Broche Banter | Adult ballet training, philosophy, & inspiration

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Grace, a passionate dancer and performer,  as we dive into the art of choreography. Discover the magic of telling stories and expressing emotions through the universal language of movement, without a single word.

We’ll explore practical steps to start choreographing your own piece, from finding inspiration to navigating the exhilarating ups and downs of the creative process—a journey that’s challenging yet deeply rewarding.

🌟 Dance is a powerful way to communicate, inviting you to learn, experiment, and grow with every step. The world is waiting for your unique stories—bring them to life in your own beautiful way.

Ready to take the stage? The International Adult Ballet Festival offers dancers of all levels the space, the support, and the spotlight to showcase their choreography and shine.

https://www.internationaladultballetfestival.com/

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Alexandra, who began her ballet journey at a young age, fueled by exceptional teachers and unwavering support. At just 14, she joined the School of American Ballet in New York, but her path was not without challenges, as she faced various injuries. Undeterred, Alexandra went on to dance with the Los Angeles Ballet.

There, she trained Mila Kunis for her iconic role in Black Swan 🎬–an experience that transformed Alexandra’s life forever. For the first time in her career, she found her voice and the confidence to stand up for herself, eventually leading her to leave Los Angeles and join the New Chamber Ballet in New York.

After stepping away from performing to embrace life as a full-time mother, she took time to heal from the wounds of her ballet career. When her daughter began dancing, she rediscovered her passion for ballet and returned to teaching, reminding us all to dance for ourselves, embrace freedom in movement, and find joy in the art form.

Join us for a heartfelt conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the power of dancing freely 🖤🤍.

This week opens with Julie sharing exciting personal news 🤗🎉 before diving into her transformative journey from food anxiety to body awareness.

Learn how Julie developed an intuitive relationship with eating, discovering ways to distinguish between true hunger, fatigue, and emotional needs. She shares practical insights about intermittent fasting (time-restricted eating, not calorie restriction), explains how sleep quality influences hunger patterns, and reveals her personal supplement routine that supports her active lifestyle.

As dancers, we demand a lot from our bodies. We hope this helps motivate you to discover how to best fuel and nurture your amazing body so you can dance as much as you want! 💖🩰

Ever feel like fitting ballet into your busy life is harder than the practice itself? What if we told you there's a way to approach your ballet journey like a well-managed project?

In this inspiring episode, Julie shares her proven strategies for making time for what we love most — ballet. Drawing from her experience organizing the International Adult Ballet Festival (IABF), she reveals practical insights that will transform how you manage your dance journey.

Whether you're struggling to fit in regular classes or juggling other projects, Julie's structured approach will help you make the most of your time. Together, we'll explore ways to maintain momentum in times of doubt, frustration, or overwhelm and make sure we never give up on what we love so much.

Join us for this practical yet uplifting episode that will help you dance more and stress less! ✨🩰

Ever notice how we use the word "beginner" to mean different things? In this episode, we break down 5 distinct ways it shows up in the ballet world:

1) Starting ballet for the first time as an adult

2) Taking beginner-level classes

3) Having a beginner's mindset (staying curious)

4) Feeling like a beginner (even when you're not)

5) Beginning again after a break

We explore why this deceptively simple word causes so much confusion and offer guidance to help you navigate your place in ballet. Plus, we uncover an intriguing paradox: Why do some fundamentals actually get harder as we advance?

Finally, we examine when the "beginner" label serves us and when it holds us back. 🩰

What’s your take on this? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

We are thrilled to welcome Sylvia, who studies at Tournesol Dance Studio with our recent guest Erica. After leaving track at 17, Sylvia discovered her passion for ballet and has since explored various styles, including modern, jazz, and tap dance.

In this heartfelt conversation, Sylvia openly shares how she navigates social anxiety and autism, revealing how performing on stage has become an unexpected joy in her life.

Tune in and be inspired by her deep love for dance and her adventurous spirit.

Also, catch Sylvia performing as one of the witches in this year's “Nightmare Before Christmas”! ✨🩰

In this episode, Julie shares her insights on progress in ballet, revealing how growth happens across four essential dimensions: physical, mental, emotional, and artistic.

Whether you're worried about losing progress during a break or feeling stuck on a plateau, Julie offers practical, encouraging strategies to keep moving forward. Her compassionate insights remind us that progress isn't just about perfect technique, it's about becoming a more complete dancer.

Drawing from years of experience helping dancers achieve their goals, Julie breaks down how each aspect contributes to your development as a dancer and gives you specific tools to boost your progress at any level. ✨

What does progress mean for you? Share your story in the comments below! 🩰

🩰 The Adult Pointe Journey: Expert Answers with Julie

Dreaming of dancing en pointe? This week, Julie demystifies the journey from first pre-pointe class to that magical moment of rising onto your toes.

Drawing from years of teaching experience, Julie addresses your burning questions about adult pointe work. Discover why pre-pointe training includes both seated and standing exercises, understand the role of demi-pointe shoes, and find out about the unique challenges and the magic of starting pointe as an adult.

Whether you're dreaming about your first pair of pointe shoes or already dancing en pointe, this episode offers clear, practical guidance specifically tailored for adult dancers. Julie's unique understanding of adult students' needs shines through as she shares expert insights to help you progress safely and confidently.

Join us for this Q & A that will leave you both informed and inspired! 🩰✨

Have questions about pointe work? Drop them in the comments below!

Join us for the powerful conclusion to our three-part ballet series! We welcome back Leigh Purtill, Kelsay Maloney-Steiner, Jessica Maddox, and Ashley Caranto Morford for an inspiring discussion about inclusivity and increasing the visibility and value of amateur dancers.

Through personal stories, they reveal how they create safe spaces for women to reconnect with their bodies and claim their right to take up space.

Join us in this passionate conversation, reminding us that this beautiful art form belongs to everyone who loves it. ✨💫

Ashley - @ashley_tenduing

Jessica - @facetdancecollective

Kelsey - @facetdancecollective

Leigh - @leighpurtillballetcompany

Welcome back to Broche Banter! In this compelling continuation of our conversation, we welcome back Erica Centola, Leigh Purtill, and Kelsay Maloney-Steiner, joined by fresh voices Jessica Maddox, Leigh Grant, Ashley Caranto Morford, and Elizabeth Blosfield for an honest discussion about ballet.Each passionate artistic director shares their unique views on preserving ballet's magic while challenging traditions and creating new stories.Get ready for an inspiring dialogue that questions the boundaries between classical and contemporary ballet and explores how to nurture their students' authenticity while creating engaging performances for today's audiences.Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments! 💭✨Ashley - @ashley_tenduingEizabeth - Adult Ballet Studio PodcastErica - @tournesoldance & @rochesteradultballetcompanyJessica - @facetdancecollectiveKelsey - @facetdancecollectiveLeigh - @cadenza.balletLeigh - @leighpurtillballetcompany