The Adult Ballet Studio

Elizabeth Blosfield

The Adult Ballet Studio is a podcast featuring conversations with dancers who have returned to ballet or discovered it for the first time later in life, as well as anyone working to make the ballet industry more welcoming for dancers of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. This podcast celebrates the beauty of ballet with the aim of encouraging dancers to embrace individuality, challenge tradition, and advocate for an industry where age, ability, and background are not obstacles, but sources of strength and diversity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 13 juil. ·  Bonus

    Bonus Episode: Larry Keigwin

    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: @adultballetstudio Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom 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=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield  | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com The Adult Ballet Studio has merch! Check it out: https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Bonus Episode: Larry Keigwin
  2. 7 juil.

    Episode 46: Erica Centola

    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: @adultballetstudio Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom 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=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield  | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com The Adult Ballet Studio has merch! Check it out: https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 46: Erica Centola
  3. 29 juin ·  Bonus

    Bonus Episode: Omari Wiles

    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: @adultballetstudio Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom 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=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield  | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com The Adult Ballet Studio has merch! Check it out: https://theadultballetstudio-shop.fourthwall.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Bonus Episode: Omari Wiles
  4. 2 juin

    Episode 45: Laura Victoria Ward

    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: @adultballetstudio Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom 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=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield  | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 45: Laura Victoria Ward
  5. 19 mai

    Episode 44: Reed Luplau

    Reed Luplau is in the studio for this mid-month episode! He’s a dancer, choreographer, and performer and has built such a multifaceted and versatile career in the performing arts. He trained at the Australian Ballet School and performed with Sydney Dance Company, and he’s appeared in the original Broadway casts of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, and the 2015 revival of Fiddler on the Roof. As a choreographer, his work has spanned Broadway, opera, concert dance, large-scale live events, and festivals across the United States and Australia. Now, he’s bringing his own work to the stage with the world premiere of How Will I Remember This, a new dance narrative presented by Reed Luplau Works in association with the Institute for American Musical Theatre. This piece is inspired by the history of Eldorado — the legendary queer cabaret nightclub in Weimar, Berlin, shut down by the nazis in 1933. The piece explores memory, identity, loss, and erasure through movement, music, and theatrical storytelling. The production will play for three performances only on May 22, 23, and 24, 2026, at the IAMT Theater in New York City. The link to purchase tickets is below! In this conversation, we talk about Reed’s path from ballet to Broadway, the artistic transitions that shaped his career, and why dance became the medium through which he wanted to tell this story. We also talk about starting ballet late, mentorship and accessibility in the performing arts, and the importance of creating more inclusive dance spaces. Check out our conversation! Purchase tickets for How Will I Remember This: https://prezlymail.com/c/93902432-7c6f-4912-b47b-a3f290239ad3/a11eb31f/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simpletix.com%2Fe%2Fhow-will-i-remember-this-tickets-264925Learn more about Reed and his work: http://www.reedluplau.com/Follow Reed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reedluplau/Check out the Netflix documentary about Eldorado: https://www.netflix.com/title/81331646Subscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube: @adultballetstudio Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom 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=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield  | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 44: Reed Luplau
  6. 5 mai

    Episode 43: Anne Easterling

    Anne Easterling, founder and director of The Ballet Club, is in the studio this month! The Ballet Club is a New York–based school that Anne launched in 2011 with a mission to make ballet accessible to students of all ages. Anne brings decades of experience to her work as both a performer and educator. She began her professional dance career performing classical and modern repertoire across the United States and Europe, and she also trained as a competitive figure skater. Since then, she’s been teaching ballet and developing an approach to training that blends strong classical technique with creativity and individuality. She has an MFA in Dance from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and has taught at Broadway Dance Center, Ballet Hispánico, Peridance Center, and 92nd Street Y. At The Ballet Club, Anne has created a unique environment welcoming everyone from toddlers as young as 18 months to adult students well into their 70s. Her philosophy centers on the idea that ballet is not just for performance or for a select few, but a lifelong practice that supports both the body and the mind. In this episode, we talk about Anne’s journey into dance and how her experiences in both ballet and figure skating shaped her artistic path. We explore her teaching philosophy — including what she means when she says “ballet is for the brain” — and how she approaches working with adult beginners who might feel intimidated or unsure about starting later in life. We also dive into The Ballet Club’s curriculum, the importance of staying a student even as a teacher, and why performance opportunities can be transformative for dancers of all ages. For those who are curious about starting ballet as an adult, Anne shares insights into her on-demand course, All You Need to Know Before You Begin Ballet Class, designed to help beginners build confidence, understand the structure of class, and take those first steps in a supportive way. Check it out! Learn more about The Ballet Club: www.theballetclub.comCheck out The Ballet Club’s on-demand class for beginners, All You Need To Know Before You Begin Ballet Class: https://theballetclub.vhx.tv/Follow The Ballet Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBalletClubFollow The Ballet Club on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theballetclub/Subscribe to The Ballet Club on Youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/@TheBalletClubOnlineSubscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube: @adultballetstudio Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom 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=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield  | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 43: Anne Easterling
  7. 7 avr.

    Episode 42: Anabella Lenzu

    Anabella Lenzu joined the studio this month! She is an internationally recognized dancer, choreographer, educator, and scholar whose career spans more than 35 years across the globe. She is the founder and artistic director of Anabella Lenzu/DanceDrama, a dance theatre company in New York City. Anabella brings together ballet, modern, tango, and dance theatre, and she’s taught in more than 50 institutions worldwide. She currently teaches at NYU and Peridance Center in New York City. In addition to her performance and teaching career, Anabella is also a published author and the president of the American Dance Guild. In this conversation, we explore her journey into dance and what led her to pursue it as a lifelong career, how her experiences across cultures have shaped her artistic voice and teaching philosophy, and what drew her to choreography as a means of expression. We also dive into her newest book, Teaching and Learning Dance Through Meaningful Gestures, and unpack ideas like active imagination, the role of gesture in movement, and why visual documentation can be such a powerful tool for dancers. She gives advice on how to approach dance with a sense of wholeness, how to navigate fear or self-doubt in the studio, and how to embrace your own body as a source of experience, history, and identity. Check it out! Learn more about Anabella: anabellalenzu.comFollow Anabella on Instagram: instagram.com/anabellalenzuPurchase her latest book: https://www.anabellalenzu.com/meaningful-gesturesDonate to Anabella Lenzu / DanceDrama: https://www.anabellalenzu.com/donateSubscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube: @adultballetstudio Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom 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=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield  | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 42: Anabella Lenzu
  8. 3 mars

    Episode 41: Peter Stathas & Lauren Twomley

    Peter Stathas, founder and artistic director of Peter Stathas Dance, and company dancer Lauren Twomley, are in the studio this month for a conversation that stretches across generations of New York dance history! Peter and Lauren talk about how embracing curiosity and risking the unexpected keeps dance fresh, meaningful, and connected across generations. Peter began his dance career at SUNY Purchase before performing with the José Limón Dance Company. Then, he spent 30 years as a physical therapist and entrepreneur before returning to choreography in 2016. He talks about how emotional the experience was for him of returning to dance and gives his advice for other dancers who are stepping back into the studio or back on stage after some time away. In 2018, the duet Assuage sparked the creation of his company, rooted in a mission to create dance that reflects the human experience while advocating for sustainability, collaboration, and equity in the field. In February of this year, Peter Stathas Dance Company presented its program, What We Hold, a cross-generational program at the Mark Morris Dance Center. The evening brought works from the 1980s back into the studio and onto the stage — not as a form of nostalgia, but as a living conversation across time, as the company describes it. These pieces were set on a new generation of dancers navigating today’s dance landscape. Born in Brooklyn and a graduate of SUNY Purchase with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Arts Management, Lauren is one of those dancers. She has worked with a range of choreographers and has performed masterworks by Martha Graham, José Limón, and Merce Cunningham. She joined the Limón Dance Company in 2019 and now serves not only as a dancer with Peter Stathas Dance, but also rehearsal coordinator and social media manager. She’s also a teaching artist with the José Limón Dance Foundation, where she explores the deconstruction of Limón Movement Principles to make the technique more accessible and approachable. In this interview, we talk about lineage, how dancers are constructing a moment in time and becoming part of history in the process, what it means to carry someone else’s artistic work in your own body, and how love, care, and devotion make a sustainable life in dance. Check it out! Learn more about Peter Stathas Dance: peterstathasdance.comSupport the company: https://peterstathasdance.com/support/Follow Peter Stathas Dance on Instagram: instagram.com/peterstathasdanceSubscribe to The Adult Ballet Studio on YouTube: @adultballetstudio Music in this episode: Waltz of the Flowers - Tchaikovsky Barroom Ballet - Silent Film Light - Kevin MacLeod Barroom 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=USUAN1100310 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ @eblosfield  | theadultballetstudio@gmail.com Support this podcast on Patreon! https://patreon.com/TheAdultBalletStudio?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Episode 41: Peter Stathas & Lauren Twomley

À propos

The Adult Ballet Studio is a podcast featuring conversations with dancers who have returned to ballet or discovered it for the first time later in life, as well as anyone working to make the ballet industry more welcoming for dancers of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. This podcast celebrates the beauty of ballet with the aim of encouraging dancers to embrace individuality, challenge tradition, and advocate for an industry where age, ability, and background are not obstacles, but sources of strength and diversity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vous aimeriez peut‑être aussi