The Ballerinatist

The Ballerinatist•www.theballerinatist.com

Sharing stories of dancers, dance educators, and movement practitioners to inspire, educate, and transform how we see, experience, and interpret dance. Hosted by Melissa Croushorn. A former high performance athlete and dancer, she is a writer, movement educator, and dance education consultant. She specializes in pre-professional dancer training and development. Learn more about dance education, careers in dance, and get your Dancer Career Planner: https://www.theballerinatist.com/.

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Episodes

Priorities in Dance training with Physical Therapist Elizabeth Harrison Tilstra

Nashville-based physical therapist, Dr. Elizabeth Harrison Tilstra, shares about her personal experiences in dance training and career as a professional dancer. Tilstra received training at Cincinnati Ballet and University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music before dancing professionally with Joffrey Ballet and Nashville Ballet. Tilstra provides physical therapy services to pre-professional and professional performing artists in addition to acting as a consultant for dance organization...

Jun 08, 2020•32 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Self-awareness with Melissa Brading

Melissa Brading, a former colleague of mine from The Joyce Theater, joins Be En Pointe to share about her career as a dancer, choreographer, and movement educator. She received her BFA in Dance Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and danced professionally in Houston, TX and later in New York City for choreographers such as Hope Boykin, Amanda Selwyn, Chris Ferris, among others. Melissa worked with Avodah Dance, teaching creative dance workshops to incarcerated women. She studied th...

May 30, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Pursuing your BFA/MFA in Dance with Bethany Sullivan

Bethany Sullivan is a Nashville native currently residing in Iowa as she completes her MFA in Dance at the University of Iowa. She also has her BFA in Dance and worked as independent, multi-disciplinary collaborator prior to pursuing her MFA. Bethany shares her process for choosing work, recognizing fear, and choosing bravery. She is candid, sincere, and provides a perspective of optimistic wisdom.

May 20, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Make Feedback your Super Power!

Melissa talks through ways of giving and receiving feedback for maximum impact. Quality feedback inspires, motivates, and empowers you to move forward towards your goals. Also, practicing a mindset to receive/give feedback in the way you would want someone else to receive/give feedback creates an environment for harmony and support. As dancers, feedback, criticism, opinion, and artistic viewpoints, can all become jumbled together. Dancers need to have a strong sense of self and clarity of purpos...

May 16, 2020•32 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Dance Research and Higher Education with Dr. Jessica Herzogenrath

Melissa interviews Dr. Jessica Herzogenrath, a dance writer, educator, and researcher on her path in academia. Herzogenrath shares about what movement research can look like, creating opportunities in hybrid spaces, and advocating for the field of dance outside its traditional or expected environments. Learn more about this episode's guest: https://jessicarayherzogenrath.org/about/ Visit www.emceemovement.com for more dance education and career development resources....

May 04, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Unlocking Potential

Melissa offers ten tips as launch pads to continue building your passion, ability, and possibilities as a dancer outside the studio. Taking ownership of a career dance requires constantly feeding inspiration and motivation to uncover the next step in your journey. Visit www.emceemovement.com for more resources on dance education and career development.

Apr 16, 2020•39 min•Season 1Ep. 2

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