by Reanne Rodrigues for Dance Teacher | Feb 20, 2026 | Career, Pointe+, Profiles, The Latest
Over weeks of training in Park City, Utah, far from the sound of ski edges carving snow, three Olympic hopefuls regularly stepped into Ballet West’s dance studio. Elizabeth Lemley, Rell Harwood, and Grace Henderson, freestyle skiers representing Team USA at the 2026...
by Kyra Laubacher | Dec 29, 2025 | Audition Advice, Pointe+, Summer Intensives, Summer Study, Technique, Training
At my first summer intensive audition, I was doing a développé à la seconde when my supporting leg suddenly felt like jelly. My foot rocked back and forth, I hopped, and my working leg came down. It was frustrating. I could do a stable développé in normal class! But...
by Sponsored by Ballet West | Jan 13, 2023 | Pre-Professional Profiles
For dancers ready to level up their ballet training, Salt Lake City–based Ballet West offers a year-round Professional Training Division for dancers 14 to 20 years old. “Students at the Ballet West Academy are immersed in a professional...
by Katherine Beard | Jan 8, 2020 | Dance Spirit, Instagram, Profiles, Training
When you see Olivia Book dance, you first notice her long lines, incredible control and captivating stage presence. It’s obvious why the Canadian dancer received high marks at Toronto’s Youth American Grand Prix competition last year—the girl has...
by Josephine Lee | Nov 14, 2019 | Training, Viral Videos
Buying your first pair of pointe shoes is a huge milestone. Below, ThePointeShop’s Josephine Lee gives some of her top tips on finding the best fit for first time pointe shoe...
by Josephine Lee | Mar 15, 2019 | Training, Viral Videos
Working with dancers in the pre-professional division at Ballet West Academy, master pointe shoe fitter Josephine Lee of the California-based The Pointe Shop shares all of her best tips for fitting dancers with long, tapered...
by Josephine Lee | Mar 1, 2019 | Training, Viral Videos
Working with dancers in the pre-professional division at Ballet West Academy, pointe shoe fitter Josephine Lee of the California-based The Pointe Shop shares all of her best tips for fitting dancers with short toes and short...
by Josephine Lee | Oct 11, 2018 | Training, Viral Videos
Earlier this summer, we followed master pointe shoe fitter Josephine Lee of the California-based The Pointe Shop as she made her on a pointe shoe fitting tour around the West Coast and California. Now she’s back, this time on a 45-day tour from California to...