Ballet Memphis is redefining what it means to be a ballet company. In this conversation, Artistic Director Steven McMahon and Academy Co-Directors Virginia and Brandon Ramey discuss how they’ve built a company that belongs to its city, one that reflects Memphis’s energy, diversity, and creative spirit. They also talk about the realities of running a regional company, the importance of representation on and off the stage, and their belief that ballet’s future depends on connection to community.

Learn more about Ballet Memphis on their website.

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Eva Stone believes every young woman in ballet should learn to choreograph, and she is on a mission to make that happen. In this episode, the Pacific Northwest Ballet faculty member shares why she sees choreography as essential to developing artistic confidence, voice, and agency in female dancers. She talks about her New Voices program, which gives young women the opportunity to create their own work, and how the experience transforms the way they approach dance, creativity, and leadership. Eva also reflects on her own unconventional path to PNB, the importance of building resilience through rejection, and why empowering dancers to think and create for themselves is key to the future of ballet.

Learn more about Eva on her website.

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Dancer Daria Breslin shares her path from early training in Maryland to professional life with City Ballet of San Diego. She talks about the lessons learned at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Nashville Ballet, the importance of mentorship and community, and the realities of auditions and feedback. Daria’s story offers an honest look at what it takes to stay grounded, grow as an artist, and find your place in the ballet world. 

Learn more about Daria on her Instagram: @daria.ballerina18/

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Music from #Uppbeat:

https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future

License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

Eugene Ballet has grown from a small regional company into a thriving school and professional ensemble. Founder Toni Pimble, Artistic Director Jennifer Martin, and School Director Sara Lombardi discuss the company’s journey, their approach to dancer training, including how dancers in their Aspirant program move into the company, as well as how they’re shaping ballet’s future in Oregon and beyond.

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License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

In this episode of #NoThirds, we sit down with Fran Veyette, co-founder of Veyette Virtual Ballet School, to talk about the realities of ballet training and the role parents play in a dancer’s journey. Fran shares why training smarter is more important than training harder, what families should consider when choosing summer intensives, and how experiences in a company setting can shape a dancer’s future.

We also look at the parenting side of ballet, including how to support your child while letting them face disappointment, why every child needs a different approach, and the life skills dancers should build early to prepare for a professional career.

For parents and dancers, this episode offers practical insights into navigating the highs, lows and big decisions of pre-professional training.

Interested in working with Fran at Veyette Virtual Ballet School? Check out our Back to Dance Guide for an  exclusive discount.

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Music from #Uppbeat:

https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future

License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

Davit Karapetyan, Director of The School of Philadelphia Ballet, joins us to talk about how the school is structured and how dancers move through its levels, from the pre-professional program to PBII and beyond. He explains how auditions are evaluated, what adjudicators look for, and the common mistakes dancers should avoid.

We also dig into how scholarships are awarded and renewed, the housing available to students, and what families should consider when deciding if it is time to move to a company-affiliated school. Karapetyan discusses the realities of career planning at the postgraduate level, how many dancers transition into PBII and the main company, and the skills students need both inside and outside the studio before leaving home for residential training.

Finally, he shares his perspective on navigating the financial realities of ballet, managing expectations in a competitive field, and what he wishes young dancers and parents better understood about the path to a professional career.

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Music from #Uppbeat:

https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future

License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

Deanna Seay, Training Coordinator at the School of Richmond Ballet, joins us to talk about how dancers move through the school, from early training to the pre-professional program, trainee level, and second company. She explains what adjudicators look for in auditions (and common mistakes), how scholarships work at different levels, and why not all of Richmond Ballet’s trainees come from full-time training backgrounds. We also cover when families should consider a company-affiliated school, the culture Richmond Ballet aims to foster, and how students are prepared for both company life and a sustainable professional career.

Read Reviews of The School of Richmond Ballet

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Music from #Uppbeat:

https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future

License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

This is the first episode in our new Dancer Stories series, where professional dancers share their training paths their move into company life. Jaya Dhand talks about her experience at Indiana University, how she got hired by Ballet West 2, and her recent promotion to the main company. She explains the choices that shaped her training, what the audition process was like, and how she adjusted to professional life. Jaya also shares what she wishes she’d known as a student, the realities of dancer finances, and her advice for those preparing to go pro.

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Music from #Uppbeat:

https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future

License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

Former Pacific Northwest Ballet principals Sarah and Seth Orza share their training backgrounds, the hardest parts of becoming professionals, and the advice that shaped their paths. They talk about company moves, the realities of life onstage, and the transition into founding Orza ballet shoes. The conversation covers prototyping, manufacturing, and the role of their ballet network in building the business, as well as how their experiences as dancers continue to guide their work today.

If you want to try out Orza brand shoes, find exclusive discounts on our website.

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• Shop Our Back to Dance Guide
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Music from #Uppbeat:

https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future

License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

Fran shares more advice for students in Part 2 of #NoThirds: how respect and awareness shape auditions, why community matters, and what young dancers should know about contracts and career readiness.

Interested in working with Fran at Veyette Virtual Ballet School? Check out our Back to Dance Guide for an exclusive discount.

Links:

• Shop Our Back to Dance Guide
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• Instagram: @BalletHelpDesk
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Music from #Uppbeat:

https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future

License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI