Leigh Purtill Ballet Company is an LA-based non-profit adult ballet company, and artistic director Leigh Purtill joined the studio this month to talk about its mission of bringing ballet to everyone! We chatted about the need for more women in leadership roles in ballet, breaking boundaries with storytelling and reaching those who don't fit the mold of the perfect dancer, zombies and a spooky-themed ballet (it is October, after all!), and how Leigh went from feeling frustrated with ballet in college to rediscovering its joys through teaching adults. Check out her interview!

Music in this episode:

Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky

Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod

Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

@eblosfield | [email protected]

Support this podcast on Patreon! ⁠https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link⁠

Two guests are in the studio this month! Jana Carson, professional photographer for the Oklahoma City Ballet, and Abby Hudgins, ballet instructor, mom and former pro dancer, chatted with me about founding Ballerinas by Night, a support community that provides resources for adults who are beginning or continuing their dance education. Both have been dancing since they were kids but took a break before re-connecting with ballet in adulthood. We talk about what that was like, how they decided it was time for a break, and ultimately, what led them back to ballet. A few tears were shed as we reflected on how important friendships and communities are in the dance world, and we talked about how dancers can work through barriers to entry in ballet like body image, financial challenges, competition, and physical demands.

Music in this episode:

Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky

Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod

Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

@eblosfield | [email protected]

Support this podcast on Patreon! ⁠https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link⁠

Hello and welcome to the first episode of The Adult Ballet Studio! Joining the studio is Patricia Pyrka, ballet technique level 3 teacher, coach for adult ballet beginners, and blogger at Ballet Misfits. She began ballet at age 37 and in just eight years, was accepted into Canada's National Ballet School for its teacher training program. She talks about the audition process (including failing her first audition and trying again three years later!), what she's learning about movement and perseverance from her son who has a physical disability, and why she's passionate about teaching adults ballet.

Music in this episode:

Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky

Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod

Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100310

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

@eblosfield | [email protected]

Support this podcast on Patreon! ⁠https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link⁠