The Brainy Ballerina Podcast

Caitlin here with a solo episode recapping 2025 and chatting about my hopes and dreams for 2026!Biggest takeaways from this episode: Be where your feet are: presence creates deeper impact than constantly chasing what’s next. Consistency beats intensity: small, sustainable routines done regularly matter far more than big, all-or-nothing efforts. There is no finish line: healing, growth, and goals are lifelong, not problems to “solve” once and move on. Understanding your body changes everything: what works for others may not work for you - learn how your body works and advocate for yourself. Impact doesn’t have to be global to be meaningful: work in your local community can be just as powerful than scaling bigger and faster.Tune in to hear how I came to these realizations in 2025, and what I’m doing with that information as we head into 2026!Episodes mentioned:33. 2024 Year in Review and Embracing the Gray Area in 202567. My Program Launch Failed (So Let's Talk About Rejection)Links and Resources:Jennifer Milner (Movement practitioner & Pilates trainer specializing in hypermobility): https://www.jennifer-milner.com/Camille Sanchez (Avatar Healing, massage therapist based in Madison, WI): https://www.avatar-healing.com/Brick: https://www.getbrick.app/CAITLIN10476 (affiliate link)1-1 Career Mentoring: book your complimentary career callLet’s connect!My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.comINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerinaQuestions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

Professional dancer, choreographer, educator, and creative entrepreneur Sharon Kung is redefining what it means to build a sustainable and empowered life in dance. In this episode, Sharon shares her unconventional path through ballet, contemporary dance, higher education, and entrepreneurship, including the experiences that led her to found Ballet Trauma Club.We dive into honest conversations about dancer pay, burnout, artistic freedom, and the realities of building a long-term career in dance, along with how dancers can begin reshaping the industry from the inside out.Key Points in this Episode: Sharon’s early relationship with dance and her training in Hong Kong through the Royal Academy of Dance Transitioning to the U.S. dance world and discovering contemporary dance at Juilliard Double majoring in dance performance and economics at UC Irvine and what dancers should consider before taking that path Her first professional contract with Thodos Dance Chicago and navigating cultural shifts in the industry Differences between dance work in the U.S., Europe, and Asia The inspiration behind Ballet Trauma Club and the conversations Sharon hopes to spark around sustainability, trauma, and pay equity in ballet Systems Sharon uses to avoid burnout while building a creative businessConnect with Sharon:Follow Ballet Trauma Club on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ballettraumaclub/Shop Ballet Trauma Club’s Website: https://ballettraumaclub.com/ (Use code BBBTC15 for 15% off your purchase!)Follow Sharon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its.sharonkung/Sharon’s Personal Website: https://sharonkung.com/Links and Resources:Get 20% off your first order of ALOHA protein bars: https://aloha.com/BRAINYBALLERINAComplimentary Career Mentoring Consultation: https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/career-mentoringLet’s connect!My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.comINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerinaQuestions/comments? Email me at [email protected] episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

In this special birthday episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, we’re flipping the script! To celebrate my 38th birthday, my dear friend Carrie Euker steps in as guest host and I gave her free rein to ask me anything she wants.From career reflections, personal stories, Nutcracker nostalgia and the advice I wish every dancer knew, this episode offers an honest, uplifting look behind the scenes of my dance journey.Key Points in this Episode: Navigating injuries and learning to be honest with your body The teachers who shaped my transition from student to professional My dream Nutcracker role (and my very first one) The dancers I would hire for my “dream company” The key piece of advice I want every dancer to knowLinks and Resources:Get 10% off registration for Étoile Dance Competition with code BRAINY10.Let’s connect!My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.comINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina1-1 CAREER MENTORING: book your complimentary career callQuestions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

Alexandra Light, choreographer, creative researcher, and former principal dancer with Texas Ballet Theater, joins me for a conversation that weaves together artistry, identity, and the evolution of a dancer’s life. Her work has been shaped by residencies at places like Jacob’s Pillow and often explores ecology, feminist history, and the body as a site of memory and transformation.At just 18, Alexandra moved into Houston Ballet’s second company. She reflects on the intensity of that transition, the endurance it required, and the lifelong friendships formed during that pivotal year. She shares the lessons that helped her survive a full schedule of morning class followed by demanding rehearsals and how those habits shaped her professional resilience.For dancers who feel stronger as performers than technicians, Alexandra opens up about standing out in open calls despite feeling the same way early in her career. She walks through her progression from apprentice to principal dancer at Texas Ballet Theater, reminding us that careers are built on a blend of hard work, timing, luck, and the needs of a company.Alexandra also talks about recognizing the moment it was time to retire, a decision influenced by both intuition and logistics. Less than a year into retirement, she explains how shifting toward choreography was the biggest factor and why watching live ballet now fills her with excitement rather than longing.When asked to describe her choreography, Alexandra uses three striking words: expansive, dramatic, and curious. She shares how she builds work (from music-driven ideas to research-heavy processes) like her recent piece exploring the overlooked women who influenced Frank Lloyd Wright’s success.We also discuss her commitment to making ballet more sustainable and accessible. Alexandra recounts a formative moment that drove her to create work for audiences who have never had access to ballet. She also opens up about sustaining her own creativity and the role nature plays in her artistic practice.This episode is rich with insight, honesty, and inspiration for dancers, dance lovers, and anyone navigating a creative path.Connect with Alexandra:Visit Alexandra’s Website: https://www.alexandralight.art/Follow Alexandra on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farbie/Links and Resources:Get your copy of The Ultimate Audition GuideSchedule your Complimentary Career Consultation: https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/career-mentoringLet’s connect!My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.comINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerinaQuestions/comments? Email me at [email protected] episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

In this inspiring conversation, I’m joined by Robert Schultz - LA-based dancer, choreographer, educator, and founder of Artists in Training - to explore how dancers can build a thriving career in today’s ever-changing industry.Together, we dig into how class culture has shifted in the age of social media, why dancers crave instant gratification, and the impact that “getting it on film” has had on training. Robert also breaks down how Artists Training was created to bring connection, consistency, and deeper purpose back to the convention model - helping dancers not just improve their technique, but understand who they are as humans and artists.This episode is full of honesty, humor, and powerful reminders about staying grounded, trusting your path, and never giving yourself an expiration date.Key Points in this Episode: Robert’s early dance beginnings and how his first teacher recognized his natural talent The differences between the NYC and LA dance scene Why proper warmup, longevity, and technique still matter (and why he refuses to shorten class!) Professionalism on set: respect, communication, and the behaviors that get dancers rehired The creation of Artists Training and how it blends convention energy with mentorship and mindset work Studio culture: competition vs. community and the power of genuine support Why dancers shouldn’t give themselves an “expiration date” when pursuing a professional careerConnect with Robert:INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/moveyoutoinspireAIT INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/artistsintrainingWEBSITE: www.aitdance.comLinks and Resources:Visit the Ballet Help Desk: https://ballethelpdesk.com/Get your copy of The Intentional Career HandbookLet’s connect!My WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.comINSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina1-1 CAREER MENTORING: book your complimentary career callQuestions/comments? Email me at [email protected]