
Free Daily Podcast Summary
by Jasmine Jain
Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset — hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain.Through candid ballet interviews with leading figures in the dance world — from principal dancers at American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet to choreographers, dance physiotherapists, and photographers — Jasmine explores the real stories behind the beauty: discipline, injury, recovery, resilience, artistry, and what it really takes to keep going.Past guests include Misty Copeland, Isabella LaFreniere, Cassandra Trenary, Skylar Brandt, and more.New episodes biweekly.
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In 2015, around the time Misty Copeland was promoted to principal at American Ballet Theatre, Theresa Ruth Howard wrote an article highlighting the long history of Black ballerinas who came before her: "The Misty-rious Case of the Vanishing Ballerinas of Color: Where Have All the Others Gone?" At the bottom, she asked readers to name every Black ballerina they knew in the comments. The response became the Roll Call — and the seed of what is now Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet.In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Theresa Ruth Howard — former dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem and Armitage Gone Dance, longtime ballet educator, writer, and curator, and founder of Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet (MoBBallet), a digital archive dedicated to preserving the stories of Black ballet artists. They talk about being discovered by Philadanco founder Joan Myers Brown at age three, seeing Dance Theatre of Harlem perform at eight years old and, for the first time, watching dancers who looked like her doing what she loved, the article that changed the conversation around race in ballet, and the advice she'd give her own 13-year-old self about trusting that it will all eventually make sense.TIMESTAMPS: [08:54] The Article That Started Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet [05:39] Seeing Dance Theatre of Harlem for the First Time at Age 8[17:54] Advice to Her 13-Year-Old Self — "The Universe Will Give You a Pencil"ABOUT THE GUEST: Theresa Ruth Howard is a former dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem and Armitage Gone Dance, and a longtime ballet educator, writer, and curator. She is the founder of Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet (MoBBallet), a digital archive and platform dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of Black ballet artists, and a contributing writer for Dance Magazine. She trained at Philadanco under founder Joan Myers Brown before continuing at Pennsylvania Ballet.ABOUT PUSHING OVER THE BOX: Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset, hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain. Through interviews with leading ballet professionals, the podcast explores discipline, artistry, injury, resilience, and what it takes to pursue excellence.CONNECT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/ Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742#ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset #dancepodcast #theresaruthhoward #mobballet #dancetheatreofharlem #blackballerinas #balletinterview #ballethistoryTopics discussed: Theresa Ruth Howard interview, Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Black ballerinas history, representation in ballet, Misty Copeland, Philadanco, advice for young dancersGuest: Theresa Ruth Howard — Founder, Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet (MoBBallet)Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com
Virginia Lensi quit ballet at eight years old. Her teacher had gotten strict, the pressure felt like too much, and she wanted to just be a kid — so she tried gymnastics, ice skating, horseback riding, and tennis, pretty much everything except ballet. Then one summer, something pulled her back. It was too late to audition for La Scala that year, so she trained privately, then spent a year at another school in Milan before finally joining La Scala the following year.In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Virginia Lensi — a member of the corps de ballet at American Ballet Theatre, originally from Milan, and co-founder of the ballet lifestyle brand Studio 8. They talk about walking away from ballet as a kid and finding her way back, moving to New York alone as a teenager to train at ABT's JKO School, the compressed few months between becoming an apprentice and joining the main company, and the brand she started with a friend to make ballet feel a little more fun.TIMESTAMPS: [01:07] Quitting Ballet at 8 and Finding Her Way Back [08:10] From Apprentice to Company Member in Three Months [21:26] Founding Studio 8 During a Canceled TourABOUT THE GUEST: Virginia Lensi is a member of the corps de ballet at American Ballet Theatre. Born and trained in Milan at La Scala Ballet School, she moved to New York to train at ABT's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School on a full scholarship before joining ABT's Studio Company and later the main company. She is also the co-founder of Studio 8, a ballet lifestyle clothing brand.ABOUT PUSHING OVER THE BOX: Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset, hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain. Through interviews with leading ballet professionals, the podcast explores discipline, artistry, injury, resilience, and what it takes to pursue excellence.CONNECT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/ Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742#ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset #dancepodcast #virginialensi #americanballettheatre #abt #lascala #balletinterview #corpsdeballetTopics discussed: Virginia Lensi interview, American Ballet Theatre, La Scala Ballet School, ballet career paths, quitting and returning to ballet, ballet entrepreneurship, advice for young dancersGuest: Virginia Lensi — Corps de Ballet, American Ballet TheatreTagline: Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com
Fangqi Li had just gone back to China after an injury during her first months in American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company, certain her time there was over, when her director asked for a Zoom call. She'd already started planning to find a new company at home. Instead, he told her she was being promoted into the main company.In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Fangqi Li — soloist at American Ballet Theatre, originally from China, and one of only a few Chinese dancers to reach soloist rank at ABT. They talk about being discovered by Beijing Dance Academy at ten years old and turning them down before saying yes the second time, moving to New York with no English and no idea what to expect, an injury she danced through in China without even realizing it was a fracture, and the advice she'd give her younger self about comparison and finding her own voice.TIMESTAMPS:[10:06] The Zoom Call She Thought Would End Her Career[14:25] The Injury She Didn't Know She Had[22:17] Advice to Her 13-Year-Old SelfABOUT THE GUEST: Fangqi Li is a soloist with American Ballet Theatre. Born in China, she trained at the Beijing Dance Academy before advancing as a finalist at Prix de Lausanne. She joined ABT's Studio Company in 2017, moved into the main company as an apprentice in 2018, and was later promoted to soloist — becoming one of only a few Chinese dancers to hold that rank at ABT. She began teaching during the pandemic and is now exploring choreography as well.ABOUT PUSHING OVER THE BOX: Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset, hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain. Through interviews with leading ballet professionals, the podcast explores discipline, artistry, injury, resilience, and what it takes to pursue excellence.CONNECT:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/Website: https://pushingoverthebox.comSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742#ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset #dancepodcast #fangqili #americanballettheatre #abt #chineseballet #balletinterview #soloistTopics discussed: Fangqi Li interview, American Ballet Theatre, Chinese ballet dancers, ballet promotion story, ballet injury, confidence on stage, comparison and self-worth, advice for young dancersGuest: Fangqi Li — Soloist, American Ballet TheatrePushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com
Nathalia Arja was 15 years old when she waved goodbye to her mother at the airport in Rio de Janeiro and flew to Miami — alone, speaking no English, with a full scholarship and no room left for fear. Her mother was mortified. Nathalia just didn't make space for it. Years later, she was a principal dancer with the Miami City Ballet when an injury stopped her completely — and the doctors treating her said they had never seen anything like it before.In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Nathalia Arja — principal dancer with the Miami City Ballet, originally from Rio de Janeiro, and one of the most thoughtful voices in ballet on identity, resilience, and what it means to build a life beyond the studio. They talk about leaving Brazil at 15, learning an entirely new style of ballet, a career-threatening injury that turned into an unexpected creative awakening, and why she believes ballet is a gift — but it is not who you are.TIMESTAMPS: [06:31] Leaving Rio de Janeiro at 15 — Alone, No English, No Fear [14:25] The Injury Doctors Had Never Seen — And What She Found on the Other Side [20:16] Ballet Is Not Your Identity — On Building a Life Beyond the StudioABOUT THE GUEST: Nathalia Arja is a principal dancer with the Miami City Ballet. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she began ballet at five at her mother's school, Escola de Dança Alice Arja. At 15, she received a full scholarship to the Miami City Ballet School and moved to Miami in 2008. She joined the Miami City Ballet corps de ballet in 2011, was promoted to soloist in 2014, principal soloist in 2016, and principal in March 2020. Her repertoire includes lead roles in works by George Balanchine, Alexei Ratmansky, Pontus Lidberg, and Liam Scarlett, among others.ABOUT PUSHING OVER THE BOX: Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset, hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain. Through interviews with leading ballet professionals, the podcast explores discipline, artistry, injury, resilience, and what it takes to pursue excellence.CONNECT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/ Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742#ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset #dancepodcast #nathaliaarja #miamicityballet #brazilianballet #balletinterview #principaldancer #balletidentityTopics discussed: Nathalia Arja interview, Miami City Ballet, ballet identity, ballet injury recovery, leaving home for ballet, Brazilian ballet, resilience in dance, redefining successGuest: Nathalia Arja — Principal Dancer, Miami City BalletPushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com
Ashley Hod was a 17-year-old student at the School of American Ballet when Hurricane Sandy shut New York City down — and in the middle of it, sitting at her grandmother's house with the power out, she got the phone call that changed her life: she was being made an apprentice with New York City Ballet, starting the following Tuesday.In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Ashley Hod — soloist with New York City Ballet and recipient of the 2018 Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists. They talk about the overnight jump from student to professional, the day she found out she'd been promoted to soloist alongside six of her closest friends, two ankle injuries and what they taught her about patience, and how fourteen years in the company have changed the way she defines success.TIMESTAMPS:[04:01] From SAB Student to NYCB Apprentice — The Hurricane Sandy Phone Call[06:38] The Day She Found Out She Was Promoted to Soloist [19:25] Redefining Success — Why the Title Was Never the PointABOUT THE GUEST: Ashley Hod is a soloist with New York City Ballet. Born and raised in Great Neck, New York, she began dancing at age four and trained at the School of American Ballet starting in 2003. She became an NYCB apprentice in November 2012 and joined the corps de ballet in October 2013, before being promoted to soloist in January 2022. In 2018, she received the Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists. Her repertory includes Dewdrop and Sugar Plum Fairy in George Balanchine's The Nutcracker and the title role in Balanchine's Firebird.ABOUT PUSHING OVER THE BOX: Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset, hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain. Through interviews with leading ballet professionals, the podcast explores discipline, artistry, injury, resilience, and what it takes to pursue excellence.CONNECT:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/ Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742#ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset#dancepodcast #ashleyhod #newyorkcityballet #nycballet #lincolncenter #balletinterview #soloistTopics discussed:Ashley Hod interview, New York City Ballet, Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists, ballet promotion story, ballet injury recovery, self-doubt and comparison, pandemic and ballet, redefining successGuest: Ashley Hod — Soloist, New York City BalletPushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com
Jonathan Chmelensky was about to premiere the lead role in John Neumeier's Mahler's Third Symphony when the Danish prime minister announced the country was shutting down for COVID — eyeliner still on his face from rehearsal. The premiere got postponed. When it finally happened, his performance won him Denmark's Reumert Award for Dancer of the Year.In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Jonathan Chmelensky — principal dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet, trained in Paris and Havana, and the 2021 Reumert Award winner for Dancer of the Year. They talk about growing up in a family of dancers, the four days in Cuba that turned into a contract with the Royal Danish Ballet, the night he found out he'd been promoted to principal at his Swan Lake premiere, what two months away from the stage taught him about listening to his body, and how he defines success now that the title was never really the point.TIMESTAMPS: [06:55] Getting Discovered in Cuba and a Contract from the Royal Danish Ballet [10:54] His Swan Lake Premiere and the Night He Found Out He Was a Principal [33:24] Redefining Success — On and Off the StageABOUT THE GUEST: Jonathan Chmelensky is a principal dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet. Born in Paris into a family of dancers, he trained at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris and the National Ballet School of Cuba before joining the Royal Danish Ballet, where he was promoted to principal dancer following his premiere as Siegfried in Swan Lake. In 2021, he received Denmark's Reumert Award for Dancer of the Year for his performance in John Neumeier's Mahler's Third Symphony.ABOUT PUSHING OVER THE BOX: Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset, hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain. Through interviews with leading ballet professionals, the podcast explores discipline, artistry, injury, resilience, and what it takes to pursue excellence.CONNECT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/ Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742#ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset #dancepodcast #jonathanchmelensky #royaldanishballet #danishballet #reumertaward #balletinterview #principaldancerTopics discussed: Jonathan Chmelensky interview, Royal Danish Ballet, Reumert Award, ballet promotion story, ballet injury recovery, ballet and identity, pandemic and ballet, advice for young dancersGuest: Jonathan Chmelensky — Principal Dancer, Royal Danish BalletPushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com
Roni Mahler was three performances into her career at American Ballet Theatre when Cynthia Gregory sprained her ankle. She had 24 hours to learn Odette.In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Roni Mahler — former corps dancer with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, principal dancer with the National Ballet of Washington, and soloist with American Ballet Theatre, celebrated teacher at Juilliard, the Alvin Ailey School, and Ballet Academy East, and author of the memoir Tomboy Ballerina: My Life from Baseball to American Ballet Theatre and Beyond. They talk about turning down Robert Joffrey to honor a commitment, dancing at the White House, what she learned from ten months on crutches, training the Cleveland Browns, and the one thing she has always tried to do on stage: disturb molecules.TIMESTAMPS: [13:40] Her Favorite Role and the Night She Danced Swan Lake on 24 Hours' Notice [19:01] What Ten Months of Injury Taught Her About Mistakes and Resilience [28:41] Disturbing Molecules — How She Defines SuccessABOUT THE GUEST: Roni Mahler began her career in the corps de ballet of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo before becoming a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Washington and a soloist with American Ballet Theatre. A celebrated teacher and artistic associate, she has taught at the Juilliard School, the Alvin Ailey School, Ballet Academy East, and Kansas State University, and served as artistic associate to Dennis Nahat at Cleveland Ballet — where she also trained the Cleveland Browns. Her memoir, Tomboy Ballerina, was published in 2022.ABOUT PUSHING OVER THE BOX: Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset, hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain. Through interviews with leading ballet professionals, the podcast explores discipline, artistry, injury, resilience, and what it takes to pursue excellence.CONNECT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/ Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742#ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset #dancepodcast #ronimahler #abt #americanballettheatre #tomboybalerina #balletmemoir #balletteacherTopics discussed: Roni Mahler interview, American Ballet Theatre history, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, ballet memoir, Tomboy Ballerina, ballet injury resilience, Swan Lake debut, ballet teaching, advice for young dancersGuest: Roni Mahler — Former ABT Soloist, Master Teacher & AuthorPushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com
Kathryn Morgan was a soloist at New York City Ballet, dancing Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, when her muscles started giving out on pointe and she couldn't understand why. Weeks later, she was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Two years after that, she left the company. Seven years passed before she danced professionally again.In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Kathryn Morgan — former NYCB soloist, former Miami City Ballet soloist, and one of ballet's most beloved voices online with over 600 YouTube videos and a platform built on helping dancers know their worth. They talk about the night she was given 24 hours' notice to start her NYCB apprenticeship, what it felt like when her body gave out during Aurora rehearsals, how she rebuilt herself during seven years away from the stage, and the message she comes back to over and over: you are a human being first.TIMESTAMPS: [07:08] Getting Her Apprenticeship — 24 Hours' Notice to Start [10:52] When the Symptoms Started During Aurora Rehearsals[20:01] You're a Human Being First — Her Platform's Core MessageABOUT THE GUEST: Kathryn Morgan is a former soloist with New York City Ballet and Miami City Ballet. After being diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and taking seven years away from performing, she returned to professional dance and simultaneously built one of ballet's most prominent online platforms, with over 600 YouTube videos offering technique tips, career advice, and honest conversations about life as a dancer.ABOUT PUSHING OVER THE BOX: Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset, hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain. Through interviews with leading ballet professionals, the podcast explores discipline, artistry, injury, resilience, and what it takes to pursue excellence.CONNECT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742#ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset #dancepodcast #kathrynmorgan #nycb #newyorkcityballet #hashimotos #balletinterview #dancerwellnessTopics discussed: Kathryn Morgan interview, Hashimoto's thyroiditis ballet, NYCB soloist interview, ballet illness and recovery, ballet identity, dancer mental health, you are more than your dancing, ballet YouTube creatorGuest: Kathryn Morgan — Former NYCB & Miami City Ballet Soloist, Ballet Educator & Content CreatorPushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com
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Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset — hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain.Through candid ballet interviews with leading figures in the dance world — from principal dancers at American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet to choreographers, dance physiotherapists, and photographers — Jasmine explores the real stories behind the beauty: discipline, injury, recovery, resilience, artistry, and what it really takes to keep going.Past guests include Misty Copeland, Isabella LaFreniere, Cassandra Trenary, Skylar Brandt, and more.New episodes biweekly.
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