The Adult Ballet Studio

Welcome to a very special episode of The Adult Ballet Studio! Today, we’re celebrating a milestone: our 50th episode!It's hard to believe we've reached 50 episodes since launching this podcast in August of 2023, and I'm so grateful to everyone who has listened, shared their stories, and been a part of this incredible community of dancers who believe that ballet belongs to all of us, no matter our age, background, or ability.For this episode, American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Skylar Brandt is in the studio!Skylar began her ballet training at six years old at Scarsdale Ballet Studio in New York before going on to study at ABT's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. She joined ABT II in 2009 and steadily rose through the company's ranks, becoming a principal dancer in 2020.Throughout her career, Skylar has brought to life some of ballet's most iconic roles. She's also received numerous accolades, including a Princess Grace Foundation Dance Fellowship and recognition on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list.But beyond her remarkable accomplishments onstage, Skylar has also used her platform to inspire dancers around the world, encouraging individuality and advocating for yourself. In this conversation, we explore Skylar's journey from a young dancer with big dreams to one of ABT's leading artists, her recent performances, and how she continues to grow and discover new dimensions of herself as a performer. Skylar shares her perspective on finding her own voice as an artist and what she hopes to give back to the art form that has shaped so much of her life.Thank you again to everyone who has helped make these first 50 episodes possible. I'm so excited to share this milestone with all of you, and I hope this conversation reminds you that there's a place for you in ballet, wherever you are in your journey. Check it out!Follow Skylar Brandt on Instagram: @skylarbrandtLearn more about American Ballet Theatre: www.abt.org Donate to The Adult Ballet Studio’s 50th episode fundraiser for United Palace Theatre: https://kindest.com/872422-restore-unitedpalace-organSubscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube: @adultballetstudioMusic in this episode:Waltz of the Flowers - TchaikovskyBarroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeodBarroom 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=USUAN1100310Artist: http://incompetech.com/@eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.comThe Adult Ballet Studio has merch! https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/

What does it mean to make dance accessible? Is it simply opening doors to more people, or is it about creating spaces where everyone feels that they truly belong once they’re through the door and into the studio?On this bonus episode of The Adult Ballet Studio, Andrea Ziegelman is in the studio! She is the founder and executive and artistic director of Accent Dance NYC, a nonprofit organization that uses the dance to build bridges between communities, celebrate cultural diversity, and bring dance education and performances to children and families across New York City and lower Westchester County.Since its founding, Accent Dance NYC has reached more than 45,000 school-aged children, introducing them to movement traditions ranging from ballet and flamenco to West African dance and hip-hop. The company explores important subjects like immigration, identity, and climate change through dance.Andrea's own path is fascinating. She grew up in a family of professional classical musicians, trained seriously in ballet from a young age, and studied dance at the University of Utah. She also went on to build a career as an attorney in New York City, while continuing to dance, perform, and teach.In our conversation, we talk about Andrea's lifelong connection to ballet, what inspired her to found Accent Dance NYC, and how dance can create understanding and connection across different cultures and experiences.We also discuss Accent's October gala, Seen, including a new work by acclaimed ballerina Ingrid Silva, and the ongoing conversation around representation and belonging in the dance world.And, of course, we bring it back to adult ballet and what meaningful access to dance really looks like for dancers of all ages. We discuss how we can create more welcoming spaces for adult dancers, and why it's never too late to see yourself as part of the dance community. Check it out!Learn more about Accent Dance NYC: accent.danceFollow Accent Dance NYC on Instagram: @accentdancenycDonate to The Adult Ballet Studio’s 50th episode fundraiser for United Palace Theatre: https://kindest.com/872422-restore-unitedpalace-organSubscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube: @adultballetstudioMusic in this episode:Waltz of the Flowers - TchaikovskyBarroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeodBarroom 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=USUAN1100310Artist: http://incompetech.com/@eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.comThe Adult Ballet Studio has merch! https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/

Isabella Rubietta, dancer, choreographer and founder of Minnesota Ballet Collective, is in the studio this month!Isabella began dancing at just three years old, exploring ballet, tap, jazz, and musical theater before dedicating herself to classical ballet at the age of ten. She went on to train at Ballet Royale of Minnesota, perform with Twin Cities Ballet, and attend summer programs including with American Ballet Theatre and Kansas City Ballet.Today, she is in her fourth season with Minnesota Ballet Collective, an organization that she founded in 2023. Minnesota Ballet Collective is committed to empowering advanced ballet dancers through creativity, collaboration, and artistic growth. The Collective also places a strong emphasis on building an inclusive and supportive community.Her story doesn’t stop with dance! She holds a degree in biology, has explored choreography through her work at the University of Minnesota, where she has begun law school.In our conversation, we talk about her journey from young dancer to artist, what she has learned from performing and choreographing, her experiences with Minnesota Ballet Collective, and the ways ballet has shaped how she thinks about public health, community, and advocacy. We also talk about the pressure and expectations that come with being a dancer, the importance of creating more inclusive spaces in ballet, and what it means to build a life that doesn’t fit neatly into just one career or identity. Check it out!Learn more about Minnesota Ballet Collective: mnballetcollective.orgFollow Minnesota Ballet Collective on Instagram: @mnballetcollectiveDonate to The Adult Ballet Studio’s 50th episode fundraiser for United Palace Theatre: https://kindest.com/872422-restore-unitedpalace-organSubscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube: @adultballetstudioMusic in this episode:Waltz of the Flowers - TchaikovskyBarroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeodBarroom 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=USUAN1100310Artist: http://incompetech.com/@eblosfield | theadultballetstudio@gmail.comThe Adult Ballet Studio has merch! https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/

Maureen Footer is an author and cultural historian whose work explores the ways artists, designers, and creators shape the culture around them, and she joined The Adult Ballet Studio this month!Maureen is the author of several acclaimed books on fashion, architecture and design, and her newest book takes her into the world of dance with Feel the Floor: Restoring the Life and Legacy of Jazz Choreographer Buddy Bradley, published by Beacon Press.The book tells the story of Buddy Bradley, a Black choreographer and teacher whose career began during the Harlem Renaissance and eventually took him from Broadway to London’s West End. There, his work helped transform theatrical dance. Bradley taught and influenced some of the biggest performers of his era, and his choreography drew from tap, jazz, ballroom, folk dance and mime.Bradley’s influence also extended into classical ballet. His work helped shape the movement vocabulary of many choreographers, including George Balanchine, and contributed to the development of what would become neoclassical ballet. Yet, despite the reach of his influence, Bradley’s name largely disappeared from mainstream dance history, especially in the U.S. Feel the Floor seeks to change that by restoring Bradley’s story.Maureen is also a lifelong ballet enthusiast and serves on the boards of New York City Ballet, the Jerome Robbins Dance Division of the New York Public Library, and the American Friends of the Paris Opera Ballet.We talk about Bradley’s remarkable legacy, the ways racism and cultural hierarchies have shaped what gets preserved in dance history, and what his story can teach us about influence, inclusion and belonging in the world of ballet. Check it out!Get a copy of Feel the Floor: https://www.amazon.com/Feel-Floor-Restoring-Choreographer-Bradley/dp/0807045241Follow Maureen on Instagram: @maureenfooterLearn more about Maureen’s work: www.maureenfooter.netSubscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube: @adultballetstudioMusic in this episode:Waltz of the Flowers - TchaikovskyBarroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeodBarroom 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=USUAN1100310Artist: http://incompetech.com/@eblosfield  | theadultballetstudio@gmail.comThe Adult Ballet Studio has merch! https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/

Jen Alden is in the studio this month! She is a choreographer, director, arts leader, and financial executive whose work spans professional performance, arts advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement. She trained with the State Ballet of Oregon, Eugene Ballet, and the University of Oregon before performing as a soloist with the State Ballet of Oregon and dancing with contemporary companies in Portland. Along the way, she also developed a love for musical theater, choreographing her first production, West Side Story, at just 17 years old.After moving to Tulsa, Jennifer co-founded what is now Oklahoma Movement, a nonprofit contemporary dance organization dedicated to using movement as a catalyst for conversation and change. Over the past 15 years, she's created more than 15 evening-length works exploring topics including mental health, addiction, social inequality, women's issues, and systemic racism. In 2020, the organization shifted its focus beyond performance to emphasize outreach, advocacy, and education, reflecting a belief that movement has the power to connect communities and inspire meaningful dialogue.Jennifer's impact extends beyond the studio too! She's choreographed for Tulsa Opera, Theatre Tulsa, Tulsa Symphony, and numerous productions throughout the region, while also serving as chief financial and operating officer of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. There, she's helped secure funding to support one of Oklahoma's most important cultural institutions.In this conversation, Jennifer challenges the idea that artists have to choose between creativity and practicality. We talk about balancing careers in both finance and the arts, building sustainable pathways for artists, creating welcoming spaces for adult dancers, and using dance to explore some of the most complex issues facing our communities. Check it out!Learn more about Oklahoma Movement: oklahomamovement.orgFollow Oklahoma Movement on Instagram: @oklahoma_movementLearn more Tulsa PAC and find tix for Universal Theory: tulsapac.com Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube: @adultballetstudioMusic in this episode:Waltz of the Flowers - TchaikovskyBarroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeodBarroom 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=USUAN1100310Artist: http://incompetech.com/@eblosfield  | theadultballetstudio@gmail.comThe Adult Ballet Studio has merch! Shop here!

Larry Keigwin, dancer, choreographer and artistic director of KEIGWIN + COMPANY, joined The Adult Ballet Studio for a bonus episode! Keigwin is a native New Yorker, choreographer, and curator who has danced his way from the Metropolitan Opera to Broadway and back. He has created 30 works, including his community-based piece for all ages - Rhapsody - that kicked off Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City festival this year.This community dance work featured 40 New Yorkers, and the group was made up of dancers and non-dancers of all ages and backgrounds. Each version of Rhapsody is shaped by its location and ensemble of dancers and celebrates making art, humanity and shared space. Lincoln center’s Summer for the City festival is even more dance focused than before thanks to the launch of The Pasculano Collaborative for Contemporary Dance, which anchors this year’s festival. The season features New York-based talent as well as artists from around the world, wellness events, and education initiatives that are all offered for free or choose-what-you-pay. The collaborative also paves the way for Lincoln Center’s inaugural Contemporary Dance Festival – a new festival that will be offered each summer and winter. Check it this interview with Larry!Learn more about KEIGWIN + COMPANY: keigwinandcompany.comFollow Larry Keigwin: @larry_keigwinCheck out Lincoln Center's Summer for the City: Summer for the CitySubscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube: @adultballetstudioMusic in this episode:Waltz of the Flowers - TchaikovskyBarroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeodBarroom 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=USUAN1100310Artist: http://incompetech.com/@eblosfield  | theadultballetstudio@gmail.comThe Adult Ballet Studio has merch! Check it out: https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/

Erica Centola, founder of Tournesol Dance in Rochester, New York, is in the studio this month! Have you ever felt like ballet wasn't built for your body—or because you started later, took a long break, or don't fit the "traditional" dancer mold, you somehow don't belong in the studio? Erica is so good at dispelling those myths and encouraging dancers at any stage of their lives or training to do what they love!Tournesol Dance is an adult-only ballet school that's redefining what serious ballet training can look like for adult dancers. A former histology technician turned ballet teacher and studio owner, Erica combines her understanding of anatomy and biology with an individualized approach to teaching. She helps adult students build stronger technique while rediscovering confidence, creativity, and joy.In this conversation, we talked about why dance is so much more than exercise. We explored how ballet can help heal the mind, reduce stress, reconnect us with our creative selves, and become a powerful source of resilience in adulthood.Erica also shared her journey back to ballet after a long hiatus and why she ultimately created the kind of ballet school she wished had existed for adult dancers all along— where adults are taken seriously, given thoughtful corrections, and offered real opportunities to grow and perform. Check it out!Learn more about Tournesol Dance: https://tournesoldance.com/Learn more about Erica: @ericacentolaFollow Tournesol Dance on Instagram: @tournesoldanceSubscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube: @adultballetstudioMusic in this episode:Waltz of the Flowers - TchaikovskyBarroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeodBarroom 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=USUAN1100310Artist: http://incompetech.com/@eblosfield  | theadultballetstudio@gmail.comThe Adult Ballet Studio has merch! Check it out: https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/

Tony-winning choreographer Omari Wiles is in the studio for a bonus episode! Omari is the founder and artistic director of The House of NiNa Oricci and Les Ballet Afrik, and he recently made his Broadway debut and won a Tony along with Arturo Lyons for their choreography on Cats: The Jellicle Ball on Broadway. Les Ballet Afrik’s piece, New York Is Burning, was presented this year at Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City Festival as part of the outdoor Dance Encounters series, and I spoke with Omari afterwards about what it means to see vogue and ballroom culture represented on some of the world’s biggest stages. Check it out!Learn more about Omari Wiles: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/omari-wiles-or-les-ballet-afrikConnect with Omari on Instagram: @omari_wilesCheck out Lincoln Center's Summer for the City: Summer for the City 2026Follow Lincoln Center on Instagram: @lincolncenterSubscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube: @adultballetstudioMusic in this episode:Waltz of the Flowers - TchaikovskyBarroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeodBarroom 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=USUAN1100310Artist: http://incompetech.com/@eblosfield  | theadultballetstudio@gmail.comThe Adult Ballet Studio has merch! Check it out: https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/

Laura Victoria Ward is in the studio this month! She is a choreographer, somatic movement educator, musician, painter, performer, and maximalist artist. Her work intersects with ballet, theater, geometry, punk rock, and self-acceptance. And she’s so talented at all of it!She is the artistic director of Octavia Cup Dance Theatre, a contemporary ballet company known for creating surreal, expressionistic works that push beyond traditional ballet vocabulary while still remaining in conversation with it. She’s also a movement analyst and a somatic movement educator.Laura’s work makes space for contradiction, experimentation and complexity through the structure of ballet and the joy of improvisation. We discussed what belonging looks like in dance, and why some of her work wasn’t initially well received by audiences and how she pushed past it to create meaningful work that resonates. She also gave advice about connecting with mentors, collaboration and doing work you believe in. Check out our conversation!Learn more about Octavia Cup Dance Theatre: https://www.youtube.com/user/octaviacup?app=desktopLearn more about Laura: www.lauravward.net Check out her somatic movement work: https://www.youtube.com/@SOMATICSwithLauraVWardFollow Laura on Instagram: @lauravictoriawardSubscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube: @adultballetstudioMusic in this episode:Waltz of the Flowers - TchaikovskyBarroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeodBarroom 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=USUAN1100310Artist: http://incompetech.com/@eblosfield  | theadultballetstudio@gmail.comSupport this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link