Ballet Help Desk

Latest Episodes:

#NoThirds with Fran Veyette - The Myth of the Perfect Ballet Path (Part 1) Oct 30, 2025

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There's no such thing as a perfect path in ballet, and few people know that better than Francis Veyette, Co-Founder of the Veyette Virtual Ballet School. In part 1 of this episode of #NoThirds, Fran talks about the ups and downs of a dance career, how setbacks can create unexpected growth, and why parental support and trust are critical along the way. He also explains how dancers can better navigate feedback, understand company dynamics, and use peer networks to stay informed. It's a candid look at the messy, unpredictable reality of building a career in ballet, and how to make the most of it.

Interested in working with Fran at Veyette Virtual Ballet School? Check out our Back to Dance Guide for an exclusive discount.

Links:

Music from #Uppbeat:

https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future

License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

Oğulcan Borova: Training At Joffrey's Grainger Academy Oct 29, 2025

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Oğulcan Borova, Head of the Trainee and Studio Company Programs at the Grainger Academy, joins us to explain how the school is structured. The Conservatory provides intensive training, while the Trainee and Studio Company levels serve as postgraduate bridges to professional careers. Borova also discusses Winning Works, the academy's program where guest choreographers set new creations on students, offering them invaluable real-world experience. He also shares how mentorship, performance experience, and financial support combine to help dancers bridge the gap between the classroom and company life.

Learn more about the Grainger Academy on their website

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Making Ballet Belong: The Ballet Memphis Approach Oct 22, 2025

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Ballet Memphis is redefining what it means to be a ballet company. In this conversation, Artistic Director Steven McMahon and Academy Co-Directors Virginia and Brandon Ramey discuss how they've built a company that belongs to its city, one that reflects Memphis's energy, diversity, and creative spirit. They also talk about the realities of running a regional company, the importance of representation on and off the stage, and their belief that ballet's future depends on connection to community.

Learn more about Ballet Memphis on their website.

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PNB's Eva Stone on Shaping the Next Generation of Female Choreographers Oct 15, 2025

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Eva Stone believes every young woman in ballet should learn to choreograph, and she is on a mission to make that happen. In this episode, the Pacific Northwest Ballet faculty member shares why she sees choreography as essential to developing artistic confidence, voice, and agency in female dancers. She talks about her New Voices program, which gives young women the opportunity to create their own work, and how the experience transforms the way they approach dance, creativity, and leadership. Eva also reflects on her own unconventional path to PNB, the importance of building resilience through rejection, and why empowering dancers to think and create for themselves is key to the future of ballet.

Learn more about Eva on her website.

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Dancer Stories: Daria Breslin on Resilience and the Realities of Ballet Oct 08, 2025

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Dancer Daria Breslin shares her path from early training in Maryland to professional life with City Ballet of San Diego. She talks about the lessons learned at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Nashville Ballet, the importance of mentorship and community, and the realities of auditions and feedback. Daria's story offers an honest look at what it takes to stay grounded, grow as an artist, and find your place in the ballet world.

Learn more about Daria on her Instagram: @daria.ballerina18/

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Music from #Uppbeat:

https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future

License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

Eugene Ballet: From Local Roots to Lasting Impact Oct 01, 2025

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Eugene Ballet has grown from a small regional company into a thriving school and professional ensemble. Founder Toni Pimble, Artistic Director Jennifer Martin, and School Director Sara Lombardi discuss the company's journey, their approach to dancer training, including how dancers in their Aspirant program move into the company, as well as how they're shaping ballet's future in Oregon and beyond.

Read reviews of Eugene Ballet

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Music from #Uppbeat:

https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future

License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

#NoThirds: Train Smarter, Not Harder Sep 25, 2025

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In this episode of #NoThirds, we sit down with Fran Veyette, co-founder of Veyette Virtual Ballet School, to talk about the realities of ballet training and the role parents play in a dancer's journey. Fran shares why training smarter is more important than training harder, what families should consider when choosing summer intensives, and how experiences in a company setting can shape a dancer's future.

We also look at the parenting side of ballet, including how to support your child while letting them face disappointment, why every child needs a different approach, and the life skills dancers should build early to prepare for a professional career.

For parents and dancers, this episode offers practical insights into navigating the highs, lows and big decisions of pre-professional training.

Interested in working with Fran at Veyette Virtual Ballet School? Check out our Back to Dance Guide for an exclusive discount.

Links:

Music from #Uppbeat:

https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future

License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

The School of Philadelphia Ballet: Training, Trainees, and the Path to Company Life Sep 24, 2025

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Davit Karapetyan, Director of The School of Philadelphia Ballet, joins us to talk about how the school is structured and how dancers move through its levels, from the pre-professional program to PBII and beyond. He explains how auditions are evaluated, what adjudicators look for, and the common mistakes dancers should avoid.

We also dig into how scholarships are awarded and renewed, the housing available to students, and what families should consider when deciding if it is time to move to a company-affiliated school. Karapetyan discusses the realities of career planning at the postgraduate level, how many dancers transition into PBII and the main company, and the skills students need both inside and outside the studio before leaving home for residential training.

Finally, he shares his perspective on navigating the financial realities of ballet, managing expectations in a competitive field, and what he wishes young dancers and parents better understood about the path to a professional career.

Read Reviews of The School of Philadelphia Ballet

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Music from #Uppbeat:

https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future

License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

School of Richmond Ballet: Auditions, Training & Careers with Deanna Seay Sep 17, 2025

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Deanna Seay, Training Coordinator at the School of Richmond Ballet, joins us to talk about how dancers move through the school, from early training to the pre-professional program, trainee level, and second company. She explains what adjudicators look for in auditions (and common mistakes), how scholarships work at different levels, and why not all of Richmond Ballet's trainees come from full-time training backgrounds. We also cover when families should consider a company-affiliated school, the culture Richmond Ballet aims to foster, and how students are prepared for both company life and a sustainable professional career.

Read Reviews of The School of Richmond Ballet

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Music from #Uppbeat:

https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future

License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

Dancer Stories: Jaya Dhand's Journey to Ballet West Sep 10, 2025

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This is the first episode in our new Dancer Stories series, where professional dancers share their training paths their move into company life. Jaya Dhand talks about her experience at Indiana University, how she got hired by Ballet West 2, and her recent promotion to the main company. She explains the choices that shaped her training, what the audition process was like, and how she adjusted to professional life. Jaya also shares what she wishes she'd known as a student, the realities of dancer finances, and her advice for those preparing to go pro.

Links:

Music from #Uppbeat:

https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future

License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI