Beyond the Pointe

This week we talk about the difference between taking ballet class as a student versus as a professional. Does class change once dance becomes your career, or are we always students no matter how far we’ve come? We dive into growth, discipline, ego, curiosity, and what it really means to keep learning in an art form that never stops demanding more of you. Thanks for hanging out with us on Beyond t...

This week we sat down with Charlene Hannibal, who grew up dancing at the School of OBT. We talk about the beauty of dance as a community—but also the harsh reality of how quickly that belonging can disappear when a director decides you no longer “fit” the look. Charlene shares her experience navigating that loss and how it ultimately led her to create her own dance school—one built on strong train...

The people pleaser. The perfectionist. The “mean girl.” This week, we break down the personalities we developed just to survive intense training, tough coaching and growing up in the 90s—and how those same traits show up in our adult lives. What once helped us succeed… might now be holding us back. If you grew up in a high-pressure environment, this one’s for you. Thanks for hanging out with us on...

It’s just us this week, your two gals in the wings. After two weeks of having our best friends on, we’re back to a casual catch-up—just chatting about life, dance, and everything in between. We get into some very real (and slightly embarrassing) stories about falling on stage, and talk honestly about how weird it is trying to figure out what’s next after retirement. No big plan, no perfect answers...

This week we’re joined by Amy’s best friend, Sallie—someone who’s been there since the beginning. From growing up together in New Hampshire to living side by side in New York, their shared history makes this conversation feel like home. Sallie started in ballet, but her path didn’t stay inside the traditional lines. She took that training and carried it into completely different spaces—from hip ho...

This week we’re talking with Sarah’s infamous longtime friend Jessica. We get into body image and how early those messages start, and how you learn to read yourself through other people’s eyes. Jessica talks about navigating injuries and losing her mom while still trying to keep going. We also dive into what it felt like being one of the few Black dancers in the room, and what it could look like t...

This week we’re talking about Amy running her half marathon and why it meant more than just crossing the finish line. We get into what it feels like to train for something after ballet, when no one’s watching, no director’s giving notes, and the applause is replaced by early mornings and quiet miles. And how seeing friends on the sidelines — holding signs, cheering, just showing up, can hit deeper...

We’re talking the pressure of being called the “Quad God,” Ilia Malinin and what it’s like to carry the weight of expectations on young shoulders. We dive into Lindsey Vonn’s push-through-anything mentality and ask, when is it grit, and when is it just stubborn? And of course, we somehow make it about ballet. Gold medals vs. standing ovations. Sparkle costumes. Nicknames we definitely would have g...

In this episode, we’re opening a door to a conversation that we’ve both been sitting with for a long time. We’re moving beyond labels and advice to explore the "crutches" we reach for when life and the dance world becomes unbearable.   From the control of the body to the constant need for approval, we discuss why dance culture is such a powerful breeding ground for coping behaviors. We’r...

Is confidence the same as self-esteem? And why does praise feel so good… but never seem to last? This week, we unpack our relationship with validation, the need for acceptance, and how much of our self-worth we’ve handed over to other people. It’s a conversation about learning to trust yourself instead of waiting to be chosen. Thanks for hanging out with us on Beyond the Pointe. If you loved this...

In this week's episode we're pulling back the curtain on the industry's toughest pill to swallow, rejection. Whether you're facing a dry audition season or looking for the courage to start your next chapter, join us as we discuss how to stop letting rejection define your career and start letting it refine your path.  Thanks for hanging out with us on Beyond the Pointe. If you l...

This week’s episode features a very special guest — Sarah’s husband, Nephi. A former ballet dancer with a business degree, Nephi shares his unconventional path from ballet to working with companies like Pixar and Disney, before founding his own company — where his work earned two Academy Awards and an Emmy. After building a successful career outside the studio, he ultimately found his way back to...

This week we’re joined by Steven Goforth for an honest conversation about growing up as a male artist in ballet. From training in a nurturing environment to dancing with Nevada Ballet Theatre, Steven shares his perspective on identity, longevity, and what it means to evolve beyond the stage. We talk transitioning into teaching, finding fulfillment outside of performance, and how curiosity and supp...

Friendship hits different when you’re no longer fighting for the same spotlight. In our first episode of the season, we talk about aging in ballet, evolving friendships, and what it means to grow with each other instead of apart. This is the artist growing up — softer, stronger, and still standing. Thanks for hanging out with us on Beyond the Pointe. If you loved this episode, share it, tag us, an...

This week’s episode is all about gratitude. We’re taking a moment to reflect on what ballet has given us — the obvious and the unexpected. From friendships and resilience to moments onstage that shaped who we are, we share stories about why we’re still grateful for this art form, even with all its complexity. A thoughtful, feel-good conversation to close out the season. Thanks for hanging out with...

This week’s episode is a conversation we wish every ballet parent and teacher could hear. We sit down with Sarah's mom, who has a PhD in childhood development, to talk about why ballet isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some children flourish in its structure, while others struggle — and that’s okay. We explore the social dynamics of training, peer relationships, pressure, and how to truly support a ch...

We’re continuing our Nutcracker stories this week, and things get real. Some of these memories are a little more raw and personal than your classic holiday ballet tale—but don’t worry, we end on a hilarious conversation that reminded us why we love this crazy show. From backstage chaos to emotional moments, this episode proves these nuts have officially cracked. Thanks for hanging out with us on B...

This week we’re diving into Nutcracker mayhem — swapping our funniest quick-change disasters, the roles we dreamed of, the roles we somehow always got stuck with, and the ones we never got to dance (still not over it). We relive costume malfunctions, and the kind of onstage mistakes that would’ve made Drosselmeyer retire early. It’s all light, nostalgic, unhinged holiday chaos… just like Nutcracke...

This week on Beyond the Pointe , we sit down with our longtime friend Ashleigh — now the School Director and Artistic Director of Pasadena Dance Theatre. She opens up about the unique challenges of leading a ballet school, the balance between creativity and responsibility, and how her journey wasn’t defined by perfect facility, but by intelligence, reliability, and heart. It’s an honest, inspiring...

This week on Beyond the Pointe , Sarah and Amy catch up after a week off and get real about everyday life — the quiet routines, the comfort and discomfort of being homebodies, and how slowing down can feel both strange and grounding after years of constant motion. It’s a laid-back chat full of laughter, honesty, and the kind of cozy chaos that makes life (and friendship) worth dancing through. Tha...

In this episode, we open up about how ballet shaped who we are and what happens when the curtain falls. Leaving the stage can feel like losing a part of ourselves, but it’s also where rediscovery begins. We talk about the grief, the growth, and the quiet strength it takes to rebuild an identity beyond the barre. This is for every dancer who’s ever wondered who they are without the role. Thanks for...

Ballet has long told us what a ballerina should look like — delicate, obedient, feminine. But what happens when leadership in dance starts to look different? This week, we talk about breaking the binary in ballet and how true leadership means rewriting what strength, softness, and identity look like on stage and off. Thanks for hanging out with us on Beyond the Pointe. If you loved this episode, s...

Sarah and Amy sit down with their longtime friend and former company peer, Mary Lacroix — a dancer turned studio owner who’s redefining what leadership in ballet can look like. Mary opens up about navigating the loss of her father while facing mounting pressures at home and in the studio, and the moment she realized she was truly done with the old system. Together, they talk about what it means to...

In this episode Sarah and Amy talk about how what happens inside the studio can shape the way we love outside of it — from relationships that started under pressure to the hard truths about sexual harassment in dance. It’s an honest look at how blurred lines, power, and vulnerability can follow us long after class ends. Thanks for hanging out with us on Beyond the Pointe. If you loved this episode...

In this episode Sarah and Amy tackle the topic of body image. It's not just about being fat or skinny, teachers will find something wrong with every body. They talk personal experiences, what they wish they had known as young girls and some advice for dancers and parents today.  Thanks for hanging out with us on Beyond the Pointe. If you loved this episode, share it, tag us, and tell us what...