After Class: The Adult Ballet Podcast

Where do your eyes go when you're dancing? If your honest answer is the mirror.. or the floor... or the dancer in front of you... you're in good company! As adult dancers, most of us are never told exactly where to look. But eyeline is one of the simplest ways to make your dancing look more expansive, expressive and natural, and it's something you can start working on in your very next class!

I'm joined again by Chelsea Weidmann, also known as the Geeky Ballerina, for the next episode of our series on the elements of artistry, as she defined and explored them in her thesis on artistry in ballet. We dig into what eyeline actually is, why it's such a powerful tool, and how a clear eyeline choice can steady your penché and even improve your turns.

Chelsea also shares her guiding principles for those moments when no one has told you where to look: why you should look three inches higher than you think, when following your hand is the right call (spoiler: almost always), and why your eyes and your head need to move together. We also talk about why taking your eyes off the mirror can feel so vulnerable, why it's such a powerful act of self-trust, and why video gives you more honest feedback than the mirror can (it's science)!

Plus, don't miss Chelsea's brand-new Ballet Artistry Deck, which was inspired by this very series! She's offering After Class listeners 20% off through the end of October with code AFTERCLASS20 at www.geekyballerina.com 👩🏻‍💻

EPISODE SPONSOR: LABL ACTIVE
Join me next summer at the LABL Active Adult Ballet Retreat! Beginner-level spots are still open. (Wait list available for other levels.) Use code AFTERCLASS100 at checkout for $100 off your registration fee.
DATES: June 20-25, 2027 in Seattle, WA
🔗 Register at lablactive.com

RÉVÉRENCE: WORSHIP THROUGH BALLET
A new monthly Zoom class for adult dancers. A gentle barre warm-up, then a short piece of choreography set to worship music, with the focus on flow, artistry, and being present. Led by professional dancer & choreographer Sarah Ekstrom. All levels welcome!
DATE: Saturday, October 17 at 9 am PT
🔗 Sign up at www.thebusybunhead.com

CONNECT WITH CHELSEA 👇🏼
Ballet Artistry Deck (Use code AFTERCLASS20 for 20% off through Oct 31) at www.geekyballerina.com
Chelsea's Book: Artistry Inside Ballet Technique (affiliate link)

Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunhead

Explore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.com

Podcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.
www.MissionBridgeMedia.com

After Class is a podcast for adult ballet dancers: beginners, dancers returning after years away, and anyone balancing training alongside a busy life. Because ballet as an adult comes with its own questions, challenges and joys, and this show is here for all of it. 

I'm Hannah, and when I started dancing as an adult, I struggled to find content I could relate to. There was plenty made by professionals, but not much from the perspective of the adult ballet student. So now I create the content I was looking for. And we're diving into the questions adult dancers ask most: ballet technique, pointe, artistry, mindset, injury prevention and recovery, and training for longevity. 

Along with solo episodes, you'll hear conversations with experts like strength trainers, ballet teachers, physical therapists, mindset coaches and dietitians, and interviews with fellow adult dancers from around the world.

If you've ever driven home from class with more questions than answers, felt like you started too late, or wondered if there's a place for you in the ballet world... you're not alone. And you belong here. 🩷

Press play to hear more, then follow the show so you never miss an episode.

Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunhead

Explore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.com

Podcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.
www.MissionBridgeMedia.com

If you've ever thought about signing up for an adult ballet retreat or intensive, you know the internal debate that comes with it: Is it worth the money? Is it worth the time off work? Will I spend the week feeling in over my head? I asked myself every one of those questions. This week, I'm handing the mic over to someone with all the answers...

I'm joined by Maria Montanez, whose adult ballet events I've personally attended and trusted for five years running. In 2022, she co-founded KM & Friends with Kathryn Morgan, and together they built one of the most beloved adult ballet retreats in this community. This past year, Maria took over LABL Active, the dancewear brand now hosting it.

We get into everything practical before summer 2027: dates, location, what a typical day looks like, and how to choose which level is right for you.

If you're on the fence about your first retreat, this episode is for you. And spots in the beginner & intermediate level are still open (as of 9/23/26)!

📣 Use code AFTERCLASS100 at checkout for $100 off when you register HERE. 

RETREAT DETAILS
📍LOCATION: Seattle, WA
📅 DATES: June 20 - 25, 2027
💳 Payment plans available if you register before October 15, 2026

QUESTIONS? CONNECT WITH MARIA 👇🏼
Instagram: @labl.active
Email: [email protected]

Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunhead

Explore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.com

Podcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.
www.MissionBridgeMedia.com

If you're an adult dancer, chances are most of your training happens in a studio with a big mirror at the front of the room. It's easy to let that mirror become your main reference point for whether something looks right. But the mirror can only show you one flat angle of movement that's actually happening in three dimensions.

In this episode, I'm joined again by Chelsea Weidmann (also know as The Geeky Ballerina) for the next installment in our ongoing series on the elements of artistry, as she defined & explored them in her thesis on Artistry in Ballet. This time we're digging into awareness and use of three-dimensional space: what it actually means to move beyond the mirror, why relying on it too heavily can work against us, and how we can start filling the space around us with more intention & presence.

We also get into intentional mirrorless training, and why Chelsea has started shifting her own advanced classes away from the mirror entirely (a shift that can be especially meaningful for dancers navigating body image struggles). And for anyone preparing a variation, Chelsea breaks down how thinking about who else is "in the room" with you on stage can completely change how a piece reads.

If you've ever wanted to feel more present in your dancing (instead of just watching it reflected back at you in the mirror), this episode is for you! ✨

“Although we often think of sky as something above us, in fact we are standing in it, all the way to the soles of our feet.”  — Andrea Olsen, Body and Earth

CONNECT WITH CHELSEA 👇🏼
Website: geekyballerina.com
Book: Artistry Inside Ballet Technique (affiliate link)
Instagram: @geekyballerina

Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunhead

Explore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.com

Podcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.
www.MissionBridgeMedia.com

If theraband work has been the foundation of your ankle-strengthening routine, this episode is going to change the game for you...

I'm joined again by fan-favorite guest, Allie Christensen, Founder of the Dancer Strong platform, and a strength and conditioning coach who works specifically with adult dancers. We discuss why relying on your theraband alone won't build the strength your feet and ankles actually need for ballet, including a study comparing dancers who trained with resistance bands to dancers who did loaded strength work instead. We also cover the early, easy-to-overlook signs that your feet and ankles may need more support than you realize.

This conversation also gets into what "wobbling" in a balance is actually telling you, an efficient warm-up you can start using before class, the specific cue to safegaurd how you land jumps, and a current, science-backed approach to recovering from a sprained ankle.

Whether you're working through jump anxiety, an unstable balance, recovery from an injury, or simply want to feel more grounded in class, this episode offers real, practical strength work you can start using, even with just ten minutes, twice a week.

If you're ready to bulletproof your feet & ankles for ballet, this conversation is for you!

⚠️ PLEASE NOTE: This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are experiencing persistent pain or symptoms, please consult a licensed medical professional.

CONNECT WITH ALLIE 👇🏼
Book a FREE discovery call to discuss your ballet goals HERE.
Website: dancerstrongprograms.com
Instagram: @alignfitnessbyallie

Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunhead

Explore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.com

Podcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.
www.MissionBridgeMedia.com

If you're an adult dancer, you probably know this feeling: the teacher gives the combination once, maybe twice if you're lucky, and then the music starts... and somewhere around count five, your brain goes completely blank. 

In this episode, I'm digging into something almost every single one of us has struggled with: remembering choreography. It's easy to write this off as a gift you're either born with or you're not — some people just "have a good memory" and some people don't. But I'm pushing back on that, because the research says otherwise. Memorizing choreography is a trainable skill, and it works a lot like a muscle: something you can actually strengthen with use, the same way you build strength in your body.

I'm walking through seven specific strategies (plus one bonus for performers) that have made a real difference in how fast and confident I feel picking up combinations, whether I'm at the barre, in center, or getting ready to perform.

If picking up combinations feels hard for you right now, that doesn't mean you're permanently bad at it. It probably just means it's a skill you haven't intentionally trained yet. And here's how you can start.... 

Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunhead

Explore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.com

Podcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.
www.MissionBridgeMedia.com

Ask someone to picture a ballet dancer, and posture is probably the first thing that comes to mind — that effortless, upright poise that reads as ballerina the second you see it. But if you've ever felt like you struggle to achieve it as an adult dancer, you're not alone!

In this episode, I'm joined again by Chelsea Weidmann for the next installment in our ongoing series on the elements of artistry, as she defined & unpacked them in her thesis on artistry in ballet. This time we're digging into the fundamentals of ballet posture: what it actually is, how to work on it, and what it allows us to accomplish technically that we couldn't otherwise.

We also talk about the difference between posture that's technically correct but reads as flat, and posture that reads as intentional and alive. And for anyone who performs, Chelsea breaks down how a character's posture can shift over the course of a ballet (hello, Giselle) and how you can use those shifts to support your own artistry both onstage and in the studio. 

If you've ever wanted your posture to look more confident and effortless, or wondered how to use it to support your artistry, this episode is for you! ✨

CONNECT WITH CHELSEA 👇🏼

 Website: geekyballerina.com 

Book: Artistry Inside Ballet Technique (affiliate link) 

Instagram: @geekyballerina

Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunhead

Explore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.com

Podcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.
www.MissionBridgeMedia.com

If you’ve ever walked out of ballet class replaying every mistake in your head — the turn you fell out of, the combination you messed up, the step that just won’t click — you’re not alone...

As adult dancers, we often hold ourselves to incredibly high standards. And while that drive can be a powerful motivator, it can also quietly take the joy out of dancing, and even sabotage our progress.

In this episode, I’m joined by Kirsten Kemp, a high-performance mindset coach who works specifically with dancers, to talk about how perfectionism shows up in ballet training and what to do instead.

We talk about why perfectionism can derail your class experience, what’s happening in your brain when you spiral after messing up, and simple tools you can use in the moment to reset and stay engaged.

Kirsten also shares her perspective on “mentally budgeting” for mistakes, how to set realistic expectations without lowering your standards, and how to stay motivated even during seasons of slow progress.

If you’re someone who cares deeply about improving but often find yourself  frustrated, discouraged, or defeated, this episode is your road map to renewed confidence and joy!

👉🏼 Connect with Kirsten: 

Website: kirstenkemp.com

Instagram: @kirsten_theconfidentdancer

✨ This Episode is Sponsored By:

Apolla Performance:
Compression socks designed for support, recovery, and injury prevention for dancers. 
Shop here: https://rstr.co/apollaperformance/thebusybunhead

Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunhead

Explore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.com

Podcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.
www.MissionBridgeMedia.com

In this episode, I'm sharing some of my favorite ballet hacks. The tips, tricks, and discoveries that have made my life as an adult dancer easier and more comfortable.😄

Some I figured out on my own, some were passed along by teachers or fellow dancers, and all of them are just too good not to share, like:

• The game-changing nipple cover option for those who want a little extra coverage
• Using toe spacers in your ballet slippers (NOT just for pointe shoes) to reduce bunion discomfort
• The waistband modifications that will change how you feel in your tights 
• How to turn convertible tights into stirrup tights so you can wear the brands you actually love
• A simple spray that fixes heel slippage in pointe shoe (plus a bonus tip that makes it even more effective)
• A hack for healthier, happier hair (while you dance) 

PRODUCTS MENTIONED 🔗

Nipple Covers by Cakes (grippy version)

Toe Spacers by Russian Pointe (size medium)

Spray Rosin by Bloch

Hair Mask by RCA Skincare (use code AFTERCLASS10 for 10% off your order!)

EPISODE SPONSOR ✨

Frenchies Hairpins
The official brand for ballerinas who love a good hair moment! Shop premium hairpins and new luxury scrunchies in real silk and luxurious velvet.
https://frenchieshairpins.com | Code AFTERCLASS10 for 10% off!

Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunhead

Explore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.com

Podcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.
www.MissionBridgeMedia.com

You've conquered the basics en pointe.... So now what? This is the final episode in my three-part series on the adult pointe journey with Julie of Broche Ballet, who has coached hundreds of adult dancers (myself included) through their pointe journeys.

In this episode, we talk about how to build a sustainable, realistic training plan around a busy adult life, why short frequent practice sessions are so effective, the recovery habits that will support your body for the long haul, how to work through the fear of learning new steps, and why play might be the single most important ingredient you're missing.

If you've ever felt like you're stuck in a rut, wondering how to actually reach your goals, this is the episode for you. It's the perfect way to close out this series, and I think it's going to change how you think about your own pointe journey. 🩰

Disclaimer: This episode is NOT a substitute for an individual evaluation, so make sure you're approved by a qualified teacher and fitted by a professional before going on pointe. It's also not medical advice, so please consult a licensed medical professional about any injuries or pain.

CONNECT WITH JULIE & BROCHE BALLET👇🏼 

Instagram: @brocheballet 

Website: brocheballet.com 

Free Pointe Readiness Self-Assessment: https://app.brocheballetonline.com/pointe/self-assessment

Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunhead

Explore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.com

Podcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.
www.MissionBridgeMedia.com