Backstage: Balancing College While Dancing Professionally

Backstage is a Ballet Science bonus series featuring short reflections on lessons learned as a professional ballerina, and how biomechanics and research later helped explain them. Quick insights at the intersection of studio experience and science.When I tell people that I went to college while dancing professionally as a ballerina, the reaction is almost always the same: How did you make that work?In this video, I break down the five strategies that enabled me to balance school with a professional ballet career, including what my daily schedule looked like, the sacrifices it entailed, and what I learned along the way.In this video, you’ll learn:How I structured early morning, daytime, and late-night classesWhy I treated ballet like a non-negotiable jobHow I adjusted my course load during soloist and principal seasonsThe sacrifices no one talks about (socially and emotionally)Why managing energy, not just time, is critical for dancersHow protecting the body made everything else possibleI’m Caroline Simpkins, a former professional ballerina with a PhD in biomechanics and the creator of Ballet Science, where I help bring science into the studio to support dancers of all ages. If you’re a dancer balancing school, work, or another demanding passion (or thinking about how to structure your next chapter), I hope this gives you a realistic and encouraging perspective.Follow Ballet Science:Website: https://ballet.scienceInstagram: https://instagram.com/ballet.scienceFacebook: https://facebook.com/ballet.scienceX: https://x.com/ballet_science