Veronica K is a former professional dancer turned educator. She combined her background as a dancer, Physical Therapist Assistant, and certified personal trainer to develop the Veronica K method of cross-training, an innovative approach to help dancers develop the strength they need to perform safely.

In this episode we chat all about Veronica’s dance training and professional career working on cruise ships. She shares about the injury that led her to go back to school for physical therapy and how she came to develop her own method of cross-training for dancers. We talk about the most important area dancers need to be focusing and where you can start incorporating cross-training even if you are short on time. This episode is full of actionable advice to help you prevent injuries and become a stronger dancer!

Key Moments:

• Early training [1:38]
• Attending college for dance [4:35]
• Her transition from student to professional dancer [10:03]
• Her experience dancing on cruise ships (and why she chose that route) [13:00]
• Going back to school to earn her physical therapist assistant degree [18:10]
• The most important areas dancers should be focusing on when incorporating cross-training [21:00]
• Veronica’s new cross-training course for dance educators [28:32]
• How to incorporate cross-training when you are short on time [39:37]
• Her biggest piece of advice for dancers pursuing a career [47:50]

Connect with Veronica:

WEBSITE: veronicakballet.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/veronicakplatform

JOIN THE INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION WAITLIST: veronicakballet.com/certification

Links and Resources:

The College Dance Decision: thebrainyballerina.com/the-college-dance-decision

DRT: www.drttix.com/create-event (Make sure to mention that The Brainy Ballerina sent you!)

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]

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 episode as I dish about the ways I supplemented my income throughout my professional dance career.

Links and Resources:

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]

Ashley Tomaszewski is the Founder and Director of THREE POINT PROJECT, a professional project company based in Wisconsin. She is a graduate of Butler University with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Pedagogy and an esteemed choreographer with works being performed by ButlerBallet throughout Europe, at MashUp’s International Women’s Day Festival and by SALT2. In addition to directing, choreographing, and teaching, Ashley is in her second season as an artist with Geometry Dance Company in Los Angeles, CA.

In this episode we discuss Ashley’s U-turn from ballet to contemporary, the journey of starting her own professional dance company, and her work as a choreographer. She shares openly about how she’s developed self-trust as a dancer, knowing your worth, and how to make truly meaningful connections.

Key Moments:

• Early dance training [1:45]
• Choosing to attend Butler and pursue a dance degree [3:28]
• Taking a U-turn from ballet to contemporary [4:12]
• Dancing in her first professional company [7:00]
• Starting her own professional dance company [8:31]
• The future of THREE POINT PROJECT [13:10]
• What she looks for in dancers for her company [16:01]
• Her journey as a choreographer [21:40]
• Developing self-trust in your dance career [27:50]
• Knowing your worth as a dancer [33:43]
• Her biggest piece of advice for dancers pursuing a career [38:38]

Connect with Ashley:

THREE POINT PROJECT: www.threepointprojectwi.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/threepointprojectwi

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/ashley.tomaszewski

Links and Resources:

The College Dance Decision: thebrainyballerina.com/the-college-dance-decision

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]

Camille Goldsborough is a professional ballerina based in Los Angeles, currently dancing as a soloist with Petra Conti’s Hollywood ballet. Since moving to LA, Camille has worked as a model as well as dancing in films, commercials and music videos. She is the founder of The Prima Club, a positive brand and community for dancers, and of Dance Dominican, a foundation that supports teaching ballet throughout orphanages in the Dominican Republic.

Camille is incredibly generous with her experiences, sharing insight about touring through Europe, dealing with her first major injury and tips for breaking into the freelance dance industry. Her positive attitude is infectious - if you’re looking for inspiration to go out there and MAKE IT HAPPEN, this is the episode for you!

Key Moments:

• Early dance training [1:30]
• Moving away from home at 15 to study ballet [3:06]
• Her first steps into the world of professional dance [8:32]
• Spending a year touring throughout Europe [14:55]
• Dealing with her first major injury [20:20]
• Her tips for breaking into the freelance dance industry [29:30]
• Founding The Prima Club [39:02]
• Her biggest piece of advice for dancers pursuing a career [42:45]

Connect with Camille:

CAMILLE’S WEBSITE: camillegoldsborough.com

THE PRIMA CLUB: theprimaclub.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/camillegoldsborough

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/theprimaclub

Links and Resources:

The Intentional Career Handbook: https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/intentional-career-handbook

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]

Jacqueline Moscicke has danced professionally with Milwaukee Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet and is currently working as a freelance artist and instructor. She is also the founder of MSeam Apparel, a dancewear company she started in 2016 while dancing with the Joffrey.

Jacqueline gets incredibly honest in this episode about the triumphs in her dance career as well as the heartbreaking losses. We talk about the journey to being okay again after losing her contract and the identity crisis so common for dancers in a transition period. We also get a peek inside MSeam Apparel and all that’s to come in this next phase of life. If you’ve been struggling with not feeling good enough as a dancer - Jacqueline’s courageous story is a must-listen.

Key Moments:

• Early training [1:32]
• Joining Milwaukee Ballet at 17 years old after training at the school [5:42]
• A peek inside AGMA and the union process [8:13]
• Making the move to the Joffrey Ballet [10:54]
• Being let go after 9 years with the Joffrey Ballet [18:07]
• Shifting into freelance dance work [22:04]
• Starting MSeam Apparel [26:57]
• The future of MSeam Apparel [36:31]
• Her biggest piece of advice for dancers pursuing a career [38:50]

Connect with Jacqueline:

HER WEBSITE: mseamapparel.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/mseamapparel

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/jacquelinemo8

Links and Resources:

Career Transition for Dancers: The Entertainment Community Fund

Click here for one FREE month of Danscend’s Council for Educators with code BRAINY

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]

I never imagined that I would go into business for myself, but here I am!

From Dancer to Educator to Administrator to School Director and now Entrepreneur, I owe much of my success to the skills I learned in the dance classroom.

Chances are you will find yourself in a career outside of performing one of these days. If you’ve ever thought about entrepreneurship but are not sure you’re cut out for it - tune in to this episode. You might realize that your dance training has set you up with the most important skills you need to get started.

Links and Resources:

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]

Dr. Chelsea Pierotti is a sports psychologist and high-performance coach for dancers and dance educators. As a speaker, workshop teacher, and host of the Passion for Dance podcast, Dr. Chelsea’s mission is to create happier, more successful dancers through positive mental skills.

In this episode, Dr. Chelsea shares her path to becoming a sports psychologist and how she combined her two passions - dance and psychology - to create her dream career. I came away from this conversation with loads of actionable tips on motivation, burnout, self-awareness, and goal setting. We also had a candid conversation about what the ballet world can learn from dance team culture.

Key Moments:

• Early training [1:30]
• Attending college as an academic (but still keeping dance alive) [4:43]
• Finding purpose in sports psychology [9:49]
• Learning to control the controllables [11:39]
• How to know when to speak up or make a change in your career [15:19]
• Setting goals that are within your control [17:33]
• Working through burnout as a dancer [21:11]
• What the ballet world can learn from college dance team culture [28:19]
• The biggest challenges dancers face in reaching their goals (and how they can overcome them) [36:15]
• Her biggest piece of advice for dancers pursuing a career [49:04]

Connect with Dr. Chelsea:

HER WEBSITE: chelseapierotti.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/dr.chelsea.pierotti

PODCAST: chelseapierotti.com/podcast/

Links and Resources:

Click here to get your copy of The Intentional Career Handbook

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]

TRIGGER WARNING: this episode includes discussion of eating disorders. If you find this topic triggering, we encourage you to skip this episode and prioritize your mental health and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please seek support from a trusted healthcare professional.

Dr. Stephanie Potreck is a former dancer turned doctor/sports nutritionist and founder of AusDancersOverseas. I invited Stephanie onto the podcast to get her professional take on a recent interview written for The Independent by Charlotte Cripps with the director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta titled ‘It’s hard to talk about weight in ballet’ (linked below).

It’s no secret the ballet world is obsessed with weight, even with a growing body of medical evidence showing the lifelong harm of restrictive eating. In this episode Dr. Stephanie breaks down what happens to dancers physically, emotionally and mentally when they restrict food intake. She shares the markers she looks for as a medical professional to determine a dancer’s health as well as her ideal scenario to foster happy, healthy dancers in ballet companies.

Key Moments:

• Stephanie’s initial thoughts upon reading the article [2:55]
• The ballet world’s obsession with weight [5:28]
• The effect of restrictive eating on emotional maturity [9:22]
• Important elements to partnering beyond a female dancer’s weight [10:34]
• What happens to the body when the diet is restricted [12:56]
• The first time I was told to lose weight as a dancer at 14 [16:19]
• What medical professionals screen for to determine a dancer’s health [24:48]
• The lifelong implications of restrictive eating for dancers [29:16]
• Stephanie’s ideal scenario for optimal dancer health in a ballet company [35:55]

Connect with Dr. Stephanie:

HER WEBSITE: https://ausdancersoverseas.com/

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/ausdancersoverseas

Links and Resources:

Carlos Acosta Interview in The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/carlos-acosta-carmen-sadlers-wells-cuba-birmingham-royal-ballet-b2547981.html

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]

Emily Baker is a professional dancer currently in her 6th season with Newport Contemporary Ballet, formerly Island Moving Company. She has also danced professionally with Inland Pacific Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Ballet Tucson, Impact Dance, Colorado Ballet, Mareck Dance (formerly Missouri Contemporary Ballet), and The Big Muddy Dance Company.

In this episode we dive deep into Emily’s path as a professional dancer, the power of connections, knowing when it’s time to pivot and getting really comfortable being uncomfortable.

Key Moments:

• Early training with Inland Pacific Ballet [1:55]
• Moving across the country for her first professional contract at 18 [3:48]
• Moving back home after a setback [5:00]
• Joining Ballet Tucson after a crazy audition experience [6:30]
• Making connections and branching out in Colorado [8:05]
• Shifting into contemporary ballet with Mareck Dance [16:29]
• Taking the leap to contemporary with Big Muddy Dance Company [22:43]
• Experiencing burnout and taking a year off from dancing professionally [31:58]
• Going back to company life with Newport Contemporary Ballet [35:23]
• Pursuing passions beyond being a performer [40:36]
• Her biggest piece of advice for dancers pursuing a career [46:29]

Connect with Emily:

HER WEBSITE: emilybakerdance.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/emilybaker8

Links and Resources:

Click here for one FREE month of Danscend’s Council for Educators with code BRAINY

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]

Jennifer Milner is a ballet coach and certified Pilates trainer specializing in working with dancers. After a successful career as a ballet and musical theatre dancer, she became certified in Pilates with Kelly Kane and mentored under Marika Molnar for her dance medicine certification. She’s trained dancers from the Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, and the Kirov Ballet.

Jennifer and I talked all about her career as a dancer, from ballet to musical theatre. We discussed staying motivated as a freelance dancer, how to determine if you should take a gig (especially the unpaid ones!) and our plans to overhaul the current company audition process. Jennifer shares how a career-ending injury led her to her current passion and the work she does to shape healthy dancers, both physically and emotionally.

Key Moments:

• Early training [1:40]
• Beginning her professional ballet career at 16 [4:16]
• Transitioning to a career in musical theatre [7:40]
• Staying motivated as a freelance dancer [17:05]
• Deciding when to take a job, even if it’s not paid [20:56]
• Turning a career-ending injury into a new career [26:15]
• The biggest struggles dancers are currently facing [33:35]
• Her biggest piece of advice for dancers pursuing a career [47:30]

Connect with Jennifer:

HER WEBSITE: www.jennifer-milner.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/jennifer.milner

Links and Resources:

Click here for one FREE month of Danscend’s Council for Educators with code BRAINY

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]