Recast and Rise - Career transition stories for artists

Eve Castelo
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Careers
  • Updated Biweekly

Ready to explore a career after the stage? You are in the right place. Eve Castelo (former Cirque du Soleil artist now working in tech), brings you real stories of performers, creatives, and artists who’ve stepped out of the spotlight and into something new. We go behind the scenes of big pivots, career transitions, identity shifts, and the messy magic of reinvention. Whether you're still performing or freshly retired, Recast and Rise will help you see that you’re not starting over, you’re just starting your next act.

  1. 4d ago

    From ballet dancer to mental performance coach : A career change story

    Kirsten Kemp dedicated her life to ballet. She trained at the Houston Ballet Academy, earned a BFA in Ballet from the University of Utah, and fulfilled her dream of dancing professionally with the Oklahoma City Ballet. After a knee injury led to an early end of her performing career, Kirsten found a new path. Today, she's the founder of The Confident Dancer, where she helps dancers overcome performance anxiety, perfectionism, self-doubt, and comparison so they can perform with more confidence and joy. In this episode, we talk about navigating an unexpected career transition, discovering coaching, building an online business from the ground up, and finding an identity beyond performing. Whether you're an artist exploring your next chapter or someone interested in coaching or entrepreneurship, Kirsten shares practical advice on choosing a niche, building confidence, marketing your business, and giving yourself permission to grow into a new career. 📍 In this episode, you'll learn ▸ How Kirsten transitioned from professional ballet dancer to coach ▸ How she discovered coaching during her career transition ▸ What it actually takes to build a successful coaching business ▸ Why choosing a niche is one of the biggest keys to success ▸ How to navigate the identity shift that comes with leaving the stage ▸ Why building a business takes patience, consistency, and the right mindset This conversation is packed with practical advice for anyone navigating career change, building a business, or redefining who they are beyond the work they've always known. If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect! ⁠⁠💥  Connect with Kirsten at: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/kirsten_theconfidentdancer/⁠ 👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠⁠ 👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠ And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change! 👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

    41 min

  2. Jun 17

    From Las Vegas performer to director of operations: A career change success story

    Michelle DiTerlizzi spent years performing on some of the biggest stages in Las Vegas. She danced for Bette Midler, Lionel Richie, starred in Peep Show, worked as an aerialist, and finished her performing career with Criss Angel. But after years of performing, her body was telling her it was time for something different. In this episode, Michelle shares how she began building her next career while she was still on stage. From earning a business degree to shadowing managers backstage and taking on new responsibilities, she slowly started exploring what life beyond performing could look like. She also talks about navigating the uncertainty of the pandemic, becoming a beginner again, and learning an entirely new industry from the ground up. Today, Michelle is a Director of Operations leading teams, managing budgets, and overseeing entertainment experiences across multiple locations. Her story is a powerful reminder that your next career doesn't have to start after you leave the stage. It can start while you're still on it. _____________________________________________ 📍 In this video, you'll learn ▸ How Michelle started building experience before leaving the stage ▸ Why networking played a major role in her transition ▸ How she handled being a beginner again in a completely new industry ▸ The mindset that helped her overcome imposter syndrome ▸ Skills performers already have that employers value ▸ Practical advice for artists considering a career change _____________________________________________ Whether you're actively planning your next chapter or simply exploring what's possible, Michelle's story is a reminder that the skills you developed as a performer can take you much further than you think. If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect! And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change! 👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/ ⁠⁠💥  Connect with Michelle  at: https://www.instagram.com/michelled3.14/ 👉  Eve website  https://www.recastandrise.com/ 🎙️ Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

    37 min

  3. Jun 10

    Life after Cirque du Soleil: Finding a new career beyond performing

    Former Cirque du Soleil artist Dasha Sobelman spent years building the career she had dreamed about since childhood. From watching Cirque performances on VHS as a kid to performing in The Beatles LOVE in Las Vegas, she achieved the goal she had worked toward for decades. But when the show closed, she found herself facing a question many performers eventually encounter: who am I when I'm no longer performing? In this episode, Dasha shares her transition from performer to digital marketer and content creator. She opens up about the emotional reality of leaving a career that shaped her identity, the pressure of maintaining a performing career while preparing for what comes next, and the surprising sense of freedom she discovered after stepping away from the stage. This conversation is an honest look at career change, identity, and what it means to let go of a dream you've already achieved. Whether you're a performer, creative professional, or anyone navigating a major life transition, Dasha’s story offers reassurance that it's possible to honor one chapter of your life while building the next. 📍In this episode, you'll learn: ▸ What it feels like to walk away from a career you've dreamed about since childhood ▸ Why leaving performing can feel like a loss, even when you're ready for the next chapter ▸ The emotional process of separating your identity from your profession ▸ How Dasha’s prepared for a second career while still performing full-time with Cirque du Soleil ▸ The hidden physical and mental pressures that come with being a professional performer ▸ Why many artists struggle to say out loud that they're ready for something different ▸ The unexpected freedom that can come from no longer relying on your body as your career ▸ How to trust yourself through the uncertainty of a major career transition _____________________________________________ If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect! And don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring stories and career tools for your next career change! 👉  Eve’s website: https://www.recastandrise.com/ 👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠  https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/ ⁠⁠💥  Connect with Dasha at: https://www.instagram.com/dashasobelman/ 🎧 LISTEN ON SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/show/1yzSIrIhf5FoQNFzbU1VgU?si=0c4c6f87ec1e4eb7 🎧 LISTEN ON APPLE PODCAST https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recast-and-rise-career-transition-stories-for-artists/id1841231998 Watch it on YouTube -> https://youtu.be/pdvBEvAKaNs

    48 min

  4. May 27

    She reached her dream career, and had to reinvent herself

    In this episode of Recast and Rise, I sit down with former Cirque du Soleil aerialist and performer Gelsey to talk about the part of career change no one really talks about the messy, uncertain transition in between. After building a successful career across Broadway tours, cruise ships, stunt work, and her dream role in Cirque du Soleil’s The Beatles Love, Gelsey was forced to rethink everything after a serious head injury ended her path as a stunt performer. What followed wasn’t a clear next step. It was years of questioning, burnout, identity shifts, and figuring out what life looks like outside of performing. In this conversation, we talk about what it really takes to move on from a career you loved. From detaching your self-worth from your craft, to navigating job applications with no “traditional” experience, to redefining success on your own terms. Gelsey shares what it’s like to start over when you’re not fully ready, and how she’s building a new path in the corporate world without losing who she is. If you’re an artist, performer, or creative thinking about what’s next, or currently in that uncomfortable in-between, this episode will make you feel seen, grounded, and a little less alone. __________________________________ 📍 In this video, you'll learn: ▸ What the transition period actually feels like after a performing career, not just the outcome ▸ How a career-ending injury forced a complete identity shift ▸ Why performers often struggle with self-worth outside of what they do ▸ The reality of applying to “normal jobs” after a non-traditional career ▸ How to identify your non-negotiables when choosing your next path ▸ Why having hobbies and identity outside of performing matters more than you think ▸ What performers bring to the corporate world that most people don’t ▸ How to approach career change with more clarity, patience, and self-trust __________________________________ If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect! FREE resources 👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next 👉A Job search and Interview kit 👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠ 👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠ 💥 Connect Gelsey https://www.instagram.com/gelseylaurie/ And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change! 👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

    38 min

  5. May 6

    Dancer to designer: The truth about changing careers after performing

    Ashley Lafferty spent 14 years performing at Cirque du Soleil, living what many dancers would call the dream. From The Beatles LOVE to Michael Jackson ONE, dance was her identity, her routine, and her entire world for most of her life. In this conversation, Ashley shares what it actually looks like to step away from a career that has defined you since childhood. She opens up about the emotional side of leaving performing, the quiet grief that comes with it, and how she knew it was time to move on even while still loving dance. Instead of waiting until the end, she started preparing early, going back to school during COVID and slowly building her next path while still performing. Today, Ashley is an interior designer and project manager, blending creativity with structure in a completely new way. She walks us through how she made that transition, what surprised her about entering a new industry, and why real-world experience mattered more than anything else. This episode is honest, practical, and reassuring for anyone wondering what comes after performing. _____________________________________________ 📍 *In this video, you'll learn* ▸ How Ashley prepared for her career transition while still performing at night ▸ What she specifically did during COVID to explore interior design and go back to school ▸ How she translated dancer skills like discipline, timing, and teamwork into a corporate role ▸ What the interview process looked like with zero experience in a new industry ▸ Why working as an assistant and making mistakes fast-tracked her learning more than school ▸ The real difference between interior design and project management (and how she does both) _____________________________________________ If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect! And don’t forget to *SUBSCRIBE* for more inspiring stories and *CAREER TOOLS* for your next career change! 👉  *EVE’s website*⁠  https://www.recastandrise.com/ 👋  *CONNECT WITH Eve on Instagram*⁠  https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/ ⁠⁠💥  *CONNECT WITH Ashley*  at: https://www.instagram.com/ashleynicolle_lafferty/ 🎧 *LISTEN ON SPOTIFY* https://open.spotify.com/show/1yzSIrIhf5FoQNFzbU1VgU?si=0c4c6f87ec1e4eb7 🎧 *LISTEN ON APPLE PODCAST* https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recast-and-rise-career-transition-stories-for-artists/id1841231998

    35 min

  6. Apr 22

    From Cirque du Soleil to corporate: A real career change story

    From 17 years performing in Cirque du Soleil to becoming a registered nurse, and a Senior claims manager later, Chantale’s story is a real look at what it takes to change careers while you’re still in it. She didn’t have a clear plan from the start. She figured it out along the way, while performing full-time, raising two kids, and slowly working toward something completely different. This conversation gets into the reality of that process, the doubts, the timing, the unexpected turns, and what actually helped her move forward. We also talk about what happens after the first transition, because her path didn’t stop there. From nursing to a claim manager role, Chantale shares what it’s like to start over more than once and adapt as life changes. In this video, you'll learn ▸ What it really looks like to go back to school while still performing ▸ How she managed the schedule with work, school, and family ▸ Why feeling “not qualified” is more common than you think ▸ The skills she didn’t realize she had and how they helped her get hired ▸ What to do when your career path doesn’t go as planned ▸ Why staying open-minded can lead to better opportunities If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect! FREE resources 👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next 👉A Job search and Interview kit 👉  Recast and Rise's website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠ 👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠ ⁠⁠💥  Connect with Chantale: https://www.instagram.com/chantalevitale/ And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change! 👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

    29 min

  7. Apr 8

    Career change after dance: How she became a Veterinarian and PhD

    From a 15-year ballet career performing at the highest level to becoming a veterinarian and earning a PhD in infectious diseases, Ariel’s story is one of the most intentional and disciplined career transitions you’ll hear. In this episode, she shares how she didn’t wait until the end of her performing career to think about what’s next. She planned it years in advance. While still dancing, she was already taking classes, preparing for vet school, and setting herself up for a completely different future. But this transition wasn’t just about strategy, it was about identity. Ariel opens up about what it really feels like to leave something you’ve mastered and step into a world where you know nothing. She spent nearly a decade as a beginner again, navigating self-doubt, intense academic pressure, and the challenge of rebuilding confidence from scratch. We also talk about the unexpected moments that confirmed she was on the right path (including one very memorable anatomy lab), how she balanced performing with studying, and what it took (mentally and physically) to sustain both. This conversation is honest, grounded, and incredibly eye-opening for anyone thinking about a career change, especially performers who feel like they’re starting over. Ariel proves that reinvention isn’t about losing who you were. It’s about building on it in ways you didn’t expect.  _____________________________________________ In this video, you'll learn: ▸ How planning your transition early can make the shift out of performing smoother ▸ What it actually feels like to start over as a beginner (for years) and how to handle it ▸ How skills from performing (like discipline and storytelling) translate into completely different careers ▸ Why exploring new interests (even ones you ruled out before) can lead to unexpected career paths ▸ How support systems and community play a critical role during major life transitions _____________________________________________ If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect! FREE resources 👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next 👉A Job search and Interview kit 👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠ 👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠ ⁠⁠💥  Connect with Ariel at: https://www.instagram.com/relshepley/ And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change! 👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

    27 min

  8. Mar 25

    From dancer to business and studio owner: Her career change didn’t happen overnight

    Vanessa, a former Cirque du Soleil artist, shares how she built a career beyond performing by staying curious and thinking about what’s next early on. From performing in multiple shows, to becoming a dance coach, to opening dance studios in Puerto Rico and Canada, she didn’t wait for her performing career to end to start exploring. Instead, she tested different paths, created opportunities from within the company, and focused on gaining experience, even when it wasn’t paid right away. This episode is a practical and honest look at career change, career transition, and life after performing, and how to approach it in a way that feels intentional, strategic, and aligned with your skills.  In this video, you'll learn ▸ Why waiting until the end makes a career change way harder ▸ How to figure out what’s next while you’re still performing ▸ How to use where you are right now to create new opportunities ▸ Why trying things beats overthinking every time ▸ The real difference between quick money and long-term direction ▸ How small moves now turn into bigger opportunities later ▸ How to stay ahead instead of scrambling when it’s over ▸ A more realistic way to approach career change as an artist If you're a performer wondering "What’s next for me? ", let's connect! FREE resources 👉A self-discovery workbook with 10 prompts to help you find what’s next 👉A Job search and Interview kit 👉  Recast and Rise website  ⁠https://www.recastandrise.com/⁠ 👋  Connect with Eve on Instagram⁠ ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/recastandrise.eve/⁠ ⁠⁠💥  Connect with Vanessa at: https://www.instagram.com/vgolding/ And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring stories and CAREER TOOLS for your next career change! 👉 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.

    30 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Ready to explore a career after the stage? You are in the right place. Eve Castelo (former Cirque du Soleil artist now working in tech), brings you real stories of performers, creatives, and artists who’ve stepped out of the spotlight and into something new. We go behind the scenes of big pivots, career transitions, identity shifts, and the messy magic of reinvention. Whether you're still performing or freshly retired, Recast and Rise will help you see that you’re not starting over, you’re just starting your next act.

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