Count 9

This special podcast episode is a collaboration with Pivot For Dancer's "Pivot Panels" series. Founder Kaylee Randall joins host Benjamin Goodly to interview Jennifer Cavanaugh and Vimala Jacy Jeffrey-Howe about their transitions from ballet into nursing. Both panelists have found joy in this new career and describe through their personal stories how a dance career prepared them well for nursing. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

This special episode features a career transition story that began out of necessity at the start of the Pandemic. Sheina Raskin fell in love with dance as an adult through her love of travel. After a harsh awakening to the audition scene, Sheina started plotting her own course across the globe, leveraging her marketing degree as a source of income that enabled the flexibility to train and grow as a dancer. Just before the pandemic, she had worked a 6-month contract at a resort - the culmination of what she'd been working toward for so long. But the achievement didn't spark the passion Sheina expected, so she doubled down on charting her own course, partnering with an international chain of resorts to offer her own dance workshops. When COVID prevented this unique employment from coming to fruition, she needed time to reflect and incubate her next move rather than jumping into something else right away. The result was well worth the wait - Sheina now offers masterful social media marketing coaching and services for all sorts of dance entrepreneurs. Learn more @sheinaraskin on instagram and her Facebook group The Dance Entrepreneur Club.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

John Michael Schert had a storied start to his dance career, landing a coveted position at American Ballet Theatre. But quickly he realized his passion lie not in perfecting the ballet vocabulary but in creating new, contemporary vocabulary - a realization that took him to Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Alonzo King's LINES Ballet, and ultimately to the Trey McIntyre Project. John Michael led the administration of TMP and was able to launch this executive experience into a diverse post-performance career including university teaching positions, a consultancy business, and international scholarship as an Eisenhower Fellow. Connect with his career on Linked In and on Instagram @nonmimel. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

Allie danced with Alonzo King LINES Ballet and Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Masa in Israel. She embodied grit throughout her career, pushing through the pain until she tore the Labrum in her hip. After this career ending injury, Allie decided to learn as much as she could about body mechanics - how a dancer should move to be their best dancer self and to have a long, healthy relationship with their body. Now with her breakthrough, innovative approaches, she is an elite physical trainer for dancers with a thriving business in Orange County. Align Fitness by Allie also leads the industry with digital offerings for clients all over the globe. Learn more at alignfitnessbyallie.com or on instagram @alignfitnessbyallie. Allie is passionate about empowering dancers with the information she wished she had as a dancer, so be sure to also check out her podcast "Beyond the Pointe" on your favorite podcast app.  Also mentioned in the episode: https://australianballet.com.au/behind-ballet/how-to-get-strong-calves --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

When Victoria burnt out on performing, she didn't know where to turn next. By chasing podcasts from one to another and by seeking community, she found a self-discovery course with Kathy Heller of the Don't Keep Your Day Job podcast. She discovered that her strategic strengths were especially valuable to other participants as a coach, and that she felt very energized by it. Now Victoria is a specialized coach for creatives, helping them come back to themselves when navigating their careers. Learn more at www.victoriahines.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

John's boyish charm and dedication to yoga extended his commercial dance career into his forties. Personal and professional experiences throughout that time revealed his strengths as a comforting presence and in getting people to open up, especially teens. So when the time was right, he got his master's degree and became a licensed therapist. John's passion for his new career has propelled him into advocacy and activism - he now splits his time between clients, building his practice, and speaking engagements. Learn more at https://johnsovec.com, and follow him on twitter and instagram. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

Kaylee danced for Orlando theme parks and Royal Caribbean before deciding she wanted a more balanced life and a less stressful relationship with dance. While aboard the ship, she started blogging and was able to leverage that to land some articles for Dance Spirit Magazine. She then built a freelance writing career focused on content marketing in the arts and fitness. Now, she's founded Pivot for Dancers, helping dancers find meaningful work off the stage and building community between dancers throughout the transition process. Learn more and join the community at pivotfordancers.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

Erin danced professionally for Colorado Ballet and Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida. When stress and pressure in the studio overpowered her love of the ballet movement, Erin knew it was time to move on. In college, despite liking English more than math throughout high school, she enjoyed her physics class most. A career-oriented mindset then steered her into electrical and computer engineering. She found work in Silicon Valley where she protects major tech companies from cybersecurity threats. Follow Erin @outdoorsbynature. For any listeners curious about how computer programming can be a great fit for creatives, check out this blog post I wrote in college: https://helix.northwestern.edu/blog/2014/05/storytelling-binary --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

Brett Perry built a freelance dance career from his adopted home base of Boise Idaho by cultivating relationships with top choreographers. With the disruption of COVID, he saw an opportunity in not being able to travel for an entire growing season.  He took his longtime involvement with Meadowlark Farm to the next level, leading the season for several crops. His vision for a deeper connection between dance and farming continues to bear fruit. Since our interview, he's been awarded a major fellowship from the Alexa Rose Foundation to fuse his two careers for the benefit of both communities. Follow along with Brett's journey @btperry, @meadowlarkfarmidaho, and at www.alexarosefoundation.org/alexa-rose-fellow https://www.idahopress.com/boiseweekly/arts_and_culture/culture/you-can-t-have-just-one-the-alexa-rose-foundation-awarded-not-one-but-two/article_a8689b29-a33c-5e30-9ccd-5764cca7ae2d.html  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

David danced for the Eugene Ballet / Ballet Idaho Joint Venture and was a founding member of Oklahoma City Ballet under the direction of Robert Mills. When a shoulder injury ended his career as a sought-out partner, his love for the arts and the OKCB organization led him to pick up whatever administrative help the company needed. He quickly learned to apply his no-fail performer's mentality to arts administration, and established his career in development at the University of Oklahoma. Learn more about David on Facebook, Instagram, and Linked in. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

Kathi has a passion for helping people be confident in their bodies. She started her career at San Francisco Ballet, then went on to become a principal at Oregon Ballet Theatre. When she was ready to have children, she quickly realized her opportunities onstage would be appreciated more by her up-and-coming colleagues.  Since retiring, she's developed a comprehensive portfolio of practices to help clients connect mind, body, and spirit. Learn more at https://www.eatbreathepilates.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

Jesse's work as AGMA union rep for Colorado Ballet led him to the legal profession when the time was right to transition away from dance. He applied successfully to Penn Law School and returned to Colorado after graduation. He recently began a sought-after clerkship for the Colorado Supreme Court, and he has mentored other dancers through their law school applications. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

Rob and Chandra met as dancers at Colorado Ballet. Rob transitioned to teaching in his twenties, and Chandra recently retired after a 23-year career and 12 years as principal at Colorado Ballet. Along the way, they strategized a step-by-step business plan that led to a buy-out of an established dance studio with help from the United States Small Business Association. They've since made the Denver Academy of Ballet flourish by playing to their individual strengths, committing to managing the studio like any other business, and providing a supportive home where their students know they have a place. Learn more on Instagram @denveracademyofballet and @crkuykendall and at http://www.denveracademyofballet.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

Zachary danced for Pacific Northwest Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and BJM Danse Montréal. When his mindset about dance evolved, separating movement from performance, he felt empowered to embark on a career transition. Through years of cultivating connections and absorbing expert feedback, Zachary built a career as a dance journalist and specialist in communications for non-profits. He is now a regular contributor to Dance Magazine and is Director of Communications for the Chicago Architecture Center. Follow Zachary @trailerpilot, and read his articles at https://www.dancemagazine.com/u/zacharywhittenburg and https://trailerpilot.com/ .  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

The Count 9 Podcast is taking a break for labor day. Catch up this week with episodes you may have missed! And to hold you over until next week, this bonus episode includes one more preview chapter from Smoke and Lights, narrated by host Benjamin Goodly. In episode 6, Cass was introduced getting ready for a performance with the fictional Midwest Professional Touring Ballet. Now in the next chapter, Roy is introduced at his new desk job. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

Peter Kurta is a recent retiree from Smuin Ballet. Capturing his fresh perspective on the end of his dance career is an important part of the Count 9 mission to make transition stories accessible to current dancers. After his interview, the show introduces the recurring College Q&A segment, a resource for listeners to get advice about college admissions and financial aid from higher-ed professionals. Producer David Goodly worked in undergraduate admissions for eight years, and his sister Sara Donnelly is Interim Director of Financial Aid at Case Western Medical School after a previous position in undergraduate financial aid. Listeners can submit questions for future Q&A episodes at the "contact" page of www.count9podcast.com Resources mentioned in the episode for making informed decisions about college are: www.nacacnet.org, www.collegeboard.org, and www.act.org  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

Danielle's ballet career spanned her early twenties between an undergraduate dance & chemistry double-major at Smith College and medical school at University of Colorado.  While dancing, teaching ballet to kids and teens showed her how the mind-body medical connection can impact child development. So when she was ready for a steadier career, she applied to medical school to become that crucial caretaker that can make or break a child's recovery with a holistic view. Now, she is a resident physician in Tufts Medical Center's pediatrics, psychiatry, and child/adolescent psychiatry triple-board certification program. She fosters a growing interest in dance movement therapy and has a passion for humanizing doctors through her instagram @dancindrdanielle. Danielle and host Benjamin Goodly geek out about science, including a special shout out to the collaboration at Yale University between dance professor Emily Coates and particle physicist Sara Demers. Discover the Higgs boson through their work: https://vimeo.com/82400379 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

Waeli Wang was recently appointed as Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance at University of Kansas. In her interview, she describes phasing in and out of different dance experiences throughout her twenties. She fell in love with teaching as a pole instructor and competitor, but after struggling to identify with the commercial dance world in LA and the dance department at her undergrad university, Waeli left dance to become a filmmaker in NYC. Then through a context-shifting experience, she rediscovered experimental theater and movement as tools for identity research. Her awakening then blossomed into a passion for auto-ethnography, leading her to an MFA at the University of California at Irvine and a choreographic fellowship in the bay area before her latest academic appointment. You can learn more about Waeli at www.waeliwang.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

Heather Britt established a thriving freelance career in San Francisco with several modern dance companies before returning to her hometown of Cincinnati to teach, choreograph, and start a family. She talks about breaking all the rules and turning her unique vision of health, happiness, and connection through dance into her business DANCEFIX. Learn more about Heather at heatherbrittdance.com and dancefixcincinnati.com, and join in the experience with her new online offering DANCEFIX Live. Also check out womenofcincy.org/home/heather-britt for even more interesting stories of Heather's resilience and rule-breaking, including quitting dance before finding it again on her own terms in San Francisco. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

Reginald danced with Ballet Austin and River North Dance Chicago after trainee positions at Pennsylvania Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. He talks about starting his career in social work based on a personality test, then finding ways to work upstream to the root of the problem as a patterns emerged in his work. Now, he's taking his career to the next level with a campaign for Cincinnati City Council. You can learn more about Reginald at: incontxtadvising.com reggieforcincinnati.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support

Welcome to the Count 9 podcast! In this solo episode, host Benjamin Goodly tells his own career transition story, talks about his new career venture becoming a published author, and describes the motivation and format for the show. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/count9/support