The Brainy Ballerina Podcast

This week on The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Tiffany Rea-Fisher: Artistic Director of EMERGE125, award-winning choreographer, and a true force in the dance world.
Tiffany shares her journey from growing up as a competition kid on the West Coast, to discovering modern dance at SUNY Purchase, and now celebrating her 10th season leading EMERGE125, a contemporary modern dance company in New York City.
Tiffany’s perspective on leadership, from servant leadership to a more collaborative, transformative model, is something every dancer (and human!) can learn from. I am incredibly inspired by the way she builds a company culture rooted in both rigor and joy, where dancers feel seen, valued, and empowered to bring their full selves into the room.
Key "Pointes" from this Episode:
What Tiffany looks for when hiring dancers
Her concept of “disruption through inclusion” and why diversity is a creative superpower
The role artists play in shaping culture and reminding us to be brave
How motherhood has influenced her leadership style and boundaries
Building a financially sustainable arts organization through challenging times
Why community is the key to longevity in the dance industry
Connect with Tiffany:
EMERGE125 WEBSITE: https://emerge125.org/
EMERGE125 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/emerge125/
TIFFANY INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/treafisher/
Links and Resources:
ORZA: Use code ‘BRAINYBALLERINA’ for 10% off: https://orzabrand.com/
Complimentary Career Mentoring Consultation: https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/career-mentoring
Let’s connect!
MY WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina
Schedule your complimentary career consultation: https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/career-mentoring
Questions/comments? Email me at [email protected]
This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by Seth and Sarah Orza - former principal dancers with Pacific Northwest Ballet and the founders of ORZA.
Seth and Sarah share their incredible journey from meeting as teenagers at the School of American Ballet to building careers together both on and off-stage. We dive into the realities of dancing through pain, the lack of innovation in ballet footwear, and how their personal injury experiences led to a groundbreaking solution.
Seth takes us behind the scenes of developing the first-ever patented shock-absorbing ballet shoe, designed to better support dancers’ bodies without sacrificing the aesthetic demands of the art form.
We also explore the bigger picture: how dancers are often underserved when it comes to proper equipment, the long-term impact of training on inadequate flooring, and why the “suffering for your art” mindset needs to change.
Whether you're a student, professional dancer, or someone navigating life after dance, this episode is full of practical advice and inspiration for what’s possible beyond the stage.
Key “Pointes” in this Episode:
The injuries that sparked the idea for a shock-absorbing ballet shoe
Why traditional ballet footwear hasn’t kept up with athletic innovation
The process of designing and manufacturing a completely new kind of dance shoe
What dancers actually feel when wearing shock-absorbing shoes
The impact of poor flooring and training environments on dancers’ bodies
Transferable skills from dance that translate into entrepreneurship
What dancers should know as they prepare for life after their performing careers
Connect with ORZA:
WEBSITE: www.orzabrand.com (use code BRAINYBALLERINA for 10% off your ORZA shoes)
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/orzabrand
Links and Resources:
Chronicle Studio
APP: https://chroniclestudio.passion.io/
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/chronicle_cdt_studio/
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/chronicleCDTstudio
MORE INFO: allongefilms.com/chroniclestudio
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 [email protected]

Anna Mai Fitzpatrick, Principal Dancer with Riverdance, joins The Brainy Ballerina Podcast ahead of the company’s April 14-16th performances at the Overture Center in Madison, WI.
Anna shares an inside look at her journey from a young Irish dancer to performing on stages around the world with Riverdance. We dive into the unique demands of Irish dance, what it’s like to transition from competitive dancer to professional performer, and how Anna found her voice as a Principal Dancer.
Key “Pointes” in this Episode:
The unique technique and structure of Irish dance
What it’s like to transition from the competition world to a professional show
The challenge of finding individuality within an iconic role
What life on tour is actually like (physically and mentally)
The importance of teamwork in a touring company
Behind-the-scenes: warm-ups, recovery, and show routines
What makes Riverdance 30: The New Generation so special
Connect with Anna:
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/annamaifitz/
Connect with Riverdance
WEBSITE: https://riverdance.com/
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/riverdance/
Links and Resources:
Chronicle Studio
APP: https://chroniclestudio.passion.io/
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/chronicle_cdt_studio/
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/chronicleCDTstudio
MORE INFO: allongefilms.com/chroniclestudio
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 [email protected]

Penny Saunders is an absolute force in the dance world and a choreographer every dancer dreams of working with. But before she was a choreographer, she was a dynamic performer dancing with companies including American Repertory Ballet, Ballet Arizona, MOMIX, Cedar Lake, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
She is now an acclaimed choreographer who has created works for companies including Grand Rapids Ballet, Hubbard Street, Cincinnati Ballet, Whim W’Him, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Parsons Dance, Oklahoma City Ballet, BalletX, Sacramento Ballet, The Royal New Zealand Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Diablo Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Eugene Ballet, ArtEmotion/Ballet West and Seattle Dance Collective, among others.
In this episode, Penny shares how her early training shaped her independence, and what it really looked like to transition from a classical dancer into a contemporary artist. We also dive into her evolution as a choreographer, the moment she finally claimed that title, and how motherhood has influenced both her creative process and career.
Key "Pointes" from this Episode:
Training at Harid Conservatory and how dance fostered independence at a young age.
Her transition into a professional career with her first job at American Repertory Ballet.
Navigating the transition from classical ballet to contemporary dance.
The story behind one of her favorite performance experiences and falling in love with her husband.
Taking the leap into choreography at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
Overcoming imposter syndrome and growing into the identity of “choreographer”.
Balancing motherhood with a demanding dance career and why it matters for children to see their parents pursuing fulfilling work.
Adapting choreography across different companies while staying true to her voice.
An inside look at her current commissions, including Romeo & Juliet with Diablo Ballet and Sherlock Holmes co-produced by Ballet Idaho, Grand Rapids Ballet, and Nashville Ballet.
Connect with Penny:
INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/pennyfix/
Connect with Chronicle Studio
APP: https://chroniclestudio.passion.io/
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/chronicle_cdt_studio/
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/chronicleCDTstudio
MORE INFO: allongefilms.com/chroniclestudio
Let’s connect!
MY WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina
Schedule your complimentary career consultation: https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/career-mentoring
Questions/comments? Email me at [email protected]

In this episode of The Brainy Ballerina Podcast, I’m joined by former professional dancer and writer Gavin Larsen and renowned dance photographer Gene Schiavone to discuss their collaborative book Infinite Steps: Thirty-Three Dancers and Their Lives in Ballet, a powerful collection that pairs intimate essays with striking photography.
Together we explore how storytelling and imagery reveal the humanity behind ballet, the diverse paths dancers take, and the deeper purpose that sustains a life in dance.
Key Points in this Episode:
How Gene’s original book idea evolved into a collaboration with Gavin to bring deeper storytelling to his photographs
The beauty of preserving a dancer’s fleeting career in photographs and essays
The importance of showing the humanity behind the dancers
The commonalities they saw between the dancers interviewed: a strong sense of purpose drives dancers more than external success, the daily work matters more than performance highs, and every career path is unique
Connect with Gavin:
WEBSITE: www.gavinlarsen.com
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/gavinalarsen
EPISODE 62: The Truth About Being a Ballerina with Gavin Larsen
Connect with Gene:
WEBSITE: www.geneschiavone.com
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/geneschiavoneofficial
Get your copy of Infinite Steps:
AMAZON: https://amzn.to/4lUWSUS (affiliate link)
UNIVERSITY PRESS OF FLORIDA: https://floridapress.org/9780813081502/infinite-steps/
Links and Resources:
Join the Brainy Ballerina Book Club
Connect with Chronicle Studio
APP: https://chroniclestudio.passion.io/
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/chronicle_cdt_studio/
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/chronicleCDTstudio
MORE INFO: allongefilms.com/chroniclestudio
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 [email protected]