In this episode, I was joined by Diana Crowder, the Founder and Artistic Director of Pegasus Contemporary Ballet.

Diana shares her journey from dancing with companies like Tulsa Ballet and Texas Ballet Theater to creating a company that reflects her artistic vision. We dive into the journey of building a contemporary ballet company from the ground up, the challenges of entrepreneurship in the arts, and the unique vision that sets Pegasus apart.

Diana shares her experience transitioning from dancer to Director, the importance of fostering a supportive and innovative environment for artists, and how personal loss and resilience have shaped her leadership.

Key “Pointes” Covered in This Episode:

🩰Diana’s experience moving away from home at a young age to study ballet at the National Ballet School of Canada

🩰Her transition into a professional dance career and how her personal life helped color her choices

🩰How Diana’s career as a professional dancer shaped her into the Artistic Director she is today

🩰The creative risks involved in immersive and interdisciplinary performances

🩰Insights into the audition process and what Directors are truly looking for

🩰The lasting influence of Diana’s mother on her leadership and the company’s legacy

Connect with Diana:

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/pegasuscontemporaryballet

WEBSITE: pegasusballet.org

Links and Resources:

Set up ticketing for your next event with DRT (Make sure to mention that The Brainy Ballerina sent you!)

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 caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

In this episode, I was joined by Emily Speed, founder and artistic director of AVID Dance, a project-based dance company presenting classical ballet through a modern lens.

Emily shares her journey dancing with renowned companies like Alabama Ballet, Ballet Tucson, Colorado Ballet, and Ballet Idaho. Now a principal guest artist and visionary leader, she discusses her mission to make ballet accessible and relevant to today's audiences.

Emily’s journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and creative courage. Her insights on turning obstacles into opportunities and redefining what classical ballet can be will inspire aspiring dancers and creative leaders alike.

Key Moments:

• [1:32] Early Dance Days: How a high-energy three-year-old found her calling in ballet
• [5:50] First Steps in the Corps de Ballet: The steep learning curve of transitioning from solo work to corps roles and how mentorship shaped Emily's growth
• [8:24] Transitioning to New Companies: How Emily used a major setback to spur her career forward and come back to Colorado Ballet
• [16:40] Making the Leap to Freelance Dance: Emily’s transition to freelance dance (while dealing with a major injury)
• [23:20] Reimagining Roles: Emily’s creative approach to characters like Bluebird and Clara to bring authenticity to the stage
• [29:20] Founding AVID Dance: How Emily's entrepreneurial spirit led to the creation of a dance company
• [37:13] Leadership & Artistic Balance: The challenges and joys of directing a company while still performing as a dancer
• [47:01] Powerful Advice for Dancers: Why dance should never define your entire identity and how to thrive amidst rejection and competition

Connect with Emily:

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/aviddanceco

WEBSITE: AVIDdance.org

Links and Resources:

Set up ticketing for your next event with DRT (Make sure to mention that The Brainy Ballerina sent you!)

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 caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

In this insightful conversation, I speak with Brittney Feit, a former professional dancer with Tulsa Ballet turned nationally certified school psychologist pursuing her Ph.D. Brittney's journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and using her artistry to help others.

We discuss Brittney’s unconventional path in the ballet world, overcoming physical challenges, and navigating interpersonal dynamics as a young dancer cast in principal roles. Brittney opens up about her decision to retire from professional dance due to persistent injuries and how she found fulfillment through education, creative writing, and psychology. She also shares how she now combines her love for movement with her role as a school psychologist, developing neurodiversity-affirming interventions and artistic self-expression programs for her students.

This episode is filled with inspiration, practical advice for dancers facing burnout, and thoughtful perspectives on self-advocacy and mental health in the performing arts.

Key Moments:

• Brittney’s early dance training [1:10]
• Her experience auditioning for companies and signing her first contract with Tulsa Ballet [8:17]
• Brittney’s favorite roles she danced during her pro career [23:12]
• Why Brittney chose to step away from her professional dance career [24:19]
• What led Brittney to study psychology [27:34]
• Brittney’s current work as a school psychologist [36:21]
• Brittney’s biggest mental health struggle during her dance career [41:55]
• How to know if you’re burnt out (and what to do about it within your dance career) [45:42]
• What Brittney believes needs to change in the dance industry [56:37]
• Her biggest piece of advice for dancers pursuing a career [1:02:30]

Connect with Brittney:

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/brittneyfeit

WEBSITE: www.brittneyfeit.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@BrittneyFeit

Links and Resources:

Set up ticketing for your next event with DRT (Make sure to mention that The Brainy Ballerina sent you!)

Get your copy of The Intentional Career Handbook

Second Act Mentorship: https://www.secondactnetwork.org/

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 caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

Audition season is here! And let’s be honest - it can be incredibly exhausting. The travel, expenses, strain on your body, constant scrutiny, and emotional toll of rejection can absolutely wear you down.

It can also lead to your dream job and the career you’ve been working toward for years.

So what’s the secret to getting to the other side of audition season (relatively) unscathed? Your mindset.

As dancers, we tend to focus primarily on our physical abilities. However, any seasoned professional will tell you that your mindset is just as vital to enjoying a successful career.

Tune in to this week’s solo episode for four ways to keep perspective and stay in a healthy mindset this audition season:

Links and Resources:

The Audition Hub: thebrainyballerina.com/auditionhub

1-1 Dance Audition Power-ups: https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/danceauditionpowerup

Dance Audition Materials Audit: https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/digital-resources/p/dance-audition-materials-audit

The Ultimate Audition Guide: https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/theultimateauditionguide

1-1 Career Mentoring: book your complimentary career call

Related Episodes:

22. Unlocking Authentic Confidence with Mindset Coach Kirsten Kemp

24. Your Burning Audition Questions Answered!

35. Cultivating Body Image Resilience with The Whole Dancer’s Jess Spinner

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Questions/comments? Email me at caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

Anna Morgan is a teacher, creative, adjudicator and researcher. She directs her own teacher training program, Anna Morgan Dance, and has taught for institutions such as the Royal Ballet School, Performers College, and Bird College. She is currently studying for her Masters at Rambert School, with gender equity in Ballet as her research specialism.

In this conversation, we dive into Anna's groundbreaking research on gender inequity in ballet leadership, highlighting systemic issues that hinder women and non-binary individuals from rising to leadership roles despite ballet being a female-dominated industry. We discuss how long-standing traditions and societal biases have shaped these imbalances, often starting with how dancers are trained.

Anna also highlights the historical and cultural shifts that have influenced ballet’s gender dynamics and challenges the assumption that tradition should limit progress. While honoring ballet’s rich history, she makes a compelling case for rethinking certain practices to create a more inclusive and equitable future for dancers and leaders alike.

This episode really got me thinking - I am confident you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of the barriers to leadership in ballet and a thought-provoking perspective on what the future of the art form could look like.

Key Moments:

• Anna’s early dance training [1:32]
• How Anna crafted a portfolio career and her advice for dancers who want to follow a less traditional path [2:12]
• The statistics on gender inequity in the ballet industry [4:11]
• What is causing the gender inequity in ballet leadership [6:07]
• Anna’s solution to addressing gender inequity by adjusting the way we educate ballet dancers from a young age [12:44]
• The reactions Anna has received from her research [20:04]
• The glass ceiling/escalator theory and how they come into play in the ballet industry [35:57]
• The history of gender in ballet [40:33]
• Her biggest piece of advice for dancers pursuing a career [43:39]

Connect with Anna:

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/annamorgandance

WEBSITE: www.annamorgandance.com

Links and Resources:

Set up ticketing for your next event with DRT (Make sure to mention that The Brainy Ballerina sent you!)

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 caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

Jess Spinner is a former professional dancer turned multi-certified holistic health, nutrition, and lifestyle coach for dancers. She founded The Whole Dancer in 2015 to help dancers prioritize their well-being, find peace with their bodies, feel confident in their food choices, and put their health first.

One of the many things I love about Jess is how open she is with her story dealing with body image struggles and how this colored her entire experience as a dancer. In this episode, Jess is incredibly relatable with her own past as well as providing actionable tips for dancers dealing with body image issues. I truly admire the caring, but fierce mama bear approach she takes in her work as a coach. If you’ve ever struggled with your body image, this episode is a must-listen!

Key Moments:

• Jess’s early dance training [1:38]
• How Jess decided to attend college for dance and what her experience was like at Butler University [3:36]
• Her transition from student to joining Louisville Ballet to freelance dancer in Boston [9:17]
• What led Jess to found The Whole Dancer [14:48]
• Jess’s personal struggle with body image as a dancer [17:14]
• How Jess was able to heal her body image [24:07]
• The first steps a dancer should take when they are struggling with body image [27:33]
• How dancers can find body image resilience within their dance career [34:53]
• The #1 change Jess would like to see in the dance industry [38:11]
• Her biggest piece of advice for dancers pursuing a career [48:03]

Connect with Jess:

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thewholedancer

WEBSITE: thewholedancer.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWholeDancer

PODCAST: https://open.spotify.com/show/5739hERGw6QXWoRjgGu6M4?si=e29134ce3de14ece

Links and Resources:

Set up ticketing for your next event with DRT (Make sure to mention that The Brainy Ballerina sent you!)

Get your copy of The Ultimate Audition Guide

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 caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

Ali Block danced professionally as Clara with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, as a Principal Dancer with Eglevsky Ballet, and as a dancer with Texas Ballet Theater and Eugene Ballet Company. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and is currently working as a psychology researcher at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Ali is incredibly transparent in this interview about the good, the bad and everything in between. We talked all about Ali’s experience moving away from home at a young age to study ballet and her first pro contract as Clara in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She is incredibly candid about her struggle with an eating disorder as she was preparing to enter her professional dance career and the impact her community had on recovery.

Ali shares what that first audition season was like, her first pro contracts and how she decided to make the leap to freelance. We also learn about Ali’s transition from full-time dancer to psychology researcher and her future dreams for her career and life!

Key Moments:

• Ali’s early dance training [1:53]
• Her experience moving away at a young age to train at UNCSA and Miami City Ballet [5:14]
• Ali’s struggle with an eating-disorder while preparing to enter her pro career [12:03]
• Ali’s first professional contract as Clara in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular [15:50]
• Her first audition season and getting her first pro contract [27:00]
• How Ali made the transition to a freelance dance career [41:30]
• What made Ali want to study psychology and how she made the transition into research [50:41]
• Her biggest piece of advice for dancers pursuing a career [1:04:33]

Connect with Ali:

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/ali_p_block

WEBSITE: alipaigeblock.com/

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-paige-block-b8798a112/

Links and Resources:

Get your copy of The Intentional Career Handbook

Get your copy of The Ultimate Audition Guide

Second Act Mentorship: https://www.secondactnetwork.org/

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 caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

Caitlin here with a solo episode recapping 2024 and chatting about my hopes and dreams for 2025!

Biggest takeaways from this episode:

• Your needs are not an inconvenience
• Your all-or-nothing thinking is keeping you stuck - progress happens in the gray areas
• Being able to “listen to your body” requires an insane amount of privilege
• Your personal life will impact your professional life
• You are allowed to love your job and also make a living
• You’re doing the best you can with what you have and that is absolutely enough

Tune in to hear how I came to these realizations in 2024, and what I’m doing with that information as we had into 2025. I also share some changes to The Brainy Ballerina in 2025 (plus I have a question for you that I would love for you to weight in on!)

Links and Resources:

Krista Brinkmeier Photography (Madison, WI): https://www.kristabrinkmeierphotography.com/

Book your Studio Workshop for 2025

Join the book club!

Read Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodksy (affiliate link)

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 caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com