The Balanced Ballerinas Podcast

Finis Jhung! Where do I even begin?!
It’s been an absolute dream of mine to speak with Finis for over a year now and I always thought I’d contact him when I had plans to travel to New York so we could meet and perhaps do this interview in person...
However with the current pandemic, isolation blah blah blah (everyone’s sick of hearing about it!) I thought there’s no better time than the present. So I sent him a little message and was so delighted when he was not only quick but eager in his response.
Now I knew his story would be good, but I was not prepared for just HOW GOOD it truly is.
At 83 years old Finis gives us a glimpse into the 1960’s where the ballet world was very different to the world it is today!
During this conversation we begin with his love of practising Hula and Ballet as a young one to the time he spent serving his country in the war. Then we bounce from dancing and travelling around the world staying in 5 star hotels to his epiphany by a hotel pool which led him into Buddhism.
If I’m honest, this story (this journey!) is the perfect escape during a time like this. So I want you to pour a cup of tea, sit back and relax whilst enjoying Finis’ incredible story and infectious enthusiasm. And what an amazing story teller Finis is. In fact I usually put a few more details into these introductions, but to be honest I’m not going to spoil or share too much more as no one tells this story better than the man himself.
But what I will say is that Finis does what he believes in. Finis doesn’t care about the rules of classical ballet and yet teaches (in my opinion) one of the most pure versions of it. He is unapologetic and hates laziness. And because of these things, I absolutely love him.
You are going to love Finis and I usually reserve my recommendations to the end, but if you’re after more you can purchase his book directly from finisjhung.com
Grit & Grace, Georgia
IG @balancedballerinas & @thebalancedballerina www.balancedballerinas.com

Hello beautiful Balanced Ballerinas! How are you all feeling this week? I’ll be honest, I’m feeling better that last week.
If you ever feel like sharing your thoughts, feelings, questions or maybe even a photo of your current ‘home studio’ you can do so in the Private Balanced Ballerinas Facebook group… simply search, click ‘join’ and I’ll be sure to add you.
Now onto today’s guest…
Debra is a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and Dance Physiotherapist with 30 years experience in the assessment and treatment of dancers & performing artists.
Debra is also the Director of The Dancers Clinic in Sydney Australia and a lecturer in anatomy and injury prevention for dancers, teachers and allied health professionals.
In other words, she is the perfect person to bring on the podcast to discuss staying active, positive and safe whilst dancing at home during isolation.
Debra is also internationally recognised in the field of dance medicine, frequently presenting papers as an invited speaker at national & international dance medicine conferences such as the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) where she sits on the Board of Directors.
Now, if you follow me on social media or listened to the previous two solo podcast episodes since corona virus hit, you will have picked up that I’m a little concerned about everyone performing pirouettes on tiles or grande allegro in their garage.
This is why my dance studio didn’t automatically transfer our entire timetable to online in haste. Instead we slowly wound down and I did what I do best… consulted and spoke to leaders in our industry who I trust wholeheartedly.
One of my first phone calls was to friend of the pod Marie Walton-Mahon (Founder of Progressing Ballet Technique). In between converting her entire PBT syllabus into a family-friendly version complete with equipment substitutes (like skateboards instead of swiss balls!) to keep everyone active during this time, Marie so kindly took my calls and introduced me to Debra.
Little did Marie know that Debra has actually been on my list (yes I have a list!) of dream guests for the podcast for quite some time now, so I jumped at the opportunity to do a remote interview.
I think it’s really important to prioritise our physical and mental health during this time. To try maintain our condition, instead of kicking new goals.
As Marie so famously says, ‘The Body is Forever’ and to compliment that I think we need to consider another friend of the pods daily mantra ‘Slow. Tender. Surrender…’ Global Lululemon Ambassador Ally Maz mentioned in episode #36 of the podcast just how important it is to listen to our bodies for our mental health and #SlowTenderSurrender couldn’t be more pertinent to the current situation.
In this episode Debra and I discuss the benefits of staying active during this time, creating a safe space to condition and train and the importance of not playing catch up when this is all over.
Debra also provides some really practical ideas, solutions and suggestions whilst sprinkling the perfect dose of encouragement to all of us who are missing our studios so very much.
It was an absolute honour to speak with Debra and I’d like to thank her for being so willing to jump at the chance to appear on the podcast and I hope we can meet and connect in real life soon…
You can find Debra at The Dancers Clinic on Facebook and contact her via email at [email protected]
Grit & Grace,
Georgia
IG @balancedballerinas IG @thebalancedballerina
Download the BB #STAYHOME Schedule here: https://www.balancedballerinas.com/shop/

I think todays conversation is all about settling into this new norm as best as we can.
I hope this conversation helps you feel less alone.
I hope you're treating yourself with kindness.
Our goal? To try put ourselves in other peoples shoes before judging them and try to not judge ourselves.
If you want to do daily live classes from dancers all around the world, then go for it. But if you feel like crawling up on the couch to watch Disney movies that’s okay too.
We are all going through an intense moment of stress and anxiety together and we need to do what feels right. What feels good.
If you’re practising at home, please be safe. Stick to the basics, move a little slower than usual and I’ll be sure to see you on social media @thebalancedballerina if you want to join in the Balanced Ballerinas #stayhome schedule.
I love you all so much and whilst we can’t hug much these days, Im sending you all a big virtual hug across the sound waves…
Georgia x

I know. I know. You don’t need another blog post, podcast episode or piece of social media content about COVID-19. But here we are! Today we talk about turning inward.
Today we talk about powering down your devices if they’re making you anxious.
Today we talk about being sensible and hygienic.
Today we talk about the importance of humour and to not feel bad about trying to find light amongst the darkness.
Today we talk about the immune system and why it’s important to take your health seriously EVERY DAY – not just when there’s a health crisis.
I don’t know anything about the coronavirus, but I do know that there’s always a sliver lining and I have some ideas at the end of this episode for you to focus your energy on...
Don't be afraid to reach out and message me on IG @thebalancedballerina or @balancedballerinas
Grit, grace and love to all!

Described by some as an American choreographer with a Russian soul, Eric Conrad is most famous for his work with arguably the worlds most famous ballerina, Misty Copeland.
There are hours of videos on YouTube for free with Eric coaching Misty and they're an absolute gold mine of technical teachings. I’ve spent hours watching Eric break down the placement of a chasse pas de bourre or a simple tendu to a la seconde with Misty. As a ballet nerd, it’s fascinating.
Watching his videos, he often says to those he’s coaching, “Do you feel that? Do you feel the difference? Now, please don’t just agree with me. Tell me if you don’t and I’ll explain another way…” These kinds of comments, in my opinion are what make a phenomenal teacher and why I wanted to interview Eric on the podcast.
At any given time, I have many things on my mind… if I’m honest, it’s kind of exhausting. Thoughts about our industry, our training methods, our practices, competitions, social media, flexibility and how snobby and dusty the ballet world can be at times, especially when dealing with adult learners of ballet - just to name a few.
However I’m a bit different to Eric in that I tend to workshop my thoughts. I write and stew over notions before deciding on an argument, letting it simmer before releasing into the wild via this podcast, a blog post or social media. Oftentimes I’ll write a Instagram caption about something I’m passionate about and not post for months to check in with myself at a later date and see if I still feel the same way…
I feel like Eric is maybe the opposite of me, in that he seems to just say what’s on his mind, sometimes to his detriment, but nonetheless brave. Like Eric, I’m very sure of myself. But unlike him I tend to tip toe around certain issues for fear of hurting someones feelings. On the other hand, Eric see’s everything very black and white and that calling people out on their nonsense as a service for the better good. If I’m honest, I kind of admire this about him…
As Eric says himself, he’s not in the business of being a sweetheart. He’s in the business of speaking the truth. Wether you agree with his truth or not is another story. But I have respect for the man because he isn’t afraid to speak what’s on his mind.
In this conversation you’ll also hear from Svetlana (Eric’s wife, who started ballet only a few years ago). Ballet has saved her from crippling migraines and all sorts of pain. She credits ballet for her new found quality of life and as someone who deals with this on a daily basis with my own clients, I could completely relate to her and Eric’s passion for the importance placed on the work we do.
Over the next few weeks I’m going to share on the Balanced Ballerinas Podcast Instagram (@balancedballerinas) some of Eric’s quotes, which you’ll hear scattered throughout this podcast… he has a talent for summing up a profound thought into one sentence. So make sure you’re following if you don’t already do so…
You can find more of Eric’s work at balletconradinstitute.uscreen.io or simply head to @balletconrad on Instagram!
Let’s get into my chat with Eric Conrad. Master ballet coach and lover of turnout…
Say HELLO! @thebalancedballerina @balancedballerinas www.balancedballerinas.com

Today's episode is with my good friend Josef Brown!
Josef's professional career began as a Soloist with The Australian Ballet in 1994 before joining Sydney Dance Company in 1997. Then Josef's career pivoted towards acting when he took on the role of 'Johnny Castle' in the original stage adaptation of Dirty Dancing which toured throughout Australia and New Zealand. He was even part of the opening on London's West End and toured throughout the United States as part of the pre-Broadway tour completing 1500+ shows over 4.5 years. Incredible!
Josef then returned to Australia to take on the role of 'Patrick' in the multi-Logie Award winning series Dance Academy, 'Dale Canning' on Home & Away, 'Auctus' in Spartacus - Gods of the Arena and 'Daniel' in Sam's Story before playing 'Matt Turner' for over two years on the beloved Aussie drama, Neighbours.
​This is why his face might be familiar to many of you! In fact, when I met up with Josef for our interview in Sydney a couple of months ago, I posted a photo of us on social media and very quickly got a text from my partner saying, "Why are you hanging out with Matt Turner the cop from Neighbours?"
Josef also has many writing and producing credits for various webisodes, ABC TV documentaries and was a sitting member of the NSW Ministry of the Arts Dance Board. He's one talented and exceptional artist with brilliant professionalism in dance and business.
Speaking of business, Josef is now the Relations & Development Director at one of my favourite dance brands ever... MDM! And this is how we became friends. In fact, he is the voice behind the MDM sponsorship ads you may have heard in previous episodes. Just for fun I'm going to play it again for this episode, not because MDM are sponsoring this episode or Josef's and my chat, but because I just love Josef, the MDM team and their products. We have a long, but super interesting chat that I'm sure many of you will enjoy, so let's get straight into it...
Say hello on instagram...
@balancedballerinas @thebalanceballerina
www.balancedballerinas.com

Most of the time when I do an interview, I upload it onto the computer and write the introduction at a much later date. Often the interviews are done weeks (if not months!) before I even release them.
But after speaking to Alex (also known as Ally) Mazerolle, here I am, writing away only moments after our conversation. This is how inspiring this remarkable woman is.
The best way to describe Ally is remarkable. Truly remarkable. Her candid nature is as striking as her aura (which I felt, despite Ally being all the way in New York City whilst I'm in Australia during this interview) and I can't help but leave our conversation feeling like I want to take over the world with her.
And by world, I mean the world of women... ladies... teens... tweens... the group who have been marginalised and told that their bodies are for others enjoyment or something to be embarrassed about for far too long. Well thanks to people like Ally, that's becoming a notion of the past. Women have woken up and we are now reclaiming our bodies, our space and our rights.
You see, there's a topic I've been wanting to cover for quite some time now. Periods.
Why you ask? Well it's a topic that I come across weekly within the four walls of my studio. Wether it's a parent coming in to tell me that their daughter won't get out of the car because she just got her period or a shy student ashamed to wear shorts over her leotard in order to feel more comfortable... I often think to myself, why is everyone so embarrassed and sensitive around this topic? Surely if it happens to all of us, we should be confident and at the very least coherent when talking about periods.
What I mean by this is the fact that parents will whisper to me, "My daughter got her period and I'm not sure what she should wear or do..." or another one I've heard many times, "She got her period. The poor thing. It's so unfair. Such disgusting things us women have to go through..." What surprises me, is that oftentimes these comments come from women who are confident, empowered women. So it always surprises me.
My question is why are we so repulsed, awkward and uncomfortable with this topic? Myself at times included. However, inspired by Ally I pledge to be more open about the topic from here on. I pledge to make my students feel confident, empowered and unashamed. I started this thought process last year, but this year I'm ramping it up. If you're a ballet teacher listening to this, I'd love you to consider making the same pledge too.
During our conversation, Ally discusses ways we can do this as teachers, as parents and as a community...
And for all my beautiful young ladies out there who are challenged with wearing extremely tight and often pastel coloured clothes during your period, I hope this conversation helps you navigate the intricacies of dealing with periods as a dancer. But most importantly, I hope this conversation helps you realise that you're not 'dealing' with your period. You're traversing the very normal (and somewhat beautiful) bodily function of being a woman.
Ally shares her story. I share mine. And hopefully through our less than desirable experiences we can help the next generation of young dancers and inspire conversations between mothers and daughters (because I know a lot of you listen to this podcast in the car together) or as Ally says, hopefully this even inspires conversations between father and daughter, grandma and granddaughter or friend to friend.
I'll be honest; half my battle was trying to find someone within my industry willing to even have this conversation with me. I was even going to do a solo episode. But just before I gave up finding someone, I was scrolling through Instagram and came across Ally who I've been following for almost eight years. How had I not thought of her before?
With a background in competitive dance and a story similar to my exit from the professional dance scene, Ally has created a beautiful community through her work - Girlvana Yoga, Ladyvana Retreats, Lululemon global ambassadorship and yoga teaching. Ally is also currently writing her first book and I am buying multiple copies the moment it's released.
This woman is exceptional. And what she's doing for young girls in the yoga scene, I want to do for the ballet scene. I think I have a bit of an uphill battle, but like I said, I've publicly taken a pledge now... so let's see what happens.
Towards the end of the interview, Ally and I both mention that we reclaimed our body confidence through various other practices outside the dance world. Wouldn't it be nice if we had of been able to do that in the dance world? Just a reminder, in case you've forgotten, this is part of why the Balanced Ballerinas brand, conversation, retreats and content exists.
As always, another conversation with another amazing human being with the intention of bringing us one step closer to balance...
Connect with us on Instagram...
Ally @allymaz Me @thebalancedballerina The pod @balancedballerinas
www.balancedballerinas.com

Firstly a huge thank you to friend of the pod (who became a real-life friend Dr Andrea Robertson from episode number 11!) who introduced me to her dear friend and Principal dancer with The Australian Ballet, Amber Scott.
Little did Andrea know, I actually used to watch Amber through the studio windows when I was a young student at The Australian Ballet School. So this made the introduction and interview extra special for me. I even brought to the interview a journal from when I was twelve years old with Amber’s signature. She had a giggle and noted how young her handwriting was. But oh my gosh, I’m such a goofball. I can’t believe I did that!
Anyway, this is how amazing Amber is…
I was meeting her at the Sydney Opera House as they were in the midst of Nutcracker Season. She wasn’t supposed to be performing that evening so we decided an interview in the afternoon would work perfectly. When I arrived, one of the company members was sick and couldn’t perform so not only did Amber have to prepare to fill her spot, but she also had to rearrange babysitters and all sorts for her daughter.
I told her that it was totally fine if we needed to cancel the interview and do it another time, but she was insistent that we have a conversation for the podcast because she loves the idea of sharing and passing knowledge down to the next generation of ballerinas. So with that we locked ourselves in her beautiful dressing room overlooking Sydney Harbour and had this conversation whilst she prepared her pointe shoes for the evenings performance. What a star.
A little about Amber in case you didn’t already know…
Amber Scott joined The Australian Ballet School at age eleven. After graduating as dux, she joined The Australian Ballet in 2001 where Amber was promoted to principal artist in 2011 after performing the Second Movement from Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Concerto.
Amber has received a Helpmann Award nomination for Stephen Baynes’ Swan Lake in 2013, a Telstra Ballet Dancer Award and Telstra People’s Choice Award in 2004, a First Place at the Junior Asian Pacific Competition in Tokyo 1999 and a bronze medal at the Adeline Genée Awards in 1998.
But more recently Amber has been awarded the title of mother. Giving birth to little Bonnie just over a year ago now. Fun Fact! Bonnie’s father (and Amber’s husband) is fellow Australian Ballet Principal Artist Ty King-Wall. I remember Ty from my Australian Ballet days – he was always so boundless and impressive with his movement and was accepted into the company when I was in Level 6 at the school. I can only imagine what amazing ballet blood is within Bonnie already with a Mum and Dad like hers!
Not only do Amber and I discuss her career, but we also discuss motherhood and the intricacies of having a partner who has the same difficult working hours as you. It’s a fascinating situation and Amber gives insight into the life of a classical ballerina trying to balance pirouettes and prams.
And because I know so many of you are David Hallberg fans, I had to ask Amber what it’s like partnering one of the worlds most famous classical ballet dancers (which she has done many times). I love her answer, so you’ll have to keep listening to find out.
As Amber sat across from me I couldn’t help but notice her refined and effortless elegance. Sans makeup, dewy skin from rehearsal, wearing a simple singlet and shorts, she was absolutely glowing. The kind of glow that comes from a kind soul.
It was truly an honour to interview this gorgeous ballerina, human and now mother. So thank you Amber for sharing your precious time (especially as you’re now a working mother!) and Im sure the listeners are going to love this one!
Find the #BalancedBallerinas Community on Instagram! @balancedballerinas @thebalancedballerina www.balancedballerinas.com

Happy New Year Balanced Ballerinas and welcome to 2020!
With a new year (hey, new decade!) I thought now is as good a time as any to talk about goals, intentions, vision and of course… balance.
It’s always around this time of year that people jump on the bandwagon of dissing ‘goals’, saying they’re a waste of time and I couldn’t disagree more. I find that the people who don’t bother setting intentions for the new year (especially the ones vocalising their distaste for them!) are the ones that are quite unhappy with their lives. If I’m honest, I always imagine these kinds of people sitting on the couch all day, hate following people on instagram whilst eating last nights Chinese takeaway and a tub of ice-cream every night.
Do you really want to be that person? I didn’t think so.
I recently asked the Balanced Ballerinas community to send me some questions about stepping into the new year. The request was rather vague but the responses all had a resounding theme. Johanna (who is one of my gorgeous adult ballet clients) and an original listener of the podcast asked, “I’d love to know your goal setting & planning routine, plus recommendations for doing this…”
Find the 'Intention Setting Worksheet' and continue reading here: https://www.balancedballerinas.com/2020/01/04/how-to-choose-and-design-your-life-free-intention-setting-worksheet/
Instagram @balancedballerinas @thebalancedballerina
www.balancedballerinas.com

Merry Christmas beautiful ballerinas! And boy do I have a Christmas present for you today – my present to you is the delightful, inspiring and absolutely marvellous human being that is Marie Walton-Mahon.
Now, I’m going to let Marie share her story because she does such an incredible job of this during our conversation! However for those that have been living under a rock in the dance world, let me introduce Marie and her incredible work.
Marie is the Director and creator of Progressing Ballet Technique – a global phenomenon that is currently being taught in over 40 countries worldwide – and I was going to say ‘to ballet teachers and dancers all over the world’ but the program has now surpassed the dance world and is being used across many disciplines, medical practices and activities.
Marie’s work in this field through PBT is so groundbreaking and now imperative to the Australian landscape of movement and conditioning that she’s even been nominated for an Australian of the Year award back in 2017.
When I met Marie for our interview in Sydney she was teaching a class of eight budding young ballerinas at Tanya Pearson Academy. I was all too ready to wait outside, however Marie bounded out to greet me and ushered me inside before asking the students to greet ‘Miss Canning’ – for a split second I thought my Mum might be in the room. Very rarely am I ever called Miss Canning, but it was beautiful and such a testament to the traditions and etiquette that Marie instills in her classroom.
I find Marie’s work with Progressing Ballet Technique so inspiring. It truly is remarkable and as an entrepreneur she is groundbreaking within the industry. However when I sat down to watch the last 20 minutes of the class she was teaching, I left with so many nuggets of wisdom that I’ll cherish forever as a ballet teacher.
From the way Marie follows a stern correction with a soft word of praise, to describing musicality as the ability to feel the music (because once you start counting you’ve lost it!) and how her eyes study every students face to see if they’re truly understanding what she’s saying, not just nodding their head. Then at the end of class she spent a couple of minutes talking about the fire and the environment, stressing to her young dancers the importance of keeping up their fluids and looking after themselves.
Marie is so much more than an extremely successful founder. She’s also humble and kind to the core. I left thinking, be more like Marie. My goal for 2020? To constantly ask myself, ‘What would Marie do?’
@balancedballerinas @thebalancedballerina www.balancedballerinas.com