In Conversation With...

Alice Robb, a former ballet student at the School of American Ballet, discusses her complicated relationship with ballet. After a decade of avoiding the art form, Robb began to confront her past through writing her book, Don't Think, Dear. She explores the demanding nature of dancer identity, the lasting impact of the culture of silence in ballet training, and the industry's ongoing issues with gender inequality. Robb advocates for a more compassionate and inclusive approach to ballet, while encouraging dancers to embrace change and find fulfillment beyond the world of professional dance.

Gabrielle Salvatto, a multidisciplinary performing artist, author, and educator, delves into her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the dance world. Salvatto discusses her personal experiences with racism and marginalization in predominantly white ballet institutions, emphasizing the need for equity and access in training and performance opportunities.

Sarah Lozoff, a Los Angeles-based intimacy director with a background in ballet, choreography, and doula work, combines her expertise in movement and consent to create safe, collaborative environments in dance, theatre, film, and TV. She empowers artists to assert boundaries, choreographs intimate scenes with precision, and helps dancers navigate the challenges of hierarchical studio cultures. While awareness of intimacy direction is growing, especially in theatre and film, it remains underutilized in dance. Lozoff encourages aspiring directors to prioritize self-care and resilience while fostering authenticity and collaboration in storytelling.

This interview with Dr. Stephanie Potreck, a medical doctor and sports nutritionist, explores dance health and nutrition. Potreck, whose dance career ended due to injury, now advocates for qualified nutritional advice in dance. She discusses restrictive eating risks, medical bias against dancers, and links between dance training and body image issues. Potreck notes positive industry shifts in nutrition awareness.

Blanka Paldi, Pauline, and Camille founded A la Second, a sustainable online second-hand dancewear store inspired by Swedish trends. The idea came during COVID, using Blanka's web design skills. Their model, paying sellers after sales, reduced financial risk. Task division based on strengths ensured smooth operations. The platform supports sustainable consumption and unique dancewear. Blanka stresses redefining "new" and encourages pursuing ideas despite fears.

Kristina Lind, a principal dancer with the Bayerisches Staatsballett, shares her journey from the San Francisco Ballet to the Dutch National Ballet, and finally to Munich. She discusses the challenges she faced, including her height and body type, and the struggle to find her "fit" in the ballet world. Lind emphasizes the importance of self-validation and internal growth, and how her shift in mindset led to her success. She also discusses the differences between dancing in the U.S. and Europe, highlighting the greater stability and respect for ballet in Europe. Lind hopes to continue growing as an artist, inspire others, and share her knowledge with the next generation.

Juliet Burnett, a dancer and director, shares her experiences learning traditional Javanese dance, her thoughts on the need for change in the ballet industry, and her work with community outreach programs in Indonesia. She emphasizes the need for ballet to modernize and become more accessible, both in terms of training opportunities and audience demographics. She also discusses her outreach program "Ballet Goes To," which brings arts practitioners to communities for cultural exchange, and her plans to expand this program through her new organization, A_PART.

New Zealand-born choreographer and filmmaker, Corey Baker, moved from ballet training to owning his own dance company. After rejection from New Zealand School of Dance, he trained in Sydney, leading to opportunities in Europe. His choreography career flourished in the U.K., where he balanced dancing, teaching, and choreographing before focusing solely on choreography. Corey's work tackles activism and innovation, addressing climate change and pushing ballet and art boundaries.

Pascalle Paerel and Hannah de Klein founded The Fashion Composers to address the lack of dancer representation in commercial and fashion contexts and enhance the quality of movement-focused advertisements.

Loughlan Prior is an award-winning choreographer and creative director. We had the opportunity to explore his career as the Artistic Director of Lo | Co Arts and Choreographer in Residence at the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

Charlotte Edmonds, a talented choreographer, received her first commission at sixteen and has created many works. She has studied at top ballet schools and worked with famous companies. Her recent projects include exploring dance and dyslexia, making a short film about depression, and directing and choreographing a new dance film.

Shih-Huai Liang is a Taiwanese ballet dancer. Despite the challenges posed by limited accessibility to ballet in Taiwan, he tirelessly pursued a world-class classical ballet education to become a professional dancer in the U.S., New Zealand, and Korea. In 2019, fueled by his unwavering passion, he founded the Master Class Project Taiwan, leaving a lasting impact on the local dance community.

An exclusive interview with CODA Founder, Rebecca Haw, about the trajectory of CODA and their exciting future plans to innovate in the dance space.

DanceHive is a platform for dancers to connect and offer/request hospitality for dance-related activities such as auditions, training, and performances.

Aya Okumura's rise to the top involved being unexpectedly let go from a company, negotiating her way into a new company, and ultimately believing in her value as a dancer.

Sae Hyun Kwon, founder of Movement Momm, shares her international career, the inspiration behind Movement Momm, and her goal to impact audiences through physical movement.

Lynne talks to Pivot Pointe about all things 4Pointe.