describes the mixture of emotions she felt as she, after 7 years, made her return to dance with the Miami City Ballet.

14:52: Morgan discusses how she stayed in dance-ready shape through her time away from the ballet spotlight.

17:10: Morgan shares what she believes may be the source of her entrepreneurial "go-getter" spirit.

18:38: Kathryn discusses what she hopes others will learn from her incredible life journey and gives some wise words on fighting back against adversity.

21:37: Kathryn shares a hilarious story about an on-stage blunder during a rather emotionally-charged scene.

24:37: Kathryn gives some details around her quarterly subscription box, full of themed ballet goodies.

27:52: Kathryn shares some tips on leaving a lasting impression in the audition process, including one extremely valuable piece of advice that she has learned since being in the judge's chair.

33:47: Morgan, who has traveled quite a bit, gives some advice on staying healthy and dance-ready while enduring long bouts of travel.

41:56: Kathryn rounds out the podcast by discussing what people can do, practically, to achieve their dreams in dance or in entrepreneurship.

Bullet List of Resources –

Kathryn Morgan

• Personal Website
• YouTube
• Instagram