When a dancer gets injured, it’s more than just a physical setback. The mental toll, the frustration of delayed progress, and the worry about future goals can weigh heavily. Injuries can feel like huge roadblocks, but they also offer unexpected growth opportunities. Reflecting on my experiences, every injury I faced brought a new perspective. This taught me patience, resilience, and a deeper understanding of my body. In many ways, those challenges shaped me into the dancer and person I became.
I learned a lot about strengthening my body after each injury
❝My aim has always been to be a supportive and caring teacher for all dancers I work with❞
As dancers, we’re constantly striving for mastery, for perfection in movement and technique. But what happens when life nudges us into something entirely new, something we may not feel ready for? That’s exactly where I find myself these days — both in the studio and beyond. And I have to say, while it’s been a little nerve-wracking, it’s also been wonderfully rewarding.
A New Step: Teaching Toddler Dance Classes
I’ve recently partnered with the incredible midwife, Lynn Darbyshire, to offer something very special: Toddler Dance Courses in Munich. Lynn, whom I met during my pregnancy, has long been dedicated to supporting expat women through pregnancy and motherhood. Now, she’s expanded her vision, bringing together an amazing team of women under her ‘Pippagina‘ umbrella creating classes and courses for women in all phases of life. From pregnancy and postpartum support to baby and toddler activities to perimenopause and menopause workshops, her team covers it all. And I’m thrilled to be a part of it by offering dance classes for toddlers, including those where parents can join in.
We spend so much time looking forward to summer—the long days, the sunshine, the chance to unwind with family and friends. But in the blink of an eye, it’s over. As we say goodbye to those carefree days, the weight of returning to normal routines starts to creep in. For dancers, this means gearing up for another season—getting back into shape, leaving loved ones behind again, and preparing for the challenges that a new school year or company season may bring. I remember those feelings well.
There’s a sense of bittersweet anticipation that always comes with the start of something new. But it’s also exciting: new teachers, new roles, new skills to unlock. It’s a time for growth and learning, and while it may feel overwhelming at first, it’s full of potential.
Returning to the Studio: Mixed Emotions as a Teacher
Now, as a teacher, I find myself experiencing those same mixed emotions when it’s time to return to my work after a break. Being a freelance dance teacher brings its own set of challenges. It feels like a new beginning each time I step back into the studio, an opportunity to grow, discover new teaching methods, and help my students develop their own skills. But alongside the excitement, there’s always a lingering uncertainty.
Freelancing means relying on others to keep my work and income going, which can be stressful. There’s also the constant effort of getting myself known and staying visible in the dance community. And, like many of you, I’m also balancing the demands of family life. Being a new mum, a wife, and a teacher requires a delicate balancing act, and sometimes it feels like I’m being pulled in too many directions.
But here’s the thing—these challenges are part of the journey. And with each new season, I’m reminded that they are opportunities for growth, both personally and professionally.
Embracing the Transition: A Time for Growth
As we all prepare to return to our routines, I encourage you to take a moment to acknowledge your feelings—whether it’s nervousness, excitement, or a mix of both. These emotions are valid, and they are part of what makes this time of year so special.
It’s natural to feel some anxiety about the unknown, but try to embrace the idea that anything is possible. We have the power to influence how the return to routine unfolds, and how we approach it will shape the season ahead. Let’s use the energy of those long, beautiful summer days to push us through the colder, darker months with positivity and determination.
Moving Forward with a Summer Mindset
As I look ahead, I feel a sense of appreciation for the opportunities that I have had and that are coming—for the chance to combine my dance career with teaching, for the continuous support of my family, and for the resilience that has helped me navigate the ups and downs in the past and that will help me face the ones to come in freelance life. I know that challenges will come, but with a determined mindset and a focus on what I can control, I feel ready to tackle them.
To my fellow dancers and teachers, as we step back into our routines, let’s approach this time with a positive outlook. Embrace the new roles, the new skills, and the opportunities this season brings. When challenges arise, face them head-on, knowing that each one is a chance to grow and learn.
Here’s to a fresh start and a fulfilling season ahead—one filled with growth, joy, and plenty of dancing.
This past week marked my birthday—a time for reflection on the past year, which has been filled with immense change, growth, and new experiences. It’s an opportunity to look back on how far we’ve come and to feel grateful for the support systems that have helped us along the way. As I look back, I’m reminded of the importance of family, friends, and positive influences in our lives, especially in the context of balancing a demanding career in ballet with the joys and challenges of motherhood.
The Support of Family and Friends
Family support can make a world of difference, particularly when balancing a professional career and personal life. I have been fortunate to have a wonderful support system, including my husband, parents, sibling and a circle of positive friends who have become like family to me. They provide the encouragement and understanding needed to navigate the many phases of life.
However, not everyone is always surrounded by family. Sometimes, we find ourselves in situations where our immediate circle may not provide the encouragement or positivity we need. I remember times during my school years or even in the company, where it wasn’t easy to find a supportive environment. It’s during these moments that we need to seek out those positive influences—whether it’s a friend, teacher, or colleague who can offer a different perspective and shine a light on the situation. These relationships can help us see challenges as opportunities for growth and development.
If you’re a young dancer or someone embarking on a new journey, remember that the people you surround yourself with matter. Find those who uplift you, inspire you, and encourage you to be the best version of yourself. It’s easy to get stuck in a bubble, bringing each other down, but finding that one person who can lift you up can make all the difference.
My supportive colleagues and team of swans at the Badisches Staaststheater Karlsruhe after our last run of Swan Lake
Reflecting on a Year of Change
As I celebrated my birthday this week, I couldn’t help but reflect on the many changes that have taken place over the past year. Life is full of phases—some are wonderful, while others are challenging. But each phase brings with it an opportunity for growth and development. I’ve learned that while we can influence these changes by being proactive and driven, sometimes, change simply happens. And it’s during these moments that we have the chance to develop and grow.
Looking back over the past year, I see how much has changed in my own life. From becoming a mother to balancing a career as a dance teacher in Munich, I’ve experienced both the highs and the lows. There have been moments of exhaustion and doubt, but also moments of joy and fulfillment. Through it all, I’ve learned to embrace each phase, knowing that it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.
Being That Person for My Daughter
Reflecting on my journey as a dancer, I’m reminded of my own mother and the role she played in my development. She was my partner, my travel buddy, my agent, and my biggest supporter. From driving me to auditions and summer schools to staying up late listening to me recount every detail of a performance, she was always there for me. Her unwavering support and encouragement were invaluable, helping me navigate the ups and downs of a career in ballet.
Now, as a mother myself, I look forward to being that person for my little girl. Whatever path she chooses, I want to be there to support her, to encourage her, and to help her navigate the many phases of life. Whether she decides to follow in my footsteps and pursue a career in dance or chooses a completely different path, I will be there to guide her, cheer her on, and help her see the beauty in every phase of her journey.
Embracing Gratitude and Looking Ahead
As I look ahead to the coming year, I’m filled with gratitude for the experiences of the past year and the lessons they have taught me. Balancing a new career with the joys of motherhood isn’t always easy, but it’s a journey filled with growth, discovery, and immense joy. I’m grateful for the support of my family and friends, for the opportunities to teach and inspire young dancers, and for the chance to continue growing both personally and professionally.
To all the young dancers reading this, know that you are not alone in your journey. We all face challenges, but it’s how we respond to them that defines us. Surround yourself with positive influences, embrace each phase of life with gratitude, and remember that every challenge is an opportunity for growth.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with me. Here’s to another year of growth, discovery, and the joy of dance.
Balancing motherhood and a professional life is a journey filled with highs and lows, but it’s one that brings immense gratitude. As a dance teacher in Munich and a mother, I’ve learned to appreciate the small victories and challenges alike. Finding harmony between these two important parts of my life has become a source of deep fulfillment.
Grateful for the Challenge of Focus
Staying focused on work while caring for a little one isn’t always easy, but it’s a challenge that I’ve come to embrace with gratitude. There are days when my attention is divided between teaching ballet classes in Munich and meeting the needs of my daughter. In those moments, I remind myself of the privilege it is to be able to pursue my passion for dance while also raising a child.
Being present in the moment, whether during a ballet lesson or a family activity, has become a practice that brings me closer to both my students and my family. This approach allows me to fully appreciate the joys of both motherhood and my professional life.
Grateful for the Freedom to Travel and Explore
One of the greatest gifts of self-employment is the flexibility it offers, particularly when it comes to travel. Despite the complexities of managing work and family life, my family and I have been fortunate enough to continue enjoying our kind of holidays—active, adventurous, and full of discovery.
This year, our travels took us through the stunning landscapes of Italy, from Emilia-Romagna and Lago d’Iseo to Tuscany, Parma, Trento, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, and Lake Garda. These trips reminded me that even though motherhood changes your life, it doesn’t mean you have to give up the things you love. I’m grateful for the opportunity to create memories with my family while staying active and exploring new places together.
Grateful for the Flexibility of Self-Employment
Being self-employed in the dance world comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to financial stability. However, the flexibility it provides is something I’m incredibly thankful for. Running my dance lessons in Munich allows me to create a schedule that works for both my family and my passion for ballet.
Though there are uncertainties—like the occasional no-show at a ballet class or an unexpected doctor’s appointment—each day ends with a feeling of gratitude. Even on the toughest days, when I fall into bed exhausted, I’m thankful that I made it through. The exhaustion wears off, replaced by a sense of pride and joy in having managed my work, made my child happy, and handled the countless little tasks that fill my day.
As I reflect on the day’s challenges, a brief moment of uncertainty might creep in—what will tomorrow bring? A doctor’s appointment? A call from the Kita? Too many no-shows at a ballet class? But this uncertainty quickly transforms into a feeling of curiosity. I remind myself that I made it through today, and I know I’ll find a way to master tomorrow as well.
Inspiring Young Dancers with Gratitude
We all have our struggles and burdens in life. I have mine, and I’m certain that others might even face bigger ones. But maybe my story can serve as a bit of inspiration for you as you navigate your own challenges. If I can make it through a hard day, juggling the demands of motherhood and my work as a dance teacher, then so can you.
To my young dancers, I know you face your own challenges with school, dance, and the expectations placed on you. Ballet is a demanding art form, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Every challenge you encounter is an opportunity to grow and develop, not only as a dancer but as a person. Even on the hardest days, when you feel exhausted or unsure of what the next day will bring, be grateful for the progress you’ve made. The sense of accomplishment that comes from overcoming challenges is something to cherish.
Final Thoughts: Grateful for the Journey
Managing the demands of motherhood and a professional life isn’t always easy, but it’s a journey filled with moments of gratitude. As a dance teacher in Munich, I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my passion for ballet while also raising my daughter. This journey has taught me to appreciate the little things and to find joy in the interplay between work and family.
Thank you for being part of this journey with me. I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can inspire other mothers and young dancers to embrace their challenges with gratitude and to find joy in their unique paths.
Having just passed the year mark of the first Covid lockdown, we sadly find ourselves in not much of a different situation to where we all were this time last year. However, after months of waiting, endless shows being cancelled and not even stepping foot on our stage, a few weeks ago my company and I were finally back where we belonged. What a feeling it was to be under those bright lights once more, doing what we are meant to do after so long.
On stage in my Juliet costume after months of not performing
We were filming our beautiful ‘Romeo & Juliet‘ to be available online for the public over the next month. I was lucky enough to be performing as Juliet once more, almost exactly a year after my debut, just before we all got closed down that first lockdown. And even thought it wasn’t a normal performance, with public or even a full run through, as we had two days to film it, it felt so good to be able to put our art out there once more.
Hello again. How are we all? After not being on social media for a while, due to feeling personally a little strange about posting about my lucky circumstances compared to other people’s difficult situations all around the world at the moment, I have decided to come back for a reason and am hoping you lovely people out there may help me a little.
At home during lockdown trying to stay in shape and motivated but now grateful that was as hard as it got for me
With the world going through what it is at the moment causing many people to loose their loved ones and livelihoods I feel beyond grateful for getting through the crisis pretty much unscathed so far. I am back doing what I love in the studio, and even on stage spreading the joy of dance to a live audience once more. My hope is to now spread that joy a little further and help someone who means a lot to me.
Meeting the lovely Pia for the third time in Bangkok
Her name is Pia. She is a dear friend of mine from Thailand. I have written about her before because dance actually brought us together while I was on tour in Bangkok with the Staatsballett Karlsruhe back in 2013. We met when she was my Masseur in the Thai massage parlour we always went to and even though we could only communicate very simply, she was so sweet and kind it was the beginning of our long distance friendship.
It was sealed when I offered Pia a bouquet of flowers I received from the Princess of Thailand after performing for her as our guest of honour. I wanted to give her a small thank you and seeing as the people of Thailand love their Royal family, I thought she would really appreciate it and could see what an impression she had already left on me..
Performing ‘Sonata’ with Admil Kuyler in Bangkok for the Princess of Thailand the year I met Pia
Two years later I returned to Bangkok for the same dance festival and was eager to try to find this memorable Thai woman in the hope she could remember the little English ballerina she once massaged. Amazingly I found her on my last evening there and it was a wonderful reunion. This time we exchanged names and addresses and once I was home I sent her some gifts and a letter; written in English and badly translated Thai. Some time later she found me on Facebook; we have been in touch ever since.
I have met her once more in Bangkok since then, where she watched me perform and met my husband and I her niece. Every time we have met she has shown me so much unconditional kindness and motherly affection, she has come to mean a lot to me and me to her.
Recently however she is really struggling due to the Corona crisis in Thailand and she has not been able to work for several months. With the city not getting the needed tourists to provide work for the locals she can no longer afford the room she has in the city to be near her job.
Hearing this from her has urged me to do something to help her and her family, and although there are thousands of families in the same situation all over the world, being so connected to her I feel I need to do something for my friend. Dance brought me to Pia and dance brings joy to so many people so I hope it can bring even more than that to someone halfway across the world who’s simple, humble life is being taken away from them.
My first idea is to offer pairs of my old pointe shoes, signed and with a little message and the story that comes with the shoes to anyone who is interested and the donation will to go towards this small cause to help a friend in need.
So please contact me if you are interested and want to help me help Pia get through this difficult situation she faces. I for one will be so grateful for anything and I know she will be even more so. You can either write to me through here, or my Facebook or Instagram accounts. I hope to hear from you soon and thank you in advance.
Now that my time of home quarantine is pretty much over with Germany and Austria coming back to life after almost two months in shut down, I have a similar feeling to when I go back to work after our long summer holidays. Having gotten quite used to the way of life we were all forced into I am now feeling like I am once again treading on familiar ground but a little apprehensive to do so.
My quarantine studio during the lockdown
My first journey back to Salzburg was a strange one, riding an empty train carrying a ‘border commuter’ document and wearing a mask, something I never imagined I would be explaining to people. But I got across successfully and made my way to the disinfected studios to begin a ballet class of four dancers, all practising their spacial awareness and finding their own feet after taking class in their living rooms for the past few weeks. Continue reading “Crossing the Border to Basics”→
Never would I have thought I’d be writing a post about this. With the world on lockdown due to the quickly spreading Coronavirus, it has been one of the strangest and scariest times any of us have experienced and it doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon.
❝The entertainment and theatre industry is taking a huge hit❞
It is causing us all to go through our own difficult times and creating a worrisome atmosphere of what is to come and the possible effects it will have on us all. We have all been advised to say indoors and avoid contact with others, not to mention the unfortunate people that are having to actually deal with the illness and lives being turned upside down because of it. Continue reading “Dancing Queen in Quarantine”→
I have been part of the Landestheater Salzburg for almost two months now and am definitely on my way to feeling settled. The new routine is becoming my norm but still fresh enough to be interesting, and the people that now fill my days are all making life enjoyable and welcoming.
In our rehearsal studios in Salzburg
I feel cosy in my cute little apartment, filled with leftover furniture and comforting photos of friends and family. I am adapting to the very different timetable here where we work through rather than having a split working day. We begin at 10am with training followed by morning rehearsals till 14pm, a half-hour lunch break and continue with rehearsals until 5pm. When we start performing it will be a little different, but for now, I am really liking this way of working.
❝This is a big ballet to create so a lot of interesting work is going into this part of the process❞
Before I joined the company I admit I was a little worried about this change as I couldn’t imagine not having the long afternoon break I have grown comfortable too, but now I really appreciate having the evenings to relax and recover for the next day. Our bodies have so much more time to recuperate and it also gives us the feeling of a ‘normal life’; work is done at 5pm, time to enjoy dinner, meeting friends or an evening at home.Continue reading “Finding My Feet in Salzburg”→
