In this week’s solo episode, I’m tackling a topic that comes up often for dancers: comparison.

I dive deep into why comparison is a natural human instinct - rooted in evolutionary survival - and how it’s especially amplified in the world of ballet, where mirrors, corrections, and casting are constant. Rather than trying to eliminate comparison, this episode is full of empowering tools to reframe it into a source of motivation, self-awareness, and growth.

🩰Why comparison is more than just a bad habit, and why it's especially common among dancers

🩰A simple mindset shift that can make comparison less painful and more productive

🩰My advice on handling social media in a way that supports your growth

🩰Using your unique strengths to stand out in a competitive environment

🩰Practical tools (and journal prompts) to turn comparison into clarity and confidence

Blog Post: thebrainyballerina.com/blog/from-insecurity-to-inspiration-navigating-the-comparison-game-in-dance

Join the Conversation
Head to my Instagram @TheBrainyBallerina and join my channel “Career Guidance for Dancers” to participate in future episode polls and get exclusive career tips straight to your inbox.

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

1-1 Career Mentoring: book your complimentary career call

Questions/comments? Email me at caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode I sit down with Royal Danish Ballet Principal Ballerina Holly Dorger - a childhood friend whose dance journey has taken her from suburban Michigan to the royal stage of Copenhagen.

Holly’s path has been anything but predictable. From training at the School of American Ballet with dreams of joining New York City Ballet, to unexpectedly being offered a contract abroad, Holly opens up about how she began her professional career at 18 with the Royal Danish Ballet.

She shares candid reflections on everything from finding personal healing through dancing roles such as Giselle to what it’s like to be knighted by the Queen of Denmark. We talk about the challenges of building a life in a foreign country, what it's like to grow artistically over nearly two decades as a professional, and how she brings authenticity and emotional depth to every performance - especially the ones rooted in human experience and vulnerability.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to build a career abroad, channel personal pain into performance, or face the question of "what’s next?" after reaching the top, this conversation is a must-listen.

Key “Pointes” in this Episode

🩰Holly's early days training in Michigan (where we first met!)

🩰Moving to NYC at 14 to train at the School of American Ballet

🩰The path that led her to Copenhagen and the Royal Danish Ballet

🩰Her favorite roles (hello, Giselle, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and anything Balanchine)

🩰Processing personal heartbreak through performance

🩰The perks of dancing in a European ballet company

🩰What it was like to be knighted by the Queen of Denmark

🩰Facing the reality of forced retirement and dreaming of what's next

Connect with Holly:

WEBSITE: Www.HollyDorger.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/hollydorger

Links and Resources:

Visit the Ballet Help Desk: https://ballethelpdesk.com/

Get your copy of The Intentional Career Handbook

1-1 Career Mentoring: book your complimentary career call

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Questions/comments? Email me at caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

Join me today as I sit down with Nancy Paradis, a seasoned choreographer, artistic director, and educator with a rich career spanning classical ballet and the commercial dance world. She also leads LA Dance Moves, an innovative company blending dance, music, art and media to create inspiring works.

In this inspiring episode, Nancy takes us through her remarkable journey in the dance world - a path that began with just one ballet class a week and led to a professional career spanning over five decades.

She opens up about how her dance beginnings were anything but typical, and how she made the bold leap from limited training to dancing professionally. Nancy shares what it was like to leave home at a young age to pursue her passion, and her experience as one of the original members of the Richmond Ballet.

We dive into the moment she first stepped into a jazz class and how that experience opened her eyes to a new style, far removed from the rigid structure of classical ballet. Nancy also recalls her very first professional gig - a short 10-day contract that paid enough for her to buy her first car!

Balancing motherhood and a demanding dance career is a challenge many dancers face. Nancy talks candidly about when she felt secure enough in her career to take a step back and focus on her family, and how she managed to return and evolve as a performer, choreographer, and teacher.

She discusses the key differences between company life and commercial work, and shares valuable insights into what it takes to sustain a long-term career in the ever-changing world of dance.

With over 50 years of experience, Nancy offers heartfelt advice for aspiring dancers, reveals the kind of energy she strives to foster in her classes, and the lasting impact she hopes to have on her students. Plus, for anyone curious about what makes a dancer stand out to a director - Nancy lets us in on her secret. She even shares rarely discussed business tips that every dancer should hear.

Connect with Nancy:

YOUTUBE: Nancy Paradis (LA Dance Moves)

WEBSITE: ladancemoves.com

INSTAGRAM: @ladance_moves

Links and Resources:

Aloha Nutrition Bars: 20% off using code: BRAINYBALLERINA

Ballet Help Desk Website

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Questions/comments? Email me at caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Dance Kaleidoscope Artistic Director Joshua Blake Carter to explore his multifaceted dance journey from a theater-loving high schooler in Atlanta to an influential choreographer and artistic leader in the dance industry.

Joshua shares pivotal moments in his development, including his time at the University of Arizona, his early choreographic commissions, and his 14-year tenure with Giordano Dance Chicago.

Now at the helm of Dance Kaleidoscope, he opens up about his leadership philosophy, audition process, and long-term vision for the company. Whether you're a dancer, educator, or choreographer, this episode is full of rich insights on persistence, artistry, and creating space for others to thrive.

Key Topics:

✨The transformative role of college dance and the importance of asking for opportunities

✨Navigating his first professional choreographic commission while still a college student

✨Transitioning from student to professional dancer and striking a realistic balance

✨What makes a great dancer in auditions (hint: it’s not perfection)

✨Why collaboration and respect are the cornerstones of his leadership style

✨His vision for Dance Kaleidoscope and what makes it a fulfilling place to work

✨Advice for young dancers on building a sustainable, long-term career

Connect with Joshua:

JOSHUA INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/jbcchoreography

DANCE KALEIDOSCOPE IG: instagram.com/dance_kaleidoscope_indy

DANCE KALEIDOSCOPE WEBSITE: www.dancekal.org

Links and Resources:

Get your copy of The Intentional Career Handbook

Set up ticketing for your next event with DRT (Make sure to mention that The Brainy Ballerina sent you!)

1-1 Career Mentoring: book your complimentary career call

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Questions/comments? Email me at caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

In this solo episode, I dive into everything dancers need to know to make the most of their summer intensives. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned pre-professional, this episode is packed with insight to help you thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally during one of the most transformative times in your dance training.

🩰 Why summer intensives are critical for growth in technique, artistry, and professionalism

🩰 The importance of journaling and reflection - before, during, and after

🩰 Tips for adjusting socially and forming lasting connections

🩰 Staying healthy: sleep, recovery, nutrition, and hydration

🩰 Turning your summer intensive into an extended audition and possible job opportunity.

➡️ 3 Benefits of Attending a Summer Dance Intensive

➡️ Pack Like a Pro: Essential Items for Your Summer Dance Intensive

➡️ Coping with Missing Home During your Summer Intensive

➡️ Everything Dancers Need to Know Before Their First Partnering Class

Join the Conversation
Head to my Instagram @TheBrainyBallerina and join my channel “Career Guidance for Dancers” to participate in future episode polls and get exclusive career tips straight to your inbox.

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

1-1 Career Mentoring: book your complimentary career call

Questions/comments? Email me at caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

In this episode, I am joined by Anne Bak Marine and Lindsay Chirio-Humenay from Eisenhower Dance Detroit to discuss their transformative event, See & Be Seen. This two-day collegiate dance experience connects high school dancers with college dance programs, helping them navigate the often overwhelming path from high school to higher education in dance.

Anne and Lindsay share how the program has evolved from a small in-studio event to a statewide (and growing!) hub for dance college recruitment, complete with auditions, classes, workshops, and expert-led panels for both students and their families. They also reflect on their personal journeys through college dance programs in Michigan, and how those experiences inform their current work.

What We Cover:
✨ The origins and evolution of See & Be Seen
🎓 How the event bridges high school dancers with college programs
🧠 Health, wellness & mental health support for dancers
📚 Parent "nugget" sessions covering FAFSA, housing, campus life & more
💡 Advice for dancers on how to get the most out of the event
💬 Reflections on what success means in a dance career
🛠 The skills and confidence college dance programs build both on and off the stage

Learn more about the event:

REGISTER FOR SEEN & BE SEEN: www.eisenhowerdance.org/beseen

EISENHOWER DANCE DETROIT WEBSITE: www.eisenhowerdance.org

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/eisenhowerdancedetroit

Links and Resources:

Get your copy of The Intentional Career Handbook

Get 20% off your first order of ALOHA protein bars: https://aloha.com/BRAINYBALLERINA

1-1 Career Mentoring: book your complimentary career call

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Questions/comments? Email me at caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

Tanya Trombly, a freelance ballet dancer with over 20 years of professional career experience and founder of Bulletproof Ballerina, sits down with me today to discuss how her stubbornness and tenacity has helped her vision and goals become a reality.

We chat about what it’s like to go through the mental and physical challenges that come with relying so much on what you look like and how Tanya overcame those challenging obstacles in order to get to a much healthier place in both her life and career.

Much of the work that Tanya focuses on revolves around helping other dancers build confidence around the bodies that they were born with. Tanya shares that she feels as though she wasted so much time trying to change her body and now she wants to educate other ballet dancers on how to nourish their bodies rather than deplete them.

Key “Pointes” in this Episode :

• Early Dance Days: How growing up at a more casual studio was a better fit than a ballet conservatory
• Dance in College: Why Tanya chose Mercyhurst University
• Transition to the Professional World: Why Tanya didn’t think she’d make it as a ballerina and what helped her land her first professional contract
• Freelancing: What it takes to sustain a 20+ year career as a freelancer in NYC
• Health and Fitness: Why Tanya has built a business around these concepts
• Self-destruction vs. Nurturing: How Tanya is helping other dancers heal
• Business Growth: How dance has helped Tanya grow her business
• What the Future Holds: Tanya shares her big dreams she is currently pursuing

Connect with Tanya:

INSTAGRAM: @bulletproof_ballerina

WEBSITE: bulletproofballerina.com

Links and Resources:

Set up ticketing for your next event with DRT (Make sure to mention that The Brainy Ballerina sent you!)

Get your copy of The Intentional Career Handbook

1-1 Career Mentoring: book your complimentary career call

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Questions/comments? Email me at caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Michelle Thompson - former dancer with Ballet Austin, seasoned educator, and freelance choreographer based in New York City.

Michelle shares her remarkable journey from a spontaneous childhood dance debut at a neighborhood party to training at San Francisco Ballet School, a fulfilling 14-year career at Ballet Austin, and her transition into teaching and choreography.

Michelle offers candid insight into the realities of a professional dance career - from balancing motherhood while performing, to navigating rejection, and the often unseen work of carving out a path as a freelance choreographer.

This conversation is full of wisdom about longevity, resilience, community, and the importance of saying “yes” to yourself.

Key Topics:

✨ The lessons performing in company productions as a student taught her about professionalism
✨ How hard work, consistency, and openness shaped her long career at Ballet Austin
✨ What it’s really like being a dancing mom and how community made it possible
✨ The importance of persistence through rejection and why “no” isn’t the end of the story
✨ Michelle’s teaching philosophy beyond technique: consistency, communication, and a positive attitude

If you're a dancer navigating the unpredictable world of auditions, contracts, or freelance creative work, this conversation will give you both practical guidance and soulful encouragement.

Connect with Michelle:

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/michelle_thompson_ulerich

DINNER PARTY PROJECT: https://www.instagram.com/dinner_party_project_nyc/

EMAIL: michelle.ulerich@gmail.com

Links and Resources:

Get your copy of The Intentional Career Handbook

Set up ticketing for your next event with DRT (Make sure to mention that The Brainy Ballerina sent you!)

1-1 Career Mentoring: book your complimentary career call

Let’s connect!

My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina

Questions/comments? Email me at caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com