Studio Workshops

Building the next generation of smart dancers

I wholeheartedly believe that the best way to develop well-rounded dancers is to put just as much focus on developing their minds as we do their bodies.

To excel in the field today, dancers need more than beautiful lines and turns for days. They need to be critical thinkers, able to analyze and evaluate situations at a moment's notice. They need to be curious, able to ask the right questions, and offer creative solutions. They need to be self-aware, able to recognize how their mental health affects their physical well-being. They need to be sharp, able to fill in for a role or make a correction quickly. They need to be thoughtful, able to radiate kindness and support to their teammates. And they need to be prepared, able to show up with intention, and put in authentic work.

My workshops are designed to teach dancers the skills they need to succeed in a professional dance career both on AND off the stage.

“Caitlin, thank you so much! The girls LOVED talking to you. The workshop was great and we found it very useful for our young students. Thank you again and looking forward to continuing working with you.”

— Maria Pellejero; Director, L&M Ballet

Workshop Topics

For Dancers:

  • Finding Intention for Your Dance Career (based on The Brainy Ballerina Intentional Career Handbook)

  • Life Lessons Learned from a Career in Ballet

  • Become a Smarter Dancer in 60 Minutes

  • Audition 101: Planning and Preparing for Success

  • What’s Next? Exploring Options After Highschool

  • Summer Intensives: How to Find an Intensive That’s Right For You!

  • Resume Rescue

  • General Q&A session (an opportunity for students to ask questions and get answers from a former professional dancer!)

For Educators:

  • Cultivating Critical Thinking in Dancers

For Parents:

  • What Dance Parents Really Need to Know: Give your Dancer the Support They Need

Looking to cover a different topic for your dancers or educators? Let’s talk! My background in the dance industry is vast and I am happy to work with you to develop a custom workshop that perfectly fits your needs!

FAQs

  • 60-90 minutes, depending on the topic and scheduling. I will work with you to find the perfect amount of time to fit your needs!

  • Both!

    In-person: I am based in Madison, WI and travel to host a limited number of in-person workshops each season. I also offer guest ballet instruction and many studios find it valuable to pair an in-person workshop with a guest class to maximize the investment of travel costs.

    Virtual workshops: Offered through Zoom, virtual workshops are designed to fit seamlessly into a full day of dancing. All you need is a computer/TV, internet access and I’ll do the rest!

  • Yes!

    I have been a Dance Educator for over a decade. In addition to serving as Director of the School of Missouri Contemporary Ballet for 5 years, I have been on faculty at Central Indiana Academy of Dance, the School of Madison Ballet and have guest taught all over the country.

Featured Speaker At:

Next steps:

Ready to book your workshop? Have more questions?

I have two options as we move forward:

  1. Email me at thebrainyballerina@gmail.com

  2. Book a 30-minute chat with me

The method of communication is totally up to you! Either way, I’ll be looking for some background information about yourself and your dancers, what type of workshop you’re looking for, what dates you have in mind and whether you prefer in-person or virtual.

I can’t wait to meet you and work together toward our common goal of building the next generation of smart dancers!