The Adult Ballet Studio Elizabeth Blosfield

Phil Chan, co-founder of the non-profit Final Bow for Yellowface, joined the studio this month to talk about his work with the organization to improve representation of Asians in ballet and eliminate offensive stereotypes on stage. Phil co-founded the organization alongside Georgina Pazcoguin, former New York City Ballet soloist, and they are both doing great work to advocate for Asian artists within ballet and beyond. Phil is also the author of two books - Final Bow for Yellowface: Dancing between Intention and Impact and Banishing Orientalism: Dancing between Exotic and Familiar - as well as a choreographer and a stage director. He directed his first opera this summer, a reimagining of Puccini's 1904 classic Madama Butterfly, and is currently in the process of reworking the famous ballet La Bayadere to appeal to 21st century audiences. We talked about how his own experiences as a Chinese American during the COVID-19 pandemic shaped his approach to his work as a dancer and activist. We also talked about how dancers of any age can push through fear and get into the ballet studio. And, as if he’s not busy enough, Phil is also president of the Gold Standard Arts Foundation, an organization that works to elevate Asian voices in the arts. Phil does so much great work for dance and the live arts, and it was an honor to talk to him!


Follow Final Bow on Instagram: ⁠@finalbowforyellowface
Learn more about Final Bow for Yellowface: https://www.yellowface.org/
Support Asian voices in the arts: https://www.goldstandardarts.org/
Stop hate against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: https://stopaapihate.org/donate/
Donate to Maui's wildfire recovery efforts: https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/strengthening/maui-strong-fund

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


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Julie Leung, founder of Broche Ballet, joined the studio this month to talk about her journey from being "a clumsy and inflexible teen" to taking her first ballet class at 17 and eventually opening her own studio for adult ballet dancers in 2017! Broche Ballet is now thriving as a fully online ballet studio offering classes and resources to help adult dancers follow their ballet dreams. She spoke about spending her early 20s in New York, where she connected with the teachers and studios that taught her hustle and perseverance, why facing fears is important to her and led her to try ballet in the first place, and her best advice for adult dancers to improve and achieve their goals at any age.


Follow Julie on Instagram: @julietheballerina | @brocheballet | @iabf_adultballetfestival
Visit Broche Ballet: www.brocheballetonline.com
Check out the International Adult Ballet Festival: https://www.internationaladultballetfestival.com/
Be the first to know about Broche Magazine: https://brochemagazine.com/password

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


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blosfield/support

Leigh Purtill Ballet Company is an LA-based non-profit adult ballet company, and artistic director Leigh Purtill joined the studio this month to talk about its mission of bringing ballet to everyone! We chatted about the need for more women in leadership roles in ballet, breaking boundaries with storytelling and reaching those who don't fit the mold of the perfect dancer, zombies and a spooky-themed ballet (it is October, after all!), and how Leigh went from feeling frustrated with ballet in college to rediscovering its joys through teaching adults. Check out her interview!


Follow Leigh Purtill Ballet Company on Instagram: @leighpurtillballetcompany
Support LPBC's mission of ballet for everyone: https://www.leighpurtillballetcompany.org/donate
Buy tickets for Cracked: Nutcracker with a Twist: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cracked-nutcracker-with-a-twist-tickets-693801006487?aff=oddtdtcreator

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


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blosfield/support

Two guests are in the studio this month! Jana Carson, professional photographer for the Oklahoma City Ballet, and Abby Hudgins, ballet instructor, mom and former pro dancer, chatted with me about founding Ballerinas by Night, a support community that provides resources for adults who are beginning or continuing their dance education. Both have been dancing since they were kids but took a break before re-connecting with ballet in adulthood. We talk about what that was like, how they decided it was time for a break, and ultimately, what led them back to ballet. A few tears were shed as we reflected on how important friendships and communities are in the dance world, and we talked about how dancers can work through barriers to entry in ballet like body image, financial challenges, competition, and physical demands.


Follow Ballerinas by Night on Instagram: @ballerinasbynight
Follow Ballerinas by Night on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeyW9p82iYLmgF34JG6_oog
Check out the Ballerinas by Night blog: http://ballerinasbynight.blogspot.com/
Check out Jana's photography: www.janacarson.com

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


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blosfield/support

Hello and welcome to the first episode of The Adult Ballet Studio! Joining the studio is Patricia Pyrka, ballet technique level 3 teacher, coach for adult ballet beginners, and blogger at Ballet Misfits. She began ballet at age 37 and in just eight years, was accepted into Canada's National Ballet School for its teacher training program. She talks about the audition process (including failing her first audition and trying again three years later!), what she's learning about movement and perseverance from her son who has a physical disability, and why she's passionate about teaching adults ballet.


Follow Patricia on Instagram: @balletmisfits


Check out Patricia's blog: www.balletmisfits.dance


Help Patricia through NBS: https://www.gofundme.com/f/get-patricia-into-nbs

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


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-blosfield/support