It’s no secret that many dancers in the industry are underpaid and overworked. And while we’re pushing for change, the reality is that many of us will take on side gigs to support ourselves financially, especially when we’re first starting out.

I found it necessary to have a side gig during my entire professional ballet career in order to support myself. Of course, some of these gigs were better than others and eventually I fell into my dream job!

Have you ever wondered what kind of side gigs might work for a professional dancer? Tune in to this encore of one of my most popular episodes as I dish about the ways I supplemented my income throughout my professional dance career.

Links and Resources:

SHOP MSeam Apparel: https://mseamapparel.com/ (use code BRAINY25 at checkout for 25% off all items)

1-1 Career Mentoring: book your complimentary career call

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Questions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

What does it take to sustain a professional dance career for 15 years while always finding new ways to grow as an artist?

In this episode I’m joined by Madison Ballet company artist Shannon Quirk to discuss her journey from a young ballet student in Southern California to a longtime professional dancer and co-founder of the newly launched North Star Dance Theatre.

Shannon reflects on her decision to pursue a BFA at UC Irvine, the realities of transitioning from college into the professional world, and the lessons she's learned through rejection, leadership changes, and career longevity. She shares how her perspective on artistry has evolved over the years (and why enjoying the process may be the most important career advice she can offer).

We also dive into the creation of North Star Dance Theatre, a new summer dance company dedicated to providing performance opportunities for dancers and choreographers while fostering artistic collaboration and new work.

Whether you're an aspiring professional dancer, a seasoned artist, or someone interested in arts leadership, this episode is full of wisdom about building a sustainable and fulfilling career in dance.

Key "Pointes" from this Episode:

• Why Shannon chose to go to college for dance and why the decision came easily to her
• What it felt like to realize dance had become her paying career
• Navigating three different artistic directors over 15 years with the same company
• Taking on a mentorship, "motherly" role for younger dancers
• Her favorite roles, including one she was thrown into unexpectedly
• Starting her own company, North Star Dance Theatre, and balancing it with her professional career

Connect with Shannon:

Visit North Star Dance Theatre’s Website: https://www.northstardancetheatre.com/

Follow North Star Dance Theatre on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northstardancetheatre/

Visit Madison Ballet’s Website: https://www.madisonballet.org/

Follow Madison Ballet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madisonballet/

Links and Resources:

SHOP MSeam Apparel: https://mseamapparel.com/ (use code BRAINY25 at checkout for 25% off all items)

Register for the “See & Be Seen” College Recruitment Event: https://eisenhowerdance.org/beseen

Let’s connect!

MY WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Schedule your complimentary career consultation: https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/career-mentoring

Questions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

What if becoming a stronger dancer had less to do with pushing harder and more to do with creating space to breathe?

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by former professional dancer and founder of Inner Studio, Rylie Beck, to talk about burnout, dancer identity, nervous system regulation, and the mental habits that so many dancers struggle with behind the scenes.

Rylie shares her journey from student to professional, and how repeated experiences with burnout ultimately led her to create Inner Studio - an online platform offering guided meditations, visualizations, and wellness resources designed specifically for dancers.

This episode is so healing and necessary to start unpacking the pressures dancers face to constantly achieve and the culture of self-criticism that is so prevalent in our industry. You’ll walk away not only feeling completely seen but with practical tools to start building a healthier relationship with dance.

Key “Pointes” in this Episode:

• The realities of burnout in the professional dance world
• The culture of negative self-talk and perfectionism in dance
• Why rest feels so difficult for many dancers
• Simple nervous system regulation techniques dancers can use every day
• The benefits of meditation, visualization, and journaling
• How mental rehearsal can improve performance without physical strain
• The inspiration behind Inner Studio and how it supports dancers
• Why dance educators should introduce wellness tools earlier in training
• The importance of trusting your own inner wisdom throughout your career

Connect with Rylie

WEBSITE: https://inner-studio-affiliate-program.peachs.co/a/caitlin-sloan-1 (affiliate link)

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/innerstudio.app/

Links & Resources:

REGISTER FOR SEE AND BE SEEN: https://eisenhowerdance.org/beseen

SHOP MSeam Apparel: https://mseamapparel.com/ (use code BRAINY25 at checkout for 25% off all items)

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Questions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

What happens when a ballet company invests in its dancers' futures both on and off the stage?

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by Jill Marlow Krutzkamp, former professional dancer and current Artistic Director of the Louisville Ballet Studio Company.

Jill shares the story behind an exciting partnership between Louisville Ballet and Bellarmine University that allows dancers to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration while continuing their professional training.

Key “Pointes” in this Episode:

• Jill's professional journey from dancer to arts leader
• The partnership between Louisville Ballet and Bellarmine University
• Why higher education matters for aspiring professional dancers
• Arts administration as a career pathway
• Preparing dancers for life beyond performance
• Building sustainable careers in the dance industry
• The value of dual-career development for young artists

Connect with Jill

LOUISVILLE BALLET WEBSITE: louisvilleballet.org

LOUISVILLE BALLET STUDIO COMPANY: louisvilleballet.org/studio-company/

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/jillekrutz

Links & Resources:

SHOP MSeam Apparel: https://mseamapparel.com/ (use code BRAINY25 at checkout for 25% off all items)

SHOP ORZA: www.orzabrand.com (use code BRAINYBALLERINA for 10% off)

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Questions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by professional dancer Ashley Talluto to talk about the realities of building a career in New York City.

Ashley dives into how she transitioned from ballet into musical theater and how auditions, casting, and unions work in the musical theater world.

She also shares what it’s like to tour with major productions like West Side Story, Flashdance, and An American in Paris and gives us invaluable insight into the life of a swing and dance captain.

This episode is full of wisdom from a veteran dancer. If you’ve ever considered what it might be like to build a dancer career outside of the ballet company ecosystem, this is a must-listen!

Key “Pointes” in this Episode:

• Why Ashley chose college and how the Boston Conservatory prepared her for professional dance life
• The realities of moving to New York City as a dancer (survival jobs, balancing auditions, and building a sustainable career)
• The differences between ballet and Broadway audition processes
• The pros and cons of joining Actors’ Equity
• Why performance quality matters just as much as technique in musical theater
• What life is actually like on national and international tours
• The intense responsibility of being a swing in a Broadway production
• What a dance captain does and why the role is so important

Connect with Ashley

WEBSITE: Ashleytalluto.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/ashleytalluto

SHOP MSeam Apparel: https://mseamapparel.com/ (use code BRAINY25 at checkout for 25% off all items)

SHOP ORZA: www.orzabrand.com (use code BRAINYBALLERINA for 10% off)

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Questions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

In this solo episode of the Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m sharing practical advice for professional dancers and aspiring teachers looking to connect with studio owners and build a sustainable teaching career in the dance industry.

Drawing from my own experiences as an experienced dance educator and former school director, I’m breaking down the realities of finding teaching work, from preparing your materials and making initial contact with a studio to understanding what studio owners actually value most in a teacher.

Key “Pointes” in this Episode:

• Why professional dance experience does not automatically make someone a strong teacher
• The importance of researching a studio before applying
• Why flexibility can help newer teachers gain more opportunities
• How your teaching priorities may evolve throughout different seasons of life
• What to include in a professional teaching portfolio
• How to identify and market your “unique selling points” as a dance educator
• Why teaching should be approached as a true profession, not just a side hustle

BLOG POST: https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/blog/booking-dance-teaching-gigs-tips-for-connecting-with-studio-owners

SHOP MSeam Apparel: https://mseamapparel.com/ (use code BRAINY25 at checkout for 25% off all items)

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Questions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

Ashley Thorndike is a licensed clinical professional counselor, longtime dance educator, and founder of Dance and College Counseling. With a PhD in Dance Studies, an MEd in Counselor Education, and a BFA in Modern Dance, she brings a rare combination of mental health expertise and firsthand academic experience to college and career planning for dancers.

Ashley and I are both products of college dance programs and have gone on to mentor dancers through this process, so I absolutely loved connecting over this topic! Our conversation is jam-packed with everything from the complex admissions process to building a broad, sustainable career in dance.

Key "Pointes" from this Episode:

• Ashley's winding path into dance and her academic journey through the University of Utah, the University of Virginia, and Ohio State University where she became the first person to earn a PhD in dance studies.
• The biggest mistakes dancers make when applying to college dance programs.
• How families can explore financial options when loans and personal resources do not cover the cost of a dance education.
• How to identify the right college fit as a dancer and what to look for during your search.
• The importance of moving beyond a one-lane mindset and exploring the many paths available within the dance world.
• Why college is a uniquely valuable time to explore interests beyond dance.
• How a long, meaningful dance career can take many different shapes, even beyond performing on stage.
• What dance faculty are looking for at auditions, based on Ashley's experience serving on an admissions committee.
• How to approach your interview as a dance applicant and what questions you should and should not be asking.
• Advice for parents who feel uncertain about their child pursuing dance as a college and career path.

Connect with Ashley:

Ashley’s College Planning Guide: https://www.danceandcollegecounseling.com/guide

Ashley’s Website: https://www.danceandcollegecounseling.com/

Follow Ashley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danceandcollegecounseling/

Links and Resources:

SHOP MSeam Apparel: https://mseamapparel.com/ (use code BRAINY25 at checkout for 25% off all items)

SHOP ORZA: www.orzabrand.com ($20 off all Orza Pro® 2.0 ballet shoes June 22nd through the 28th with ORZA day deals - no code needed!)

Let’s connect!

MY WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Schedule your complimentary career consultation: https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/career-mentoring

Questions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by professional dancer (and one of my former students!) Kendall Lademann for a full-circle conversation on the unexpected twists and turns that have shaped her dance career.

We dive into Kendall’s transition from student to professional at Mareck Dance, including what it was like dancing alongside former teachers and how that environment helped her grow as both an artist and an adult.

We also talk about how Kendall moved forward with her dance career after Mareck Dance unexpectedly folded, finding new opportunities at Lexington Ballet.

Kendall is a true testament to the fact that dance careers never travel in a straight line. She shares so much thoughtful advice for aspiring professional dancers about taking risks, handling rejection, and treating people with kindness in the small world of dance.

Key “Pointes” in this Episode:

• How the teachers, choreographers and directors Kendall has worked with have grown her into the artist she is today
• How the pandemic unexpectedly launched her professional dance career
• Going from dancing as a student in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” to dancing the title role
• Navigating the sudden closure of Mareck Dance and finding a new path
• Moving away from home and starting fresh with Lexington Ballet
• Unique performance experiences including dancing in a distillery, performing in a music video, and starring as Charlie Chaplin in “A Charlie Chaplin Christmas” with Lexington Ballet
• Kendall’s passion for adaptive dance through Danceability and why teaching became one of the most meaningful parts of her career

Connect with Kendall

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/kendall_lademann

SHOP MSeam Apparel: https://mseamapparel.com/ (use code BRAINY25 at checkout for 25% off all items)

SHOP ORZA: www.orzabrand.com (use code BRAINYBALLERINA for 10% off)

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Questions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by former professional dancer and Arts in Health professional Kate Webb Berk to explore the powerful connection between dance and health.

Kate shares her journey from dancing professionally with Verb Ballets (now Ohio Contemporary Ballet) to pursuing a master’s degree in Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida, where she focuses on social prescribing and arts-based health interventions.

We dive into the growing field of arts in health, why dance is uniquely impactful for mental and physical wellbeing, and how movement and community can combat the loneliness epidemic.

This conversation is both deeply validating for dancers and eye-opening for anyone interested in the science behind why dance matters.

Key “Pointes” in this Episode:

• What “social prescribing” is and how it’s changing healthcare systems
• Why dance is considered one of the most effective arts in health interventions
• How dancers can reconnect with the initial joy that brought them to dance in the first place
• The powerful physiological and emotional benefits of community and shared movement
• Why the arts are not luxuries but an intrinsic part of us and truly essential to human health (backed by research!)

Connect with Kate

WEBSITE: https://artsinmotionwellness.com/

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/katestahgram

• Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives by Dr. Daisy Fancourt (affiliate link)
• University of Florida Arts in Medicine Program
• Jameel Arts & Health Lab
• Ohio Social Prescribing Collaborative

SHOP MSeam Apparel: https://mseamapparel.com/ (use code BRAINY25 at checkout for 25% off all items)

SHOP ORZA: www.orzabrand.com (use code BRAINYBALLERINA for 10% off)

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Questions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

In this solo episode, I dive into everything dancers need to know to make the most of their summer intensives. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned pre-professional, this episode is packed with insight to help you thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally during one of the most transformative times in your dance training.

🩰Why summer intensives are critical for growth in technique, artistry, and professionalism

🩰The importance of journaling and reflection - before, during, and after

🩰Tips for adjusting socially and forming lasting connections

🩰Staying healthy: sleep, recovery, nutrition, and hydration

🩰Turning your summer intensive into an extended audition and possible job opportunity.

➡️ 3 Benefits of Attending a Summer Dance Intensive

➡️ Pack Like a Pro: Essential Items for Your Summer Dance Intensive

➡️ Coping with Missing Home During your Summer Intensive

➡️ Everything Dancers Need to Know Before Their First Partnering Class

Join the Conversation
Head to my Instagram @TheBrainyBallerina and join my channel “Career Guidance for Dancers” to participate in future episode polls and get exclusive career tips straight to your inbox.

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

1-1 Career Mentoring: book your complimentary career call

Questions/comments? Email me at [email protected]