In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Jennifer Kuroiwa as she opens up about her journey through mental health challenges, insecurities, and finding joy in activities like yoga, ice skating, and, of course, ballet. Jennifer’s ballet story is anything but typical. At five, she tried ballet and decided it wasn’t for her. Decades later, ballet came back into her life—this time on her 40th birthday when she took her first live class with Broche Ballet. The timing was perfect, and...

In this inspiring episode, we’re thrilled to welcome back Kelsey Maloney-Steiner from The Facet Dance Collective! Kelsey opens up about overcoming fear on her personal pointe journey and how embracing authenticity through dance has helped her grow as both a dancer and choreographer. We explore the challenges and joys of crafting choreography for solo and group pieces, shedding light on the powerful connection between creativity and self-expression.Stay tuned until the end as we discuss the...

In this inspiring episode of Broche Banter, we're thrilled to welcome Leigh Grant, a passionate adult ballet teacher and choreographer who has built a space where adult dancers feel seen and appreciated. Leigh’s journey began at the young age of five, but like many, she took a long break and returned later in life, only to face the realization that a professional company wasn’t in her future. Instead of letting that dream go, she turned her disappointment into something powerful—her school,...

This week, we’re joined by Holly, a self-taught artist and dedicated adult ballet dancer, who’s currently training to go en pointe. Together, we delve into the ever-relatable “taste gap”—the often frustrating space between where we are and where we aspire to be. Ballet brings its own unique challenges, and for adult dancers, it’s a rare pursuit that’s not always met with understanding or encouragement, unlike more typical hobbies like gym workouts or marathon training. Holly shares how...

We are delighted to chat with our guest Gabrielle Erickson, our Swan Queen from the International Adult Ballet Festival (IABF) 2024. In this inspiring episode, Gabrielle shares her journey back to dance and finding her place in the world at a pivotal time in her life. Tune in to hear about the motivators that drive her, from the allure of costumes and competitions to the powerful sense of community, and her determination to be a role model for her grandchild. We also dive into the...

In this week’s episode, Rosy Pigott shares valuable insights for adult dancers on building confidence and transforming mental barriers and ingrained movement patterns. Instead of being held back by labels like "I'm a bad turner" or "I can't balance," Rosy encourages us to push past these limits. She provides actionable advice on improving balance and core strength, without the need to spend hours at the barre every day. By focusing on small, consistent actions, big progress is within...

Kelsey and Jessica, founders of the new Facet Dance Collective in Arkansas, join me on Broche Banter to talk about their exciting new project, why they created it, and their inspiring vision for the future. In this episode, we discuss what brought them together and how they embody the phrase 'be the change you want to see in the world,' creating incredible opportunities for adults to take the stage! Stay in touch with Facet: - ⁠Facet Dance Collective⁠ - ⁠Instagram⁠ Learn about the...

Kelsey and Jessica, founders of the new Facet Dance Collective in Arkansas, join me on Broche Banter to explore what performing means to us as adults. Beyond the choreography, we dive into the deeper significance of being on stage in adulthood. Keep listening with Part 2, out now! Stay in touch with Facet: - Facet Dance Collective - Instagram Learn about the International Adult Ballet Festival: - IABF

In this inspiring episode of Broche Banter, we chat with Jessica Maddox, the cover model of Broche Magazine Issue #2, about her lifelong journey in ballet. Jessica opens up about the highs and lows of maintaining a ballet practice and shares her best tips for keeping ballet a central part of life, no matter the obstacles. Her insights will motivate dancers of all levels to stay connected to their passion and embrace the joy ballet brings at every stage. Don’t miss this episode packed with...

In this episode, I sit down with Chelsea from Dianne Dancewear to chat about all things dancewear for adults! We discuss the challenges of finding the right attire for the adult ballet body, tips for overcoming self-consciousness in the studio, and what it's like starting pointe work as an adult dancer. Chelsea shares her personal journey in ballet, as well as insights from her experience designing comfortable and flattering ballet skirts specifically for adult dancers. Plus, listeners...

In this episode, we dive into safe practices for adult ballet dancers with special guest Veronica K, a certified personal trainer, former PT assistant, and professional dancer. Join us as we explore tips for injury prevention, building strength, and maintaining flexibility, tailored specifically for adult dancers. Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, Veronica shares valuable insights on how to stay safe, strong, and injury-free throughout your ballet journey. Tune in...

In today's episode, we chat with Susanne, a former yoga teacher and self-taught adult ballet dancer who brings wisdom, warmth, and kindness to our conversation. We dive into the philosophy of learning new things as an adult, explore the role of self-compassion in the pursuit of perfection, and reflect on the similarities of mastering challenging skills later in life. Whether you're a dancer, a lifelong learner, or just curious, there's something for everyone in this inspiring discussion....

In this episode, we dive into what it really takes to sustain a lifelong ballet practice. From finding the motivation to keeping up the discipline, dealing with injuries, and managing the inevitable breaks and plateaus, we discuss the ups and downs of progress. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned dancer, we explore how to balance priorities, grant yourself permission to evolve, and maintain a sense of purpose throughout your ballet journey. Tune in for an honest conversation about staying...

Learning jumps as an adult has a whole host of challenges, including building strength, coordination, power, and balance required to keep up in petite and grande allegro.Join me in Facet #9 of 10 on Season 2 of the Broche Banter Podcast to talk about all the things that go into mastering this facet of ballet.Happy dancing! :)Show Notes Links: Balance Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10638445/Frappé Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxjzImd6MEs&t=476sFrappé...

Learning turns as an adult is a very different process than learning as a kid. Whether you're dreaming of your first turn or working up to multiples, this episode will outline the principles of pirouettes to help you navigate the learning process. Find my teaching Broche Ballet on YouTube and online on Zoom at brocheballet.com Live the ballet dream and perform with with me in Miami iabf.dance YouTube: Broche Ballet Instagram: @julietheballerina Instagram: @brocheballet Instagram:...

We dive into questions ranging from curious about pointe to serious about pointe for adults. Everything from how long it takes to go en pointe, what it takes to be successful en pointe, does it hurt, and more. Join me to get ready for pointe in my Journey to Pointe for Adults program. *NOTE: Please don't purchase pointe shoes without approval from an instructor and supervised instruction. Broche Ballet Youtube Channel video on Pointing Toes mentioned in the episode:...

What it is artistry? The je ne sais quoi of making something you can’t look away from. The magnetic presence of a performer; the expression, wearing your heart on your sleeve and sharing an incredible moment with the audience. In this episode, I break down why I believe adults learning ballet should begin learning this early on in their ballet journey along with my philosophy on how to work on it at the beginner levels. Happy dancing! Dance with me online at brocheballet.com Instagram...

Do you have trouble focusing in class? Remembering combinations? Forgetting your technique? This episode discusses this important part of ballet training, especially for adults with many things competing for our attention.

Cross-training & conditioning are such buzz words and I’m going to break them down a little bit for you how I see them and think about them. As always in my world, what you do depends on you and your goals. You do not have to do anything. Everything is your choice, your prerogative, and based on what you want out of this life and out of ballet! We all start somewhere different. Injuries, pregnancies, bone structures, life choices so this episode will help you learn about the goals and...

If you’ve been dancing for a while and wonder why your pirouettes aren’t working yet, or why your petite allegro isn’t getting quicker, or why your legs won’t stay turned out in the center or lift any higher, or why your port de bras still doesn’t look quite how you want, then this is the facet for you. This facet of ballet is where we work to master movements within the ballet paradigm, which involves turned out legs, pointed ankles, long toes, stretched knees, elongated posture, and arm...

This facet is the breadth of vocabulary in ballet and how we move our bodies from foot to foot across the floor and throughout space. Within this facet, we have 4 components: (1) Vocabulary - what the ballet steps are; (2) The grammar of how the steps fit together; (3) Picking combinations up quickly in class; (4) Memorizing an excerpt of choreography. In this episode, we dive into each of these facets, how adults learn these things versus how kids learn them, and what the skills are that...

When we are training our bodies, we must also train our minds. In the journey to advancing in ballet, our mind needs to adapt and grow as much as our bodies, if not more. Here’s the thing, without a positive and powerful mindset, we won’t be able to stick around long enough in our ballet journey to see real progress. Without an open mind, we won’t be able to experiment and try the new things that are needed to change habits and learn new patterns. And without a healthy relationship to our...

Today on the show, we're going to lay out all of the different facets of your ballet training: - Breadth, this is the dancing - The depth, this is the technique - The performing and storytelling - Personal and body strength Join Julie on this episode as we dig into the different facets of training an adult to learn ballet.

Today, let’s dive into how adults are currently taught ballet. We’ll talk about adult open programs, which are how many of us learn ballet, we’ll talk about what to even teach adults, and how to structure a program for busy adult lives.