After Class
Welcome to the After Class podcast! Hosted by two passionate adult ballerinas about all things adult-ballet related... and some random thoughts in between. ◡̈ We’re so glad you’re here! So grab your water bottle (or a cup of coffee) and join us for a quick chat after class...
Episodes
66 episodes
Ep. 66 - Debunking the Turnout Myth in Adult Ballet: History, Reality & How to Improve - Interview with Geeky Ballerina founder, Chelsea Weidmann
Is "flat" turnout really necessary as an adult dancer? Is it even possible to improve my turnout? If you've asked yourself these questions, this episode is for you! We're joined by ballet teacher and Geeky Ballerina founder, C...
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Season 1
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Episode 66
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24:16
Ep. 65 - Finding Purpose in Ballet While Living With a Rare Brain Tumor - Interview with Adult Ballet Dancer, Natalie Walsh da Silva
What happens when life throws you a curveball and you meet it with resilience and a little bit of ballet? In this episode, we're joined by Natalie, who discovered her passion for ballet after being diagnosed with a rare brain tumor that require...
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Season 1
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Episode 65
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34:15
Ep. 64 - Real Talk on Navigating Discouragement in Your Adult Ballet Journey - Guest co-host, Stacy Santos
Feeling discouraged in your ballet journey? You're not alone. In this episode, we get real about the emotional ups and downs that come with being an adult ballet dancer — especially when progress feels slow or you're just plain burnt out. With ...
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Season 1
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Episode 64
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28:53
Ep. 63 - From Studio to Startup: How One Adult Dancer Created the Ballet Skirts She Couldn’t Find - Interview with Chelsea of Dianne Dancewear
Have you ever found yourself standing in a dance store, surrounded by tiny skirts that will never work for your adult ballerina body? In this episode, Chelsea shares her inspiring journey from beginner ballet dancer to founder of Diann...
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Season 1
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Episode 63
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31:03
Ep. 62 - Adult Ballet Intensives: Preparing Your Body to Thrive, Before, During & After! Interview with Allie Christensen of Dancer Strong
With summer intensives approaching, you might be wondering: How can I make sure my body is prepared for the demands of long days in the studio? What can I do now to set myself up for success at a ballet intensive? Luckily, there's A LO...
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Season 1
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Episode 62
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54:31
Ep. 61 - Size-Inclusive Style Tips for Adult Dancers: Create a Ballet Wardrobe You Love at Any Size! Interview with Maggie Watson
Most of us have been personally victimized by a dancewear size chart at some point... Whether it's limited size ranges or leotards with effectively no butt-coverage, we understand how hard it can be for adult dancers to cultivate a ballet wardr...
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32:16
Ep. 60 - Essential Ballet Terminology to Level Up Your Game!
Oh the world of ballet terminology... It's fancy, its frustrating, it's French... 😳 So what's a dancer to do? Start by listening to this episode! In it, we're breaking down the most commonly used terms in ballet class and explaining what ...
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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23:40
Ep. 59 - Ballet's "Linking" Steps: What They Are and How to Conquer Them!
Are you struggling to reach the next level in your ballet training? The secret to improving might be in your linking steps... Linking steps (also referred to as "transition steps" or "connecting steps") are often not broken down in adult ballet...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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22:22
Ep. 58 - The Weirdest Things in Our Ballet Bags: Don't Judge Us! 🫣
Join us for a short, chatty episode about the most random items in our dance bags... And don't forget to head over to Instagram this week to vote on our poll (to wash or not wash your ballet slippers) and answer the question, "What's the strang...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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14:08
Ep. 57 - Making Ballet Work for Your Schedule: Time Management Tips for Adult Dancers!
Do you ever feel like it's either all or nothing when it comes to making your ballet training worthwhile? I mean, if you can't make it to an hour+ technique class, what's the point - right? In this episode we talk about how to fit ballet ...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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22:02
Ep. 56 - The Key to Beautiful Dancing at Any Age or Level: Artistry in Adult Ballet
In this (possibly controversial) episode, we're diving into the topic of artistry. In modern ballet culture, it's often overshadowed by the more physical and technical elements, but is that a good thing? What makes a dancer truly captivating to...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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20:29
Ep. 55 - Ready for Pointe? How to Know & What to Do Next! (pt 2)
Wondering if you're ready to start pointe training as an adult ballet dancer? In this two-part series, we're breaking down the many facets of pointe readiness (physical, technical, and mental) to help you determine if/when to take the leap into...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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20:26
Ep. 54 - Ready for Pointe? Here's How to Know! (pt 1)
Wondering if you're ready to start pointe training as an adult ballet dancer? In this two-part series, we're breaking down the many facets of pointe readiness (physical, technical, and mental) to help you determine if/when to take the leap into...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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20:27
Ep. 53 - Social Media in Adult Ballet: Our Hot Takes and Tips
The social media side of ballet is kind of a mixed bag... Some things are great and others, well..... not so much. Like most things in life, it's really what you make it. In this episode, we talk about the pro's & con's of consuming ballet ...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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22:26
Ep. 52 - Ballet Tights: Everything You Need to Know & How to Find Your Perfect Pair!
Is it possible to do an entire podcast episode on tights, you ask? Well... We did! ◡̈ There's a lot to consider when it comes to choosing your best pair of tights - things like style, color and fit, just to name a few! In this episode,...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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26:36
Ep. 51 - Celebrating Our One Year Anniversary!
We can't believe today is the one year anniversary of the podcast - what a fun ride it's been! Thanks to your support, we've been able to hit some incredible milestones and bring on some very special guests. In today's celebratory episode, we'r...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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18:10
Ep. 50 - Empower Your Ballet Body! How to Train for Strength & Longevity as an Adult Dancer - Interview with Allie Christensen, Founder of Dancer Strong
As passionate adult dancers, we want to be able to enjoy ballet for the rest of our lives. But how can we actually achieve that? The answer probably isn't what you'd expect... Join us as we talk to Allie Christensen about the unique physical ch...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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49:56
Ep. 49 - Learning Other Styles of Dance: From Salsa to Cabaret - What We've Tried & Loved!
Have you every wondered what it's like to try another style of dance? In this episode, we're sharing our personal experiences training in styles very different from ballet (like cabaret, salsa, flamenco and bachata). How did our ballet backgrou...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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21:41
Ep. 48 - Navigating the Center Portion of Ballet Class: Tips to Feel Confident at Any Level!
For many of us, the center portion of a ballet class is when things start to feel a bit more.... Stressful? Overstimulating? Overwhelming? We've been there! In this episode we talk about ways that you can feel more confident in the center porti...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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24:54
Ep. 47 - Step Into Our Pointe Shoes! How We Prepare Them & What We Put Inside!
Pointe shoes are a bit like snowflakes - no two pairs are the same! In this episode, we're spilling the tea on how we each prepare our shoes and what we put inside them. As an amateur (Hannah) and a professional (Yelena), our feet are super dif...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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25:18
Ep. 46 - Are You Ready to Move Up? Ask Yourself These Questions!
Knowing when we're ready to "move up" in ballet can be so challenging! As adult dancers, most of us will never be told which level of class to take or when we're ready to advance - we're left to make those decisions on our own. So how can you d...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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24:08
Ep. 45 - Choosing an Online Ballet Program: How to Find the Best Fit for You!
When it comes to online ballet programs, the possibilities are almost endless these days... From structured training plans to drop-in passes, from pre-recorded libraries to live classes - there really is something for everyone! But how do you p...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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24:32
Ep. 44 - How to Thrive in 2025: Take Your Dancing to the Next Level with These Tips!
Do you want to take your ballet training to the next level this year? Are you ready to come back from the holidays and THRIVE in the studio? We see you, Adult Dancer, and we believe you can do it. ◡̈ That's why we're bringing you the best tips ...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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21:46
Ep. 43 - Ballet Training Over the Holidays: How to Make It Work for You!
The holidays can be tricky for ballet training... As adults, we have so many demands on our time and energy this time of year - sometimes it feels like we can't possibly maintain our progress in the studio amidst all the hustle & bustle. Bu...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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21:31
Ep. 42 - The Ultimate Ballerina Christmas List: Gifts Any Dancer Will Love!
Looking for great holiday gifts for the dancers in your life? (Or maybe even a little treat for yourself?) ◡̈ We've got you covered! In this episode we're writing the ultimate ballerina Christmas list, and unwrapping the presents we know any da...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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23:06