Backstage is a Ballet Science bonus series featuring short reflections on lessons learned as a professional ballerina and ballet teacher, and how biomechanics and research later helped explain them. Quick insights at the intersection of studio experience and science.

If you’ve ever wanted to try ballet as an adult... or you’ve started but something feels harder than it should... this video is for you.

In this Ballet Science: Backstage episode, I break down five of the most common mistakes adult ballet students make. These are not failures... they’re completely normal patterns I see again and again as someone who teaches adult ballet and studies movement science.

We talk about:

• Why intimidation keeps so many adults from ever starting
• How the wrong class or teacher can make ballet feel impossible
• Why adult dancers often feel “behind” (and why that’s not true)
• The risks of forcing turnout, flexibility, or ballet “shape”
• Why ballet progress is not linear, especially for adults

From a biomechanics and motor learning perspective, adult dancers bring unique strengths to ballet: focus, body awareness, and the ability to understand complex movement concepts. Ballet doesn’t have to hurt, overwhelm you, or feel discouraging to be effective.

🩰 Adult ballet is about working with your body, not against it. You don’t need to feel ready. You just need to begin.

💬 If you’re on your own adult ballet journey, I’d love to hear your story in the comments.

📌 And if there’s an adult ballet topic you want me to cover next, let me know!

Watch This Video On YouTube⁠⁠

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Hosted by Caroline Simpkins, Ph.D., the Ballet Science podcast brings science into the studio to help dancers of all ages and abilities give their best performances both onstage and off, and reveals how the science of ballet can benefit anyone who moves.

Each week, we explore the intersection of science and ballet... from injury prevention and biomechanics to nutrition, mindset, and everything in between. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button, leave a review, and share it with your friends and dance community. You can also follow Ballet Science on social media and visit our website for additional information.

Filming Equipment Affiliate Links:

• ⁠⁠⁠Microphone⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠Pop Filter⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠Mic Stand⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠Prompter⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠Large Key Light⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠Small Key Light⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠Eve Flare Light⁠⁠⁠

Logo Photo: Richard Calmes