This has become a favorite on our ride to dance and competitions. The insight into world of ballet has been both enlightening and comforting. I say enlightening because it has demystified some of the concerns and impressions we had of the dance world. Comforting because this ballet world isn’t as scary as the Hollywood dramas have let us to believe. I really appreciate all the work that is put into each episode and how honest the interviews are. I even find myself going back to episodes a second time when making decisions about programs. Thank you

My son will be starting at PBT this Summer as a grad program student, and this episode was super informative and helped me mentally prepare for what his life is going to be like for the next couple of years. It was great hearing how involved Raymond is with the students and how the students are supported. I am excited about this next step in his journey. Thank you Ballet Help Desk!

As the mother of a young dancer, I find this podcast very enlightening. Brett and Jenny listen to their listeners’ feedback and continually pivot to bring on fascinating guests who peel back yet more layers of the onion that is the ballet world. Their curiosity—and their guests’ transparency—drives the show. The hosts don’t pretend to know everything, and they don’t hesitate to get to the heart of even the most taboo issues. I can’t wait to hear who they’ll talk to next. Essential listening!

Ballet is a space that thrives secrets, and this becomes extremely challenging to navigate for parents and children who want to peruse the art form professionally. Thanks so much for demystifying the ballet world. One of my favorite episodes is the most recent one with Shane W. I appreciate his candor and willingness to share his wealth of experience. I also appreciate your questions and thoughtfulness throughout the interview. As a mother of Black dancers, I am often stunned at the coded (and not so coded ways) my dancers have been made to feel as if they do not belong.As they grow in the art, it has become more hard for them to realize that their teachers, who they have worked with for years, can have such challenging expectations for them based on their body type or race. I had them listen to this episode of your podcast and it opened up some space for a much needed conversation and encouragement for self- advocacy when I am not around.

This podcast has been so helpful. I really appreciate the variety of topics and guests that have been presented, and the quality of questions—even tough questions—that Brett and Jenny ask. Grateful to have this resource at the time in our family’s journey where we needed it the most!

While I enjoy the podcast as a whole and am loving getting a peek into the way that companies and bridge programs work, I just loved listening to this one with PBT director Adam McKinney. The way he is advocating for artists and putting his money where his mouth is sounds revolutionary and is so refreshing and heartening. Thank you, Adam! As the mother of a developing dancer aspiring to join the profession, I have held concerns for her about some of these issues in the back of my heart. The culture has not always been healthy and has not always acted in support of the artist. Hearing someone at the top of such an influential organization in the field speak the way you do gives me hope for her future in ballet.

Love this podcast! Just listened to the ADC/IBC episode with Peter Merz. ADC is our preferred competition because of the holistic nature of adjudication and the vibe that they really care about their dancers. Peter was a great interviewee. I love candid people!!

Thank you for your episodes on bridge/ trainee/ 2 nd company programs. Each and every episode seems to uncannily read my mind and discuss something I am navigating with my 18 yr old pre professional dancer! I take such guided advice and knowledge away from each and every person who is interviewed. Although my husband and I danced professionally for over 28 yrs we did not grow up or train in the USA. Thank you for helping us !

For a parent and dancer, the ballet field is difficult to navigate when there is so little information available. The Ballet Helpdesk has been a wonderful resource for us to better understand how to navigate this field. Thank you so much for conducting the interviews and providing so much insight!

I can’t remember what I was searching for when I stumbled on to the Ballet Helpdesj podcast but boy am I glad I found them!! They provide so much timely and valuable info! Especially for moms like me who didn’t grow up in the ballet world and have not yet been exposed to it until one of our kids gets involved in it. I’ve listed to every podcast and will continue to do so. Thank you for helping us navigate this journey and for providing transparent info. Be sure to check out their summer intensive and full year reviews on their website as well! Thank you Ballet Help Desk!!

This podcast, particularly the bridge program series, is a must-listen for any adult supporting a dancer who wants to dance professionally. These dancers should listen too! Jenny and Brett consistently ask probing questions and let their guests answer at length. Hearing from ballet directors and teachers themselves is priceless. Thank you for helping to reveal what happens “behind the curtain.”

Wow, just listened to the interview with Peter Stark and I learned so much! My son did his first summer intensive in ‘22 and I realized then that I knew nothing about professional ballet and what it takes to get there. You have tapped into something with this podcast that is so valuable. Thank you so much!

This podcast has been nothing short of amazing for someone like me…a clueless parent of a passionate pre-professional dancer. The topics are fantastic. Their guests are amazing. I look forward to hearing more podcast episodes.

Take your parental known unknowns, add the info you learned in the waiting area during an audition, sprinkle in your own knowledge from 3 or more years of SIs, bake in the Facebook group knowledge you’ve gleaned from a trustworthy(?) poster, splash it with what your studio has or hasn’t told you and you are left with the tastiest, most informative ballet podcast that you’ve ever listened too. An absolute delight.

2 parents of ballet professionals have brought in great guests and have shared their knowledge. So thankful for this podcast and listening on Apple.

This podcast is so informative! The interviews are so helpful, and the hosts have great perspectives. The variety of professionals they have interviewed is really impressive too. It is wonderful to have this podcast as a resource in the ballet mom world.

This podcast has quickly become my go-to for all things ballet, especially now that my daughter has expressed an interest in possibly dancing professionally. Jenny and Brett provide invaluable information regarding summer intensives, year round programs, options for dancing professionally, and so much more! They include their own personal experience and add to it by having highly regarded ballet professionals on their show. You won’t regret spending the time listening to the podcast and browsing their website!

From a mom who has no clue about ballet but has a daughter who does ballet, eat, sleep, repeat- I can’t thank you enough for sharing your wisdom! I feel like I am slowly starting to learn a new language! Keep it up please! You are so appreciated! And you both seem so awesome too.

Thank you so much for creating this! As a dance mom of an aspiring professional ballerina, the information here on the podcast is absolutely golden. It’s so nice to have a trusted source as I support my dancer though her journey from student to professional. I also appreciate that I have the opportunity through the The Ballet Help Desk to share my experience to help others as well. Thank you for bringing our community together to support one another!

Thank you so much for the excel spreadsheet, this has made my life so much easier!

This podcast is invaluable as a dance parent of any age dancer. These ladies are not only thoughtful and genuine in their conversations they make their show fun and interesting to listen to. I walk away from every episode thinking about something that was brought up and it had changed my thinking on various topics after hearing from industry experts. Thank you for taking the time to do this podcast!

This is a great podcast especially for parents who don’t have a dance background. It breaks down much of what a parent should know to help their dancer.

I am a ballet mom of a pre-professional dancer. I did not dance myself, so this whole ballet world is completely new to me. We are part of a wonderful studio and company, but it is really great to get different perspectives from those who have been there/done that. I’m really enjoying your podcasts on ballet competitions. My daughter is the only one at her studio that competes, so these podcasts are giving me some great advice and insight as I help her navigate her dance journey. Thank you!!!

As a ballet parent of 10 years, I find this podcast to be something the support network was missing. Ballet Help Desk fills that void in an informative and precise way. No overly verbose 2 hour episodes, easily digestible to and from the studio drive length topic specific. You do not need to start at the very beginning, you can jump in on any episode and not be lost. I enjoy hearing from both the male student and female student sides of the coin. While they do overlap, sometimes the experience can overwhelmingly different. Both Brett and Jenny evenly explore the world of ballet from their unique perspectives. This podcast discusses silly to the sensitive topics in an open and real way, even when it is a negative they are discussing it is not a “rant fest” but a dissected look at how someone could come to that particular conclusion. From $$$$ Leos for 8 year olds to the what’s next - everything is handled well. I also want to mention that I appreciate the level of professionalism when recording the podcast. It doesn’t pop my speakers or strain my ears to listen. It’s like you are a fly on the wall at the tea table of two good friends. A+!

I am not a dancer and it can be challenging navigating this world as a parent. You shared some advice on your show that was a game changer for our family. It realigned our understanding of teachers as partners and it gave us the language to start some of these important conversations. I can’t thank you enough! Thank you for this amazing podcast!

We have loved reading your blog and have learned so much about the ballet world for my aspiring ballet dancer. Thank you for sharing your knowledge so parents can get a glimpse into a world that might be foreign to them. Keep up the great work!