Alexa Maxwell, NYCB Soloist — On Injury, Musicality, and Life at NYCB | Pushing Over the Box

Emma Von Enck, NYCB Principal — On Promotion, Nerves, and Real Success | Pushing Over the Box

Emma Von Enck quit ballet when she was 12. She wanted to try acting. She hated it. She begged her mom to put her back in. A few years later, she was standing in the wings at New York City Ballet, still in her Rubies costume, being told she'd just been promoted to principal. In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Emma Von Enck — principal dancer at New York City Ballet, Fordham University graduate, and two-time Princess Grace Award nominee. They talk about the long road to SAB, what nobody tells you about being a soloist, the moment she found out she was a principal (mid-show, in costume, her dad waiting backstage), how she handles pre-show nerves, and what she wishes her 13-year-old self had known about trying hard. TIMESTAMPS: [11:46] The Night She Found Out She Was a Principal [19:07] How Emma Manages Pre-Show Nerves [28:53] What She's Learned About Real Success ABOUT THE GUEST: Emma Von Enck is a principal dancer at New York City Ballet. A graduate of Fordham University, she is a two-time Princess Grace Award nominee and the 2016 recipient of the Mae L. Wien Award. She is known for her speed, clarity, and vivacious presence on stage. 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/ [https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/] Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com [https://pushingoverthebox.com] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742] #ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset #dancepodcast #emmavonenc #nycb #newyorkcityballet #principaldancer #princessgraceaward #balletinterview Topics discussed: NYCB principal dancer interview, ballet promotion, ballet nerves, pre-show routine, Princess Grace Award, ballet success, ballet mindset, advice for young dancers Guest: Emma Von Enck — Principal Dancer, New York City Ballet Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com [http://pushingoverthebox.com]

Darla Hoover, Former NYCB Dancer — On Balanchine and the Art of Teaching | Pushing Over the Box

Darla Hoover started dancing in a barn. Her teacher took one look at her and told her parents: "You need to save your money — she's going to end up in New York." She did. In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Darla Hoover — former New York City Ballet dancer, syllabus coordinator at Ballet Academy East, and one of ballet's most respected teachers and répétiteurs. They talk about growing up under the legendary Marcia Dale Weary, navigating homesickness at the School of American Ballet, what it was like to dance for Balanchine, the panic of performing Serenade when you don't know when the flick happens, and why Darla believes the most important thing she can pass on to her students has nothing to do with technique. Darla was honored in 2021 with a congressional commendation for her dedication to arts and education and with the Marcia Dale Weary Legacy Award. TIMESTAMPS: [01:08] How Darla Started Dancing — and Marcia Dale Weary's Prophecy [13:00] The Serenade Panic Story [22:33] Balancing Perfectionism in Dance ABOUT THE GUEST: Darla Hoover is a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet and currently serves as syllabus coordinator at Ballet Academy East. She is one of the Balanchine Trust's most trusted répétiteurs, staging works across the world including Serenade, Rubies, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. In 2021, she was honored with a congressional commendation for her contributions to arts and education and with the Marcia Dale Weary Legacy Award. 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/ [https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/] Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com [https://pushingoverthebox.com] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1]Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742] #ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset #dancepodcast #darlahoover #nycb #newyorkcityballet #balanchinetrust #serenade #balletteacher Topics discussed: NYCB dancer interview, Balanchine legacy, ballet teacher interview, Marcia Dale Weary, School of American Ballet, ballet perfectionism, ballet staging, ballet répétiteur, advice for young dancers Guest: Darla Hoover — Former NYCB Dancer, Syllabus Coordinator, Ballet Academy East Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com [http://pushingoverthebox.com]

Alexa Maxwell, NYCB Soloist — On Injury, Musicality, and Life at NYCB | Pushing Over the Box

When Alexa Maxwell arrived at New York City Ballet as a brand new apprentice, she expected a few weeks to find her footing. Instead, on her very first day, she was emergency-cast in Nutcracker and told she was performing that night — in her SAB uniform, while every company member around her was in sweatpants and sneakers. In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Alexa Maxwell, soloist at New York City Ballet and a graduate of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and the School of American Ballet. They discuss what it felt like to be thrown into the deep end from day one, how a serious patellar tendon injury and two surgeries changed everything she knew about taking care of herself, and what she'd tell her younger self about perfectionism and comparison. TIMESTAMPS: [08:42] Being Cast on Her First Night at NYCB [11:54] The Role That Changed How People Saw Her [18:09] The Injury That Changed Everything ABOUT THE GUEST: Alexa Maxwell is a soloist at New York City Ballet. She trained at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and the School of American Ballet before joining NYCB, where she is known for her musicality and expressive presence on stage. She also teaches at the CPYB summer intensive and is currently a student at Fordham University. 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/]https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/⁠] Website: ⁠ [https://pushingoverthebox.com]https://pushingoverthebox.com⁠ [https://pushingoverthebox.com⁠] Spotify: ⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1]https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1⁠] Apple Podcasts: ⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742]https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742⁠ [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742⁠] Topics discussed: NYCB soloist interview, ballet injury recovery, ballet musicality, School of American Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, ballet apprenticeship, advice for young dancers Guest: Alexa Maxwell — Soloist, New York City Ballet Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com [http://pushingoverthebox.com]

Seth & Sarah Orza, Former PNB Principals — On Reinventing the Ballet Shoe | Pushing Over the Box

Seth and Sarah Orza danced at the top of their field — and then used everything they learned about the dancer's body to completely rethink the ballet flat. The story of how a plantar fascia injury and a Dr. Scholl's heel cup from Duane Reade turned into an entirely new ballet shoe company is one of the most unexpected and inspiring stories this podcast has told. In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Seth and Sarah Orza, former Principal Dancers at Pacific Northwest Ballet and founders of Orza Ballet Shoes. They discuss how a career-threatening injury sparked the idea for the shoe, the difference between the Orza Pro 1 and 2, and the advice they'd give their younger selves about enjoying every part of the journey. TIMESTAMPS: [06:18] The Origin Story of Orza Ballet Shoes [11:07] The Difference Between Orza Pro 1 and 2 [17:09] Advice for Young Dancers ABOUT THE GUESTS: Seth and Sarah Orza are former Principal Dancers at Pacific Northwest Ballet, where they each had careers spanning nearly 20 years. Prior to PNB, they both danced with New York City Ballet and trained at the School of American Ballet. They are the founders of Orza Ballet Shoes, a company dedicated to rethinking ballet shoe design to better support the needs of today's dancers. 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/ [https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/] Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com [https://pushingoverthebox.com] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1]Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742] #ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset #dancepodcast #orzaballetshoes #pacificnorthwestballet #nycb #balletshoes #balletinterview #youngdancer Topics discussed: ballet shoe innovation, ballet injury recovery, founding a ballet company, Pacific Northwest Ballet, advice for young dancers Guests: Seth and Sarah Orza — Former Principal Dancers, Pacific Northwest Ballet; Founders, Orza Ballet Shoes Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com [http://pushingoverthebox.com]

Naomi Corti, NYCB Soloist — On Artistry, Injury, and What Success Means | Pushing Over the Box

Naomi Corti tore her ACL, both menisci, her MCL and PCL just one month after getting her corps contract at New York City Ballet — and she says she wouldn't trade that injury for anything. Her honesty about who she is without ballet, what it took to come back, and the moment her promotion finally hit her mid-bow is something every dancer needs to hear. In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Naomi Corti, Soloist at New York City Ballet and recipient of the 2024 Janice Levin Award. They discuss what it was really like getting taken as an apprentice at NYCB, how a devastating knee injury completely changed who she is as a person and a dancer, and the advice she'd give her younger self about building taste, finding real friendships, and absorbing as much art as possible. TIMESTAMPS: [12:03] Getting Taken as an Apprentice at NYCB [31:04] Tearing Her ACL and What Injury Taught Her [43:17] Advice for Young Dancers ABOUT THE GUEST: Naomi Corti is a Soloist at New York City Ballet, where she has performed since joining the company as an apprentice. Originally from the South of France, she trained at the School of American Ballet after being spotted at Pacific Northwest Ballet. She is the recipient of the 2018 Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Talent and the 2024 Janice Levin Award. 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/ [https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/] Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com [https://pushingoverthebox.com] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1 [https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1]Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742] #ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset #dancepodcast #naomicorti #nycb #newyorkcityballet #soloist #balletinterview #youngdancer Topics discussed: ACL injury recovery, NYCB apprentice life, ballet soloist promotion, building artistry, advice for young dancers Guest: Naomi Corti — Soloist, New York City Ballet; 2024 Janice Levin Award Recipient Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com [http://pushingoverthebox.com]