Mavis Staines has been described as a visionary dance educator who has revolutionized the way dance is taught, performed, witnessed and shared across Canada and around the world. Over her 30-year tenure as Artistic Director of Canada’s National Ballet School, she has cemented the School’s reputation as the leading champion of programming excellence, access, and inclusion in dance. Join us as we chat with her along with NBS faculty member, Keith Morino, about the school's post-graduate training known as the Company Life Program. This wide ranging conversation covered everything from what they'v ..read more

Christopher Hird, Director of Education for Sarasota Ballet joins us to discuss post-graduate training programs. Hird brings a wealth of experience and insight to the conversation, having dedicated his career to shaping the next generation of ballet artists. From fostering technical proficiency to encouraging artistic expression, Hird shares the secrets behind cultivating well-rounded dancers who can comfortably move from the studio to the stage. LINKS: Sarasota Ballet School Ballet Help Desk Submit Year-Round Reviews Support Ballet Help Desk Instagram: @BalletHelpDesk ..read more

Ballet Help Desk sat down with Christopher Ruud, Second Company Manager and Rehearsal Director at Kansas City Ballet. This wide-ranging conversation covered everything from how the post-graduate levels are structured to performance opportunities to how students typically move through the ranks of the school. Chris also touched on the channels through when they recruit students as well as how they help students make that jump to the professional stage.  LINKS: Kansas City Ballet School Ballet Help Desk Submit Year-Round Reviews Support Ballet Help Desk Instagram: @BalletHelpDesk ..read more

We talked with TaKiyah Wallace-McMillian, founder of Brown Girls Do Ballet, to learn about its evolution from a personal photography project to a major philanthropic force. She discussed the organization's impact on diversity in the arts, highlighting their advocacy work, scholarship and grant programs as well as their and their global mentoring program. Tune to hear more on how Brown Girls Do Ballet is driving the conversation around diversity and getting results. Links: Brown Girls Do Ballet The Color of Dance (signed copy) Ballet Help Desk Submit Year-Round Reviews Support Ballet Help Desk ..read more

We had the pleasure of speaking with Mark Carlson and Sandra Kerr, the Co-Owners of International Ballet School in Denver, CO. Tune in to hear the perspectives of what it's like to train pre-professional dancers at a small ballet studio, launch them off to the upper levels of company affiliated programs and how things have changed since they were dancing. Website: https://internationalballetschool.net/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/internationalballetschool/   ..read more

We sat down with Sarah Wroth, Chair of the Department of Ballet at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, to hear all about IU's ballet program. University ballet programs are becoming an ever more viable means to a professional ballet career and IU is a leader is turning out well-trained and mature, employable dancers. Tune in to hear about the myriad opportunities that exist for IU ballet students including a huge performance schedule, the chance to choreograph on other students and the ability to add a second emphasis of academic study. Be sure to also check out IU's collaboration wit ..read more

Ballet Help Desk sat down with Christopher Ruud, Second Company Manager and Rehearsal Director at Kansas City Ballet. This wide-ranging conversation covered everything from how the post-graduate levels are structured to performance opportunities to how students typically move through the ranks of the school. Chris also touched on the channels through when they recruit students as well as how they help students make that jump to the professional stage.  LINKS: Kansas City Ballet School Ballet Help Desk Submit Year-Round Reviews Support Ballet Help Desk Instagram: @BalletHelpDesk ..read more

Jean-Yves Esquerre, Founder and Director of European School of Ballet, joins us to talk about his classical and contemporary trainee programs, the current state of the job market in Europe and why he thinks some schools need to rethink their post-graduate programs. Be sure to also listen for information on ESB's inaugural summer intensive taking place in Las Vegas July 8-27, 2024.  Applications for ESB's summer school are still being accepted. Learn more here: https://schoolofballet.eu/summer-school/ Links: European School of Ballet Ballet Help Desk Submit Year-Round Reviews Support ..read more

Join us for a wide ranging chat with Racheal Nye, Director of the Yvonne Chouteau School and Studio Company at Oklahoma City Ballet. Ms. Nye covers everything wanted to know about their trainee program and second company, including how they recruit, what they look for and what the path into the main company looks like. Ms. Nye also talks about the importance of not only high achievement, but also "high empathy," recognizing that the latter is sometimes in short supply at rigorous training programs. Tune in to hear more about her plans for evolving the school in the future and how students can ..read more

Today we are talking with Jennifer Sommers, the Director of the Houston Ballet Academy. Tune in to hear how students can audition to get into the academy, how scholarships work and what traits students need to possess in order to be successful in a residential ballet program. This episode also covers what life is like once dancers arrive for their time at the school. Houston Ballet Academy Ballet Help Desk Submit Year-Round Reviews Support Ballet Help Desk Instagram: @BalletHelpDesk   ..read more