The Ballerinatist

The Ballerinatist
  • 5.0 (6)
  • PERFORMING ARTS

Sharing stories of dancers, dance educators, and movement practitioners to inspire, educate, and transform how we see, experience, and interpret dance. Hosted by Melissa Croushorn. A former high performance athlete and dancer, she is a writer, movement educator, and dance education consultant. She specializes in pre-professional dancer training and development. Learn more about dance education, careers in dance, and get your Dancer Career Planner: https://www.theballerinatist.com/.

  1. JAN 23

    Nerd Out on Dance

    Melissa previews the upcoming season focus - BOOKS. From technique to anatomy to creativity, Melissa shares from her personal dance library the resources that meaningfully influenced her training and education. Whether it is nurturing curiosity for a young dancer or learning how to design a syllabus for dance, Melissa scoured through every bookstore to educate herself as a young dancer in a small town. Get on the list when The Ballerinerd™ Club launches: https://www.theballerinatist.com/the-ballerinerd-club-list

    25 min
  2. Little Moments, Lifelong Impact

    JAN 11

    Little Moments, Lifelong Impact

    To conclude the Faith-Based Dance Season, Melissa shares about her first faith-based dance work. She produced a performance for young dancers during her freshman year of college based on Luke 12:27. Melissa reflects on all the ways God provided to make the performance possible and the meaningful lessons she learned that propelled her into a career in dance.

    35 min
  3. Seed Planting with Amanda Standard

    12/31/2025

    Seed Planting with Amanda Standard

    Melissa speaks with Amanda Standard, K-12 Dance Educator and Founding Director of Divine Dance Institute and Sound Xpressed Dance Company. Fun Fact: her son Xavier Mack dances with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre!Amanda shares about staying anchored in ministry by remaining accountable, finding fulfillment in moving for God’s pleasure, and being willing to bend (so you don’t break!).Thanks for listening, leaving a like/comment, and sharing with a friend.You can learn more about Amanda: divinedanceinstitute.comYou can learn about dance education and careers in dance: theballerinatist.com.

    27 min

  4. 10/21/2025

    Summer Dance Program Season Recap

    Melissa interviewed a range of directors and educators about their own personal summer dance training experiences and how they’re choosing to shape their programs now - from universities to ballet companies to pre-professional studios! This season included seasoned professional artists and newly tenured directors offering the highs, lows, and things to focus on for successful, productive summer dance programs. Enjoy the recap!

    28 min
  5. Big Feelings with Melody Mendoza

    09/10/2025

    Big Feelings with Melody Mendoza

    Melody Mendoza, Founder and Artistic Director of Glorify Performing Arts in West Chester, PA, shares about the vision for the company which launched in 2018, what it took to get started, and how they’re building the foundation for growth. Bio: She studied ballet under Edmund & Irene Novak, later adding jazz and modern, at studios including The Rock School West, The Dance Center, and Koresh School of Dance. Beginning liturgical dance at age 9, she also participated in The Good Samaritan Dance Ministry under Valerie Henry and Gwen Prestwood.After she completed undergraduate dance studies at Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2012, Melody formed a small dance company with Donna FitzPatrick where they choreographed two contemporary, faith based, ballets utilizing ballet, tap and jazz to share stories of Christ’s grace and truth. She received her Pre-Primary – Level 5 certification of American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum.Melody has worked locally as a musical theatre dance teacher and choreographer at SALT Performing Arts, West Chester Studios for the Performing Arts, and Delaware County Christian School. Melody shares about cultivating a unified company from a diverse pool of artists; establishing a safe, healthy culture through core values - not just feelings; and, intentionally building a strong foundation for company growth. She mentioned the book Art & Faith: A Theology of Making: https://a.co/d/0oPzUYJ Learn more about Melody and Glorify Performing Arts: https://glorifyperformingarts.org/ You can learn more about dance education and career planning for dancers at theballerinatist.com

    26 min
  6. Without Compromise with Jenna Jones

    09/05/2025

    Without Compromise with Jenna Jones

    Jenna Jones, Founder and program director at Belamour Dance Leadership Academy in Lebanon, TN, has an extended back ground in the performing arts and classical ballet. She created her academy in 2022 and shares about the choices she has made in terms of leadership, management, and dance training to shape a unique program. We talk about difficult decisions, the dynamic pathways a career in dance and ministry can take, and committing to integrity at every step in the process without compromise.  Learn more about Jenna and Belamour Dance Leadership Academy. You can learn more about dance education and career planning for dancers at theballerinatist.com.

    27 min
  7. Consistent & Persistent with Victoria Schneider

    08/18/2025

    Consistent & Persistent with Victoria Schneider

    Victoria Schneider is celebrating thirty years on the ballet faculty at Harid Conservatory. She began her ballet training with Fred Danieli at the School of the Garden State Ballet in New Jersey, performing with the Company while still in her teens and danced soloist roles in a number of Balanchine ballets. At Pennsylvania Ballet, she took on various jobs: dancer, teacher, administrator, and assistant to both company founder Barbara Weisberger and artistic director Benjamin Harkarvy.  She moved to Italy to become principal teacher at La Scuola di Danza Classica in Florence. She later opened the school at Tampa Ballet while studying with Jurgen Schneider—who later became her husband—and helped him organize Russian-ballet teaching seminars across the United States and in Australia and Asia. She was accepted into the international teachers’ course at the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia - one of only three Americans to be certified through the two-year program.  In our conversation, Vicki shares about the process of becoming an educator, navigating the professional landscape of dance, and the humility it takes to be willing to grow. Learn more about Vicki and Harid Conservatory: https://harid.edu/ballet-faculty/victoria-schneider/ You can learn more about dance education and career planning for dancers at theballerinatist.com

    33 min
  8. The Gift of Uncertainty with Julianna Rubio Slager

    08/01/2025

    The Gift of Uncertainty with Julianna Rubio Slager

    Julianna Rubio Slager is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Ballet 5:8—a nationally recognized company based in Chicago. She trained with renowned mentors from the Ann Arbor Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, the Vaganova Academy, and the Puerto Rican National Ballet. Julianna also danced at Greater Lansing Ballet and Ballet Magnificat. In 2012, Julianna co-founded Ballet 5:8 with Amy Sanderson, aiming to elevate ballet as a medium for discussion of life and faith. With over two decades of teaching experience, she oversees programming for over 400 students at Ballet 5:8 annually, guiding them to pursue both technical excellence and personal authenticity. Her approach honors each dancer’s unique story, encouraging the integration of culture, faith, and self-reflection into their artistic voice.  She was named a National Visiting Fellow at the School of American Ballet in 2023. She is a recipient of multiple Illinois Arts Council grants and was awarded a DCASE Individual Artist Grant in 2015. Her work has been featured by NBC, PBS, Fox, Chicago Magazine, Newcity Stage, and See Chicago Dance. In our conversation, Julianna shares about sculpting a unique identity for Ballet 5:8, leaning into uncertainty, and finding beauty in every stage of life as an artist. Learn more about Julianna and Ballet 5:8 at https://www.ballet58.org/ You can learn more about dance education and career planning for dancers at theballerinatist.com

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Sharing stories of dancers, dance educators, and movement practitioners to inspire, educate, and transform how we see, experience, and interpret dance. Hosted by Melissa Croushorn. A former high performance athlete and dancer, she is a writer, movement educator, and dance education consultant. She specializes in pre-professional dancer training and development. Learn more about dance education, careers in dance, and get your Dancer Career Planner: https://www.theballerinatist.com/.

Information

  • Creator
    The Ballerinatist
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Ballerinatist
  • Show Website
    The Ballerinatist