Sara Mearns: Dancing Beyond Expectation, through Burnout and Hearing Loss
In this episode, Principal Dancer Sara Mearns joins us for a raw and wide-ranging conversation about how life onstage has shifted, and how she’s shifted with it. She shares the reality of living with hearing loss for over a decade, what it was like to finally hear her own solo again, and how that moment marked a turning point. We talk about burnout, boundaries, mental health, body maintenance, saying no, and unlearning perfectionism. She opens up about returning to roles like Swan Lake, navigating long-term creative partnerships, her cross-training routine, and the evolving pressure to choreograph in the age of social media. Through it all, Sara reflects on what it means to keep growing: as an artist, a collaborator, and a person, and why rediscovering your worth beyond ballet might be the most powerful performance of all.
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1:07:27
Unity Phelan: Resilience, Artistry, and Choosing Your Path
Unity Phelan’s journey to becoming a principal with New York City Ballet wasn't linear, and in this episode, she opens up about the doubts, decisions, and quiet determination that got her there. From facing early rejection to finding her voice as both an artist and a person, Unity shares what it means to stay the course while still carving your own. We talk about building resilience and staying true to yourself in a competitive world.
Take class with Saskia, Indiana or one of our incredible Grace & Form teachers, here: Train with the best
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1:09:54
Skylar Brandt: Owning Your Individuality
In this episode, we sit down with Skylar Brandt, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, to explore how she's forged a path that’s uniquely her own. Skylar opens up about the challenges and triumphs of embracing her individuality in a traditional art form, the lessons she's learned along the way, and how self-expression has shaped her career both on and off the stage. Whether you're a dancer, a dreamer, or simply someone seeking inspiration, Skylar’s story is a powerful reminder that the courage to be yourself is one of the greatest strengths you can have.
Take class with Saskia, Indiana or one of our incredible Grace & Form teachers, here: Train with the best
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1:02:57
Payal Kadakia Pujji: Class Pass Founder on How She Danced Her Way to a Billion-Dollar Business
In this powerful and heartfelt episode, we sit down with Payal Kadakia Puiji, founder of ClassPass and Sa Dance Company, to trace the incredible path from basement dance classes to boardrooms, sold-out performances, and building a billion-dollar business. Payal shares how her love of dance helped her navigate the pressures of academia, corporate life, and entrepreneurship, while staying deeply connected to her culture and artistic spirit.
We talk about the dual identity of dancer and businesswoman, the inner tug-of-war of choosing joy over expectations, and how Payal kept movement as her North Star, even while building one of the biggest wellness brands in the world.
Whether you're dreaming of your own pivot, wrestling with self-doubt, or figuring out how to bring your whole self into your work, Payal’s story will remind you: you are allowed to change, and you can bring the dancer with you.
Take class with Saskia, Indiana or one of our incredible Grace & Form teachers, here: Train with the best
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1:05:25
Devon Teuscher: The Quiet Strength Behind the Spotlight
In this episode, we sit down with Devon Teuscher, principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre, to explore the extraordinary journey behind the curtain. Devon shares how dance became her sanctuary through her childhood; offering her presence, purpose, and safety when so much felt uncertain. We talk about what it means to stay: in a company, in your body, in your truth — even when the path forward feels unclear. This episode is a celebration of grace, grit, and the ongoing practice of presence.
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Are you ballet curious? The Grace & Form podcast is your backstage pass to the world of movement and the stories that shape it. Hosted by the founders of the ballet and workout app Grace & Form, Indiana Woodward (Principal Ballerina at New York City Ballet) and Saskia Gregson-Williams (Bestselling Author), we share the inspiring journeys of top dancers, creators, and artists who find joy and purpose through movement. Each episode explores their careers, life lessons, and how they’ve learned to be a little kinder to themselves along the way.
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