Broche Banter | Adult ballet training, philosophy, & inspiration

Welcome back to our empowering journey through performance anxiety. In this second episode, Julie and recurring guest Suzanne are diving into a delightful chat about those heart-pounding moments on stage and the days after. We’ll address worst-case scenarios like literally or figuratively falling on stage. Through touching personal stories, we’ll discover why mishaps often create more powerful con...

We are thrilled to welcome back Suzanne, adult ballet dancer and entrepreneur, for a two-part exploration of how to conquer performance anxiety. Whether it's a ballet performance or a big presentation, we'll share practical ways to prepare in the weeks leading up to your big moment in the spotlight. Discover how knowing yourself better can be your secret weapon against nerves. We’ve got yo...

What does it really take to build a creative business from the ground up? In this episode, I’m sharing something special — a behind-the-scenes conversation about my personal journey as a creative entrepreneur. You’ll hear stories about how I got started, how I developed my business skills along the way, and how technology has both helped and challenged my growth. We also dive into the deeper stuff...

An intensive is an incredible opportunity to make life-long friends, leave your daily routine behind and immerse yourself in what you love most: ballet. To get the most out of your experience, it's important to prepare both your body a few weeks in advance. Here’s how: ✅ Stand more - you’ll be on your feet a lot. ✅ Bulletproof your ankles & calves. ✅ Hydrate & plan your electrolytes. ✅...

We are so excited to share this very special episode with you! This week, you asked, and Julie answered! Order your copy of Broche Magazine POINTE Edition: https://brocheballetonline.com/shop She responds to your pointe shoe questions (see below) but also takes us through her pointe journey, showing us all her beautiful shoes, including the ones she wore for her wedding. Spoilers: It’s going to be...

This week on Broche Banter, we’re switching things up! Our very own Julie takes the guest seat as the wonderful Grace Owen, dancer, dance photographer, and popular returning guest on the show, leads the conversation. Julie opens up about her unconventional ballet journey, starting at 17, moving to New York and discovering not just ballet classes, but also herself. She shares the realities of runni...

This week, it's just us and Julie, the heart and soul of Broche Ballet! Julie’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. With no dance background but a varied musical education, she discovered ballet at 17 and it was love at first sight. While studying computer science in New York, she filled her free time with as many dance classes as possible, even training privately. She pushed her limits, au...

In this episode of Broche Banter, it's just me—just me and YOUR questions! I’m diving into some of the most common challenges adult ballet dancers face, including:✨ How to self-improve when taking recorded classes alone✨ If you only have time for barre or center, which should you prioritize?✨ Where to start when working on double pirouettes✨ Why balancing is so hard—what is proprioception,...

In this inspiring episode, we’re excited to welcome back Kelsey Maloney-Steiner, co-founder of Facet Dance Collective. Their latest production, "Garden of Dreams“, an adaptation of the classic Nutcracker ballet, has just premiered, and Kelsey opens up about the doubts, frustrations and setbacks that come with creating a large-scale performance. We dive into the reality of stage fright and the...

This week, we welcome back Erica for an inspiring conversation about her adult dance studios in Rochester, New York, where dancers of all levels—ballet and jazz alike—get the chance to shine. From competition teams to breathtaking performances with her Rochester Adult Ballet Company, she shares how she’s creating opportunities for adults to step on stage and live their dance dreams. We also dive i...

This week, we’re excited to welcome Allie, a dancer-turned-coach with an inspiring story of resilience and discovery. Like many dancers, Allie once believed that aches and pains were just part of the job—until a serious hip injury sidelined her completely. After traditional methods failed, she took a leap of faith and turned to strength training. The result? Her pain vanished! Now, as a coach for...

This week, we sit down with Dennis to hear his inspiring journey into the ballet world. Starting from humble beginnings with YouTube videos, Dennis opens up about the challenges he faced—feeling like an outsider, encountering unreliable teachers, and coming close to quitting ballet altogether. Everything changed when he discovered Julie’s class, where he's been dancing consistently for the pas...

This week on Broche Banter, we’re thrilled to chat with Bianca Starr, who’s been dedicated to teaching adults since 2010—defying the naysayers who said she could never make a living from this! Join us for fun, touching, and insightful moments as we explore topics like creating safe spaces for body and soul, and the importance of structure when giving feedback. We also dive deeply into the true ess...

Music takes center stage in this week’s episode as we welcome the talented Bruno Raco to the show! A professional musician from Italy with over 20 years of experience, Bruno has been steeped in the world of music since childhood. While other kids played with toys, Bruno’s favorite “toy” was a piano—and it sparked a lifelong passion. In this episode, we dive into his journey: from navigating the ch...

In this episode, we delve into the inspiring story of Catie Wells, whose ballet journey is a testament to the power of tenacity and passion. Catie opens up about her childhood struggles with intimidating ballet classes and how The Nutcracker suddenly ignited her love for dance. Unfortunately, health challenges forced her to pause and explore horseback riding instead. Yet, her love for ballet never...

TW: Eating Disorders In this heartfelt episode, we’re joined by Grace—dancer, dance photographer, and advocate for self-compassion. Starting her ballet journey as a young adult, Grace now finds joy in jazz, lyrical contemporary, and ballet, using dance as a source of structure, focus, and self-care. Grace opens up about her experiences with body image and eating disorders, sharing how ballet has t...

In this inspiring episode, we dive into the dynamic world of West Coast Swing with internationally renowned champion, coach, and performer Tashina Beckmann-King. With over three decades of experience and a passion for empowering dancers, Tashina reveals what makes this ever-evolving dance style so special: its encouragement of self-expression, creativity, and connection. Tashina shares transformat...

In this inspiring episode of Broche Banter, we dive into Anke’s incredible journey. Once a shy, quiet girl, she now shines on stage, inspiring others to believe that it’s never too late to start something new. During lockdown, Anke secretly signed up for an online ballet course. Not even her husband knew, as she thought ballet was just for little girls. But ballet soon became a powerful form of se...

In this inspiring episode, we are thrilled to welcome Kimberly Wilson, a two-time gold medalist at the International Adult Ballet Festival (IABF), psychotherapist, author, and host of the Tranquility du Jour podcast. Kimberly shares her journey of returning to ballet as an adult in 2018, reigniting a childhood passion and navigating the challenges many beginners face. From finding the courage to s...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Jennifer Kuroiwa as she opens up about her journey through mental health challenges, insecurities, and finding joy in activities like yoga, ice skating, and, of course, ballet. Jennifer’s ballet story is anything but typical. At five, she tried ballet and decided it wasn’t for her. Decades later, ballet came back into her life—this time on her 40th birth...

In this inspiring episode, we’re thrilled to welcome back Kelsey Maloney-Steiner from The Facet Dance Collective! Kelsey opens up about overcoming fear on her personal pointe journey and how embracing authenticity through dance has helped her grow as both a dancer and choreographer. We explore the challenges and joys of crafting choreography for solo and group pieces, shedding light on the powerfu...

In this inspiring episode of Broche Banter, we're thrilled to welcome Leigh Grant, a passionate adult ballet teacher and choreographer who has built a space where adult dancers feel seen and appreciated. Leigh’s journey began at the young age of five, but like many, she took a long break and returned later in life, only to face the realization that a professional company wasn’t in her future. Inst...

This week, we’re joined by Holly, a self-taught artist and dedicated adult ballet dancer, who’s currently training to go en pointe. Together, we delve into the ever-relatable “taste gap”—the often frustrating space between where we are and where we aspire to be. Ballet brings its own unique challenges, and for adult dancers, it’s a rare pursuit that’s not always met with understanding or encourage...

We are delighted to chat with our guest Gabrielle Erickson, our Swan Queen from the International Adult Ballet Festival (IABF) 2024. In this inspiring episode, Gabrielle shares her journey back to dance and finding her place in the world at a pivotal time in her life. Tune in to hear about the motivators that drive her, from the allure of costumes and competitions to the powerful sense of communit...

In this week’s episode, Rosy Pigott shares valuable insights for adult dancers on building confidence and transforming mental barriers and ingrained movement patterns. Instead of being held back by labels like "I'm a bad turner" or "I can't balance," Rosy encourages us to push past these limits. She provides actionable advice on improving balance and core strength, without the need to spend hours...