Ballet Help Desk

Jenny Huang and Brett Gardner
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Performing Arts
  • Updated weekly

As parents, you play a crucial role in supporting your dancer's ballet path and we know navigating the world of ballet training can be challenging. The Ballet Help Desk podcast is here to help! Tune in for expert insights on supporting your student's ballet education. We cover key topics like summer intensives, ballet competitions, full-time and postgraduate training, health and wellness, boys in ballet and more. Hear valuable advice from leading professionals across the ballet world to help your dancer make the most informed decisions about their unique training path. Learn more at www.ballethelpdesk.com.

  1. 5 hr ago

    Your Ballet Dancer Wants to Go to College. Now What?

    Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BalletHelpDesk Your dancer has decided to pursue the college path. But which program is the right fit? What's the real difference between a BFA and a BA? What does a video pre-screen actually need to accomplish? And when tuition can tip into six figures, how do families make smart financial decisions? Francisco Gella and Julie Friedrich of Francisco Gella Dance Works are back for Part 2, and they get specific. We cover BFA vs. BA, which programs they think are doing strong work right now, how to approach video pre-screens, the three types of financial aid available to dancers, and what happens if your dancer gets a company offer after already committing to a school. The 2026 workshop schedule will be announced by August 1. To be notified when registration opens, email collegeprep@franciscogelladance.com. Links: Shop Summer Intensive Essentials Guide Buy Summer Corrections Journals Read Our Ballet School Summer & Year-Round Reviews Support Ballet Help Desk Instagram: @BalletHelpDesk Facebook: BalletHelpDesk TikTok: @BalletHelpDesk Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

    1hr 14min
  2. You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    5 hr ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing Sara Al Madani: Stop Falling for “Potential” (Look for THIS Instead So You Don’t Waste Months on the Wrong Person) from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty In this deeply honest conversation, Jay sits down with Sara Al Madani where she opens up about surviving toxic relationships, rebuilding her identity, and learning that love should never require abandoning yourself. Through pain, healing, and radical self-awareness, Sara shares how inner work became the foundation for every part of her life, from relationships to faith to self-love. Jay and Sara explore why we often confuse chemistry for compatibility, why we repeat familiar relationship patterns, and how healing starts the moment we stop blaming others and start taking responsibility for our choices. This episode is a reminder that love isn’t about chasing validation or fixing people, it’s about knowing yourself deeply enough to stop settling for less.  In this episode you'll learn: How to Stop Settling for Less How to Heal Before Dating Again How to Tell The Difference Between Want and Need  How to Break Toxic Relationship Patterns How to Choose Compatibility Over Chemistry How to Rebuild Self-Worth After Heartbreak How to Become the Love You Seek The moment you stop chasing validation, stop settling for breadcrumbs, and start choosing your peace, your life begins to change in ways you never imagined. Grab a copy of Sara’s book, Dear Narcissist: F*ck You, a bold, direct, and unfiltered guide to understanding narcissists in real life, just visit https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Narcissist-Spotting-Escaping-Narcissistic/dp/B0F54NB6LP  With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe   Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 02:07 The One Question to Ask Before Dating 04:15 Are You Looking for Love or Filling a Void? 05:57 What Are Your Dating Non-Negotiables? 08:56 Chemistry Is Not the Same as Compatibility 12:01 What Does Inner Work Actually Look Like? 15:41 The First Step Toward Healing 19:25 How to Raise Your Relationship Standards 22:33 Don’t Ignore These Dating Deal-Breakers! 27:37 Knowing When It’s Time to Leave 31:32 The Cost of Staying in a Toxic Relationship 34:42 Finding the Courage to Walk Away 39:10 Healing Through Your Relationship with God 42:49 What to Do When Someone Suddenly Ghosts You 45:58 Stop Falling in Love with Potential 47:00 You Can’t Force Someone to Change 49:51 Stop Waiting for Someone to Become Better 53:05 Don’t Abandon Self-Love For a Relationship 57:58 Manifestation Starts with Surrender 58:54 Is There Truth to These Popular Love Clichés? 01:00:52 Forgiveness Is Essential For Healing 01:03:13 How to Rewire and Train Your Mind 01:05:28 Sara on Final Five Episode Resources: Website | https://saraalmadani.com/  Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/iamsaraalmadani/  Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/saraalmadani/  TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@saraalmadani  X | https://x.com/sara_almadani See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. 27 May

    What Does "Elite Ballet Training" Actually Mean for College Admissions?

    Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BalletHelpDesk Does your dancer need elite training to have a shot at a top college? But what does elite actually mean? Is it competition wins? A company-affiliated school? The right summer intensives? And does the answer look the same whether your dancer is pursuing a BFA or a non-dance degree? College and career specialists Francisco Gella and Julie Friedrich of Francisco Gella Dance Works have guided hundreds of dancers down both routes. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. In Part 1, we dig into the real differences between the BFA route and the academic route. We talk about why your school's college counselor may not understand this world and what "Olympic level" actually means when elite universities evaluate a dancer's background. We also look at why competition results carry less weight in academic admissions than many families expect, and a distinction that confuses a lot of families: the difference between a dance portfolio and a dance supplement, and what each one is actually for. The 2026 workshop schedule will be announced on or before August 1, 2026. If you are interested in receiving an announcement when registration for the Fall Virtual Workshops opens, please email collegeprep@franciscogelladance.com. Links: Summer Intensive Essentials Guide Buy Summer Corrections Journals Read Our Ballet School Summer & Year-Round Reviews Support Ballet Help Desk Instagram: @BalletHelpDesk Facebook: BalletHelpDesk TikTok: @BalletHelpDesk Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

    1hr 6min

  4. 20 May

    Making the Most of Ballet Summer Intensives: A Parent's Guide

    Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BalletHelpDesk In this host-only episode, we draw on our combined years of navigating ballet summer intensives to break down how to make the most of every program -- for your dancer and for you. We talk through what to do before your dancer leaves, how to handle drop-off day, and what to expect once they're there. We also get into the stuff nobody warns you about: what a scholarship really signals, how to handle the tap-on-the-shoulder conversation about year-round enrollment, navigating roommate issues, and what to do if your kid gets in trouble -- and yes, we are speaking from experience on that last one. Links: Shop Summer Intensive Essentials Guide Buy Summer Corrections Journals Read Our Ballet School Summer & Year-Round Reviews Support Ballet Help Desk Instagram: @BalletHelpDesk Facebook: BalletHelpDesk TikTok: @BalletHelpDesk Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

    1hr 3min

  5. 13 May

    American Repertory Ballet Gets Real About the Pipeline

    Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BalletHelpDesk American Reportory Ballet Artistic Director Samantha Dunster and Executive Director Julie Diana Hench join us for a conversation that gets refreshingly honest about the post-graduate pipeline, the job market, and what it means to truly prepare dancers for professional life.  We dig into the structure of Princeton Ballet School from youngest students through the trainee program, how the school and company function as a single organization, and what actionable feedback actually looks like in practice. We also get into ARB2, the tricky math of a large trainee cohort and a tight job market, and a genuinely moving conversation about hunger, artistry, and what it means to inspire an audience. Links: Summer Intensive Essentials Guide Buy Summer Corrections Journals Read Our Ballet School Summer & Year-Round Reviews Support Ballet Help Desk Instagram: @BalletHelpDesk Facebook: BalletHelpDesk TikTok: @BalletHelpDesk Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

    1hr 10min

  6. 6 May

    The Mental Toll of "Be Grateful You're Here"

    Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BalletHelpDesk The corrections never stop. The casting is always uncertain. And somewhere along the way, many dancers learn to keep all of it behind a smile, because showing weakness feels like handing someone a reason to replace you. Josh Spell, Kari Brunson Wright, and Rachel Coates have all been in that studio. As former professional dancers (Josh and Kari at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Rachel at Kansas City Ballet), they understand this from the inside. Now, as licensed therapists and coaches, they've built the ILUMN Collective, an app and platform designed to give dancers the kind of mental and emotional tools to help navigate the often stressful times that inevatably arise during ballet training. In this conversation, the three founders get specific about what's actually happening in the minds of pre-professional dancers: the perfectionism that hardens into an inner critic, the body image challenges that develop quietly, the disembodiment that can take years (sometimes decades) to recognize and reverse. They talk about why gratitude culture in ballet can become a mechanism of control, what it looks like when a wellness program is real versus when it's just a sign on a door, and why giving dancers mental health tools without also educating teachers and directors is a little like handing someone a TheraBand and calling it physical therapy. For parents, there's a lot here too. How do you talk to a kid who's been trained not to show struggle? What's your role when the school has the authority and you're just the ride home? And what does it actually mean to be part of the care team, not just a spectator? Intrested in trying the ILUMN Collective's app? Check out our Summer Intensive Essentials Guide for an exclusive discoount. Links: Summer Intensive Essentials Guide Buy Summer Corrections Journals Read Our Ballet School Summer & Year-Round Reviews Support Ballet Help Desk Instagram: @BalletHelpDesk Facebook: BalletHelpDesk TikTok: @BalletHelpDesk Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

    1hr 29min

  7. 29 Apr

    Ballet's Bottom Line: Finances, Contracts, and the Fight for Dancer Rights

    Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BalletHelpDesk Every ballet company's tax return is public record. Most dancers have never seen one. Liza Yntema, founder of the Dance Data Project, and Griff Braun, National Organizing Director at the American Guild of Musical Artists, walk us through what the numbers reveal. We start with the 990, how to read it, and what a company's revenue structure tells you about its priorities. From there we get into the funding landscape, leadership compensation, and why the gap between what artistic directors make and what dancers make is worth paying attention to. On the contract side, Griff breaks down what's in a collective bargaining agreement, what dancers should look for when they sign, and what generations of dancers have fought to put in those documents. We also get into the one-year contract cycle, the psychological weight it puts on dancers, and how the U.S. compares to countries that fund their arts institutions in a meaningful way. We also address the pay-to-play question directly: the trainee model, sponsored dancers, and the financial barriers that quietly shape who gets to have a professional ballet career. Plus: board governance, leadership training, and what would need to change for ballet companies to function differently. Links: Summer Intensive Essentials Guide Buy Summer Corrections Journals Read Our Ballet School Summer & Year-Round Reviews Support Ballet Help Desk Instagram: @BalletHelpDesk Facebook: BalletHelpDesk TikTok: @BalletHelpDesk Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

    1hr 43min

  8. 22 Apr

    Train in Germany, Dance in Europe: The Palucca Path to a Professional Ballet Career

    Listen to Ballet Help Desk ad-free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BalletHelpDesk What does ballet training look like when it's housed inside a 100-year-old university, with the Semperoper Ballet as your next-door neighbor? We sat down with Rector Prof. Katharina Christl and Vice-Rector Prof. Juliana Sabino Wilhelm of Palucca University of Dance in Dresden, Germany, for a close look at one of Europe's most distinctive training models. Students can enter as young as 10, earn a bachelor's degree by 18, and perform side-by-side with professional dancers at Semperoper Ballet while still enrolled. We covered how ballet training works in Germany versus the U.S., what the BA program looks like day-to-day, how Palucca approaches student wellness and injury prevention, and what the European job market really looks like right now. Plus the audition process, what international students need to know before applying, and the one thing both professors want every ballet parent to hear. Links: Summer Intensive Essentials Guide Buy Summer Corrections Journals Read Our Ballet School Summer & Year-Round Reviews Support Ballet Help Desk Instagram: @BalletHelpDesk Facebook: BalletHelpDesk TikTok: @BalletHelpDesk Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/ian-aisling/new-future License code: MGAW5PAHYEYDQZCI

    1hr 45min
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About

As parents, you play a crucial role in supporting your dancer's ballet path and we know navigating the world of ballet training can be challenging. The Ballet Help Desk podcast is here to help! Tune in for expert insights on supporting your student's ballet education. We cover key topics like summer intensives, ballet competitions, full-time and postgraduate training, health and wellness, boys in ballet and more. Hear valuable advice from leading professionals across the ballet world to help your dancer make the most informed decisions about their unique training path. Learn more at www.ballethelpdesk.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Jenny Huang and Brett Gardner
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    187
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Ballet Help Desk and BalletHelpDesk.com.
  • Show Website
    Ballet Help Desk
  • Provider

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