Do you ever walk out of ballet class feeling heavier than when you walked in? Whether you're stuck in a plateau or just being a little too hard on yourself lately, this episode is full of beautiful mindset shifts that will help you find your joy in ballet again, and keep that joy at the center of your practice for the long haul.

I'm joined by Tiekka Tellier, founder of Everyday Ballet, an online and in-person studio for adults based in NYC. After 16 years dancing professionally, first as a Principal with Houston Ballet then as an international guest artist, Tiekka built her teaching around one belief: every dancer, at any level, can access the beauty of ballet.

We talk about how to quiet your inner critic (and why it's essential for improvement), what's actually happening when you hit a plateau right before a breakthrough, how to let go of perfectionism and dance with more freedom, and the simple habits Tiekka uses to protect her own joy after decades in the studio. She also shares a reframe on perfection that I haven't stopped thinking about since we recorded (seriously).

Whether you're brand new, returning after years away, or a longtime dancer who's feeling a little burned out, this conversation will help you set down what you've been carrying and fall back in love with ballet. ✨

CONNECT WITH TIEKKA 👇🏼
Want to train with Tiekka? Check out her AMAZING offers just for After Class listeners at www.everydayballet.com/afterclass 🩷
Instagram: @everydayballetfitness

EPISODE SPONSOR: LABL ACTIVE ✨
Join me next summer at the LABL Active Adult Ballet Retreat! Beginner-level spots are still open. (Wait list available for other levels.) Register before the end of 2026 and get six months of Allie Christensen's Dancer Strong prep program for free. Use code AFTERCLASS100 at checkout for $100 off your registration fee.
DATES: June 20-25, 2027 in Seattle, WA
🔗 Register here: lablactive.com

Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunhead

Explore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.com

Podcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.
www.MissionBridgeMedia.com

Have you ever walked into a ballet class and felt like everyone else got a rulebook you never received? Where to stand, how to move across the floor, when to ask questions? If you’ve ever found out the hard way that you were breaking one of ballet’s unspoken "rules", you’re not alone... Most adult ballet classes don't cover this info!

Which is why I'm so excited to be joined by Suzanne Jolie, a professional dancer, my own ballet teacher, and one half of the hilarious duo behind Models Doing Ballet. We walk through an entire ballet class, from arrival to révérence, covering the etiquette most adult ballet teachers never explain, like: what to do if you're running late, phone and filming etiquette, wearing pointe shoes in a non-pointe class, spacing at the barre and in center, sitting out jumps, and the one thing you should NEVER do to a classmate. We also talk about the red flags to watch for in a teacher, because good etiquette goes both ways!

Whether you're new to ballet, returning after time away, or trying out a new studio, this episode will help you walk into any adult ballet class feeling confident and like you belong (because you do). 😄

EPISODE SPONSOR: LABL ACTIVE
Join me next summer at the LABL Active Adult Ballet Retreat! Beginner-level spots are still open. (Wait list available for other levels.) Register before the end of 2026 and get six months of Allie Christensen's Dancer Strong prep program for free. Use code AFTERCLASS100 at checkout for $100 off your registration fee.
DATES: June 20-25, 2027 in Seattle, WA
🔗 Register here: https://lablactive.com/pages/2026-adult-ballet-retreat

CONNECT WITH SUZANNE 👇🏼
Personal Instagram: @suzannejolie
Models Doing Ballet: @modelsdoingballet

Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunhead

Explore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.com

Podcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.
www.MissionBridgeMedia.com

Where do your eyes go when you're dancing? If your honest answer is the mirror.. or the floor... or the dancer in front of you... you're in good company! As adult dancers, most of us are never told exactly where to look. But eyeline is one of the simplest ways to make your dancing look more expansive, expressive and natural, and it's something you can start working on in your very next class!

I'm joined again by Chelsea Weidmann, also known as the Geeky Ballerina, for the next episode of our series on the elements of artistry, as she defined and explored them in her thesis on artistry in ballet. We dig into what eyeline actually is, why it's such a powerful tool, and how a clear eyeline choice can steady your penché and even improve your turns.

Chelsea also shares her guiding principles for those moments when no one has told you where to look: why you should look three inches higher than you think, when following your hand is the right call (spoiler: almost always), and why your eyes and your head need to move together. We also talk about why taking your eyes off the mirror can feel so vulnerable, why it's such a powerful act of self-trust, and why video gives you more honest feedback than the mirror can (it's science)!

Plus, don't miss Chelsea's brand-new Ballet Artistry Deck, which was inspired by this very series! She's offering After Class listeners 20% off through the end of October with code AFTERCLASS20 at www.geekyballerina.com 👩🏻‍💻

EPISODE SPONSOR: LABL ACTIVE
Join me next summer at the LABL Active Adult Ballet Retreat! Beginner-level spots are still open. (Wait list available for other levels.) Use code AFTERCLASS100 at checkout for $100 off your registration fee.
DATES: June 20-25, 2027 in Seattle, WA
🔗 Register at lablactive.com

RÉVÉRENCE: WORSHIP THROUGH BALLET
A new monthly Zoom class for adult dancers. A gentle barre warm-up, then a short piece of choreography set to worship music, with the focus on flow, artistry, and being present. Led by professional dancer & choreographer Sarah Ekstrom. All levels welcome!
DATE: Saturday, October 17 at 9 am PT
🔗 Sign up at www.thebusybunhead.com

CONNECT WITH CHELSEA 👇🏼
Ballet Artistry Deck (Use code AFTERCLASS20 for 20% off through Oct 31) at www.geekyballerina.com
Chelsea's Book: Artistry Inside Ballet Technique (affiliate link)

Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunhead

Explore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.com

Podcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.
www.MissionBridgeMedia.com