After Class: The Adult Ballet Podcast
Welcome to After Class, a podcast about all things adult ballet. I’m Hannah — your host and fellow dancer — and I'm so glad you're here! Each week I share stories, strategies, and encouragement to help you stay inspired on your ballet journey, because I understand what it’s like to balance real life and ballet dreams. So grab your water bottle (or cup of coffee) and join me for a chat after class...
Episodes
104 episodes
Ep. 104 - Why Are My Pirouettes STILL So Unstable? How to Get Strong & Stable Pirouettes with Allie Christensen
After months (or maybe even years) of practice, do your pirouettes still feel inconsistent, shaky, or unstable?In this episode, I’m joined by Allie Christensen, founder of Dancer Strong, to break down what actually makes a pirouet...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 104
•
51:07
Ep. 103 - Adult Ballet Training That’s Serious and Supportive: The Ballet Project with Lisa Garvey
Have you ever wished there was an adult ballet program that felt both serious and supportive, where you could train with intention, but without sacrificing your health, confidence, or sense of belonging?In this episode, I’m joined by Lis...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 103
•
33:43
Ep. 102 - Hip Pain in Ballet: Why It Happens and What It Means
Have you ever left ballet class with hip or low back pain and wondered… Is this normal?In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Sebastian Gonzales, D.C., a licensed chiropractor specializing in sports injuries and rehabilitation, to tal...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 102
•
46:24
Ep. 101 - Jealousy in Adult Ballet: Why It Happens (and How to Handle It)
Jealousy isn’t something most of us want to admit, especially as adults.But if you’ve ever found yourself genuinely happy for another dancer while quietly feeling that ache of comparison… you’re not alone.In this solo episode,&nbs...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 101
•
12:34
Ep. 100 - Turning Used Pointe Shoes into Works of Art with Emily Thorpe of PointeReve
There’s something about pointe shoes that makes them almost impossible to throw away once we’re finished dancing in them. Which is why I LOVE what my guest in this episode is doing...Meet Emily Thorpe, a fellow adult dancer and the found...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 100
•
34:17
Ep. 99 - Breath as an Essential Element of Artistry in Ballet with Chelsea Weidmann
Breathing is something we all do, but most of us were never really taught how to use it as an intentional part of our ballet technique and artistry.In this episode, I’m joined by recurring guest Chelsea Weidmann (The Geeky Balleri...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 99
•
36:58
Ep. 98 - If January Didn’t Go as Planned: A Gentle Reset for Adult Ballet Dancers 🗓️
If January didn’t go as planned, this episode is for you.Maybe you started the year motivated and consistent… and then got sick, missed class, or lost momentum. Maybe your ballet routine didn’t restart the way you hoped it would.I...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 98
•
9:07
Ep. 97 - Pas de Deux for Adult Dancers: What to Know Before You Try It with Lester & Laurence Gonzalez
Adult dancer, does pas de deux feel out of reach or like a long-lost dream? Many of us have been telling ourselves that partnering is only for pre-professionals or company dancers, and that if we didn’t start early, we somehow “missed our chanc...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 97
•
46:16
Ep. 96 - Jumping with Confidence & Stability in the Center as an Adult Dancer with Christina Krigolson (Part 2)
This episode builds on last week's episode about building strong, stable jumps at the barre, so if you haven’t listened yet, start there for the full benefit of the conversation.✨ But first, thank you Frenchies Hairpins for sponsoring th...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 96
•
44:35
Ep. 95 - Building Jumps That Feel Strong, Stable & Light as an Adult Dancer with Christina Krigolson (Part 1)
Great jumps don’t start in the air, they start at the barre!In part one of this two-part conversation, I’m joined by Christina Krigolson, founder of Face the Barre, to address some of the most common challenges adult dancer...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 95
•
32:06
Ep. 94 - 3 Ways to Instantly Transform Your Dancing, For Adult Ballet Dancers of Any Level! (Archive Favorite)
Looking polished and confident in your dancing isn’t always about doing more — often, it’s about small the details. In this fan-favorite episode from the After Class archives, we’re revisiting three small but powerful elements that can i...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 94
•
18:57
Ep. 93 - Ballet Studio Closed? 4 Ways to Maintain Momentum When Classes are Cancelled (Archive Favorite)
With many studios closing or shifting schedules during the holidays, staying consistent with ballet can feel especially challenging. In this fan-favorite episode from the After Class archives, we’re revisiting 4 simple, realistic ways to...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 93
•
21:13
Ep. 92 - Ballet Books Every Dancer Should Read: 2025 Favorites from the Bunhead Book Club 📚
In today’s episode of After Class, I’m sharing my favorite ballet books I read in 2025 — a mix of ballet fiction, biographies, memoirs, and educational reads, many of which we read together in The Bunhead Book Club (my In...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 92
•
12:54
Ep. 91 - Reset Your Ballet Life: How to Declutter, Organize & Step Into 2026 Refreshed ✨
If you love feeling organized, refreshed, and clear-headed heading into a new year, this episode is for you. We're decluttering your dance bag, cleaning out your dancewear drawer, reviewing your subscriptions, organizing your journal, locking i...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 91
•
17:28
Ep. 90 - “If Only I’d Started Sooner..." Reframing Regret as an Adult Ballet Dancer, with Merry King
Ever wish you’d started ballet sooner? You’re not alone. But today's guest is living proof that "late" might actually be right on time...In this episode of After Class, Hannah sits down with Merry King, a university profess...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 90
•
45:25
Ep. 89 - The Adult Ballet Dancer's Holiday Gift Guide! 🎁
Whether you're shopping for a fellow adult ballet dancer or treating yourself (you go, girl 😌) these gift ideas are a mix of functional, stylish, and self-care items that make dance life better. Each of these products I LOVE and stand behind in...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 89
•
22:52
Ep. 88 - Designing a Ballet Training Plan That Fits Your Life, with Katy Barton
Today, I sit down with fellow adult dancer, Katy, to talk about her ingenious method for designing and maintaining a ballet training schedule. But first, thank you Jule Dancewear for sponsoring this episode! If you're looking...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 88
•
40:33
Ep. 87 - Finding Creative Joy in Ballet, Business & Beyond, with Kelsey of Rose & Clay Jewelry
What happens when ballet stops being your whole identity, and starts becoming your joy again?In this heartfelt conversation, Hannah talks with Kelsey, adult ballet dancer and founder of Rose & Clay Jewelry, about redisc...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 87
•
45:31
Ep. 86 - How to Be a GREAT Ballet Student, with Julie Leung of Broche Ballet 🩰
Ever wonder what makes a truly great ballet student? The kind of student who gets the most out of their classes, and experiences growth and improvement over time? In this episode, I sit down with Julie Leung of Broche Ballet to talk stra...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 86
•
54:29
Ep. 85 - Defining Artistry in Ballet: 9 Elements Adult Dancers Can Actually Work On, with Chelsea Weidmann
As adult dancers, we hear the word artistry all the time — but what does it really mean? And how can we actually work on it in class, instead of treating it like some elusive, mysterious quality only professionals have?...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 85
•
33:47
Ep. 84 - Creating Spaces Where Adult Ballet Dancers Belong: Building a Studio & Ballet Company for Adults, with Erica Centola
Thank you to Align Fitness by Allie for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! To register for her London Intensive click here or visit
•
Season 1
•
Episode 84
•
38:03
Ep. 83 - Tips to End the Year Inspired (Not Exhausted) as an Adult Ballet Dancer
Thank you Jule Dancewear for sponsoring this episode! If you're looking for a supportive new leo, flattering tights, or soft legwarmers, look no further. 👀 Use code AFTERCLASS15 for 15% off your order at jul...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 83
•
7:47
Ep. 82 - Making Sense of Ballet Corrections & Cues with Allie Christensen of Align Fitness
Ever been given a ballet correction that just didn’t make sense? You’re not alone! In this episode, Allie Christensen (founder of Align Fitness and the Dancer Strong platform) joins me to talk about how adult dancers can interpret, understand, ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 82
•
44:44
Ep. 81 - Barre Trash: Humor, Authenticity, and Changing Ballet Culture with Founders Lucas & Louis
What happens when two professional ballet dancers decide to shake up traditional dancewear with a mix of honesty, humor, and bold design? Enter Barre Trash...In this episode I talk to the founders, Lucas & Louis, about the story behi...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 81
•
54:38
Ep. 80 - I Cried in the Car After Ballet Today… Here’s What I Learned
In this episode of After Class, I talk about crying in my car last week after ballet class in a moment of frustration and defeat (yep, it happens!), and diving into the lessons I'm learning (work in progress) about patience, self-compa...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 80
•
8:41