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After Class: The Adult Ballet PodcastAuthor: The Busy Bunhead
Welcome to After Class, a podcast about all things adult ballet. Im Hannah your host and fellow dancer and I'm so glad you're here! Each week I share stories, strategies, and encouragement to help you stay inspired on your ballet journey, because I understand what its like to balance real life and ballet dreams. So grab your water bottle (or cup of coffee) and join me for a chat after class... Language: en-us Genres: Arts, Education, How To, Performing Arts Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Ep. 109 - No Studio, No Blueprint, No Problem: Bringing Ballet to Pakistan with Lauren Woodbury
Wednesday, 15 April, 2026
What does it take to bring ballet to a place where it doesn't exist yet? Today's guest, Lauren, found herself living in Islamabad, Pakistan — a city of over a million people with no ballet studio — and decided to build one herself.In this episode, Lauren shares how a love story brought her from Fargo, North Dakota to the capital of Pakistan, and how her lifelong connection to ballet eventually led her to found the Islamabad School of Ballet. We talk about how she got started teaching out of a converted storage room, the seminar she put together to introduce ballet to an unfamiliar audience (and the overwhelming response she didn't expect), the logistical challenges of building a school without the infrastructure most of us take for granted, and how she navigated it all with creativity, persistence, and a willingness to start imperfectly.We also talk about her school's very first performance — a 30-minute adaptation of Swan Lake — the moment her students stepped onstage, and the way ballet is transforming confidence in dancers who are discovering it for the very first time.In this episode, we cover:Her non-linear ballet journey: from childhood classes in North Dakota to returning as an adultThe spark that led her to start the Islamabad School of BalletHow she introduced ballet in a community where it doesn't really existThe logistical challenges of building a studio without existing infrastructureHow word of mouth and Instagram grew the school to 45–50 students in less than a year!The school's first performance: a 30-minute adaptation of Swan LakeHow ballet is impacting students who are discovering it for the first timeHow she adapted classical ballets to suit her studentsWhat she would tell anyone who wants to start something new but is held back by imposter syndromeHow she's giving back through monthly donations to children's organizations in Pakistan👉🏼 Connect with Lauren: @islamabadschoolofballet✨ This Episode is Sponsored By:ORZA - Ballet Slippers Designed by a professional dancer, ORZA slippers feature patented shock-absorbing technology to help reduce fatigue, improve stamina, and prevent injuries. Shop at orzabrand.com Use code AFTERCLASS5 for $5 off your order! LABL Active Hosts of the 2026 Adult Ballet Retreat. Come dance with us in Seattle from June 21–26! Learn more here: lablactive.com Use code AFTERCLASS100 for $100 off your registration! **The deadline to register is April 15th.Follow Hannah on Instagram @thebusybunheadExplore blog posts, merchandise & resources for adult ballet dancers like you at thebusybunhead.comPodcast produced by Mission Bridge Media.www.MissionBridgeMedia.com
