Podcast Summary: Moving Moments – Episode Featuring Susan Jaffe

Podcast Information:

• Title: Moving Moments
• Host/Author: Artful Narratives Media
• Description: Your ticket to candid conversations featuring the dance world's most accomplished and groundbreaking artists. Join Dean and Director of Dance at The Juilliard School, Alicia Graf Mack, as she sits down with her closest colleagues and friends to discuss the creative process and living a purposeful life in dance.
• Episode: Susan Jaffe
• Release Date: March 5, 2025

1. Introduction

In the season finale of Moving Moments, host Alicia Graf Mack welcomes Susan Jaffe, an illustrious principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre (ABT) for 22 years and its current Artistic Director. The conversation delves into Susan’s multifaceted career, her resilience, creative philosophies, and her impactful return to ABT during a pivotal time for the company.

2. Susan Jaffe’s Background and Career Highlights

Susan Jaffe shares her extensive journey in dance, highlighting her tenure with ABT and her transition into various roles such as choreographer, teacher, director, and author. Her persistence and tenacity are identified as her greatest assets both on and off the stage.

“My biggest talent was perseverance. We have to figure out so many things on a day to day, minute to minute basis about our technique, interpretation, musicality, spatial awareness, et cetera, et cetera. And so that gives us all dancers perseverance.”
—Susan Jaffe [01:18]

3. The Importance of Perseverance in Dance

Alicia and Susan emphasize the critical role of perseverance in a dancer's life. Susan elaborates on how the daily demands of dance training foster resilience and grit, characteristics essential for success in the highly competitive dance world.

“I don't think it's any particular thing that I do, but I think that's very much a dancer thing that we have to figure out so many things on a day to day, minute to minute basis.”
—Susan Jaffe [02:35]

4. Early Life and Path to Dance

Susan recounts her upbringing in Bethesda, Maryland, where her parents encouraged all their children to learn musical instruments. However, her restless nature led her to dance as an outlet. Inspired by story ballets and classic tales like "Swan Lake" and "Cinderella," Susan pursued ballet, eventually attending a renowned ballet school that produced several principal dancers, including Julie Kent.

“I started dancing at the local YMCA... I wanted to do that because I was reading books like Swan Lake and Cinderella and things like that when I was a child.”
—Susan Jaffe [04:25]

5. Career Milestones and Influence of Mikhail Baryshnikov

At 16, Susan joined ABT’s Studio Company, moving to New York City to train under the guidance of Mikhail Baryshnikov. She shares her transformative experience auditioning for ABT, including the challenging requirement to lose weight and the emotional turmoil of losing her mother shortly before joining the company.

“I went to the audition, and at the end of that audition, this very large man, his name is Charles France... said, Mikhail Baryshnikov thinks you're very talented.”
—Susan Jaffe [08:09]

Susan discusses how Baryshnikov's mentorship shaped her career, grooming her and her peers to become the next generation of principals at ABT.

“He groomed a group of us to really sort of be the next generation of principal. And I was lucky enough to be one of them.”
—Susan Jaffe [12:01]

6. Transitioning from Performance to Teaching and Administration

Upon retiring from full-time dancing at ABT at age 40, Susan faced uncertainty about her next steps. She recounts a serendipitous meeting with ABT’s chairman, leading her to an advisory role. Initially hesitant, Susan discovered her passion for teaching, eventually becoming the Dean at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and opening a dance school in Princeton, New Jersey.

“I just fell in love with teaching. I fell madly and deeply in love with teaching.”
—Susan Jaffe [19:07]

Susan reflects on the importance of saying "yes" to opportunities, even when the path isn’t clear, which led her to unexpected and fulfilling roles beyond performing.

7. Return to ABT as Artistic Director: Vision and Innovations

Susan’s return to ABT as Artistic Director coincided with the company’s efforts to recover post-pandemic. She emphasizes creating an inclusive environment where dancers feel supported and empowered to voice concerns without fear of retaliation. Susan aims to balance maintaining ABT’s classical and dramatic ballet excellence while fostering innovation and embracing contemporary choreographic talents.

“My job really is to serve the art form and to serve you... We're much more conscious. We're much more awake.”
—Susan Jaffe [28:36]

She highlights her commitment to ensuring ABT remains a place of innovation, reminiscent of its early days under Lucia Chase, while continuing to uphold high standards in classical ballet.

“ABT has always been a place of innovation... I want to expand us while still remaining ABT.”
—Susan Jaffe [31:21]

8. Personal Insights and Lessons

Throughout the conversation, Susan imparts valuable insights for aspiring dancers and artists. She underscores the significance of deep character research, emotional connection, and the transformative nature of performance—describing it as “riding the wave” where dancers become conduits for the story and music.

“The most important thing is to do as much of the research as possible... you become a vessel, you become a conduit for whatever that story is.”
—Susan Jaffe [15:57]

Susan also shares her philosophy on leadership and power dynamics, striving to foster a collaborative and supportive environment at ABT.

“Power means nothing if it's not in service. Otherwise, it's just ego.”
—Susan Jaffe [28:36]

9. Conclusion

The episode concludes with Alicia expressing admiration for Susan’s journey and her ongoing positive impact on the dance world. Susan reiterates the importance of perseverance, openness to new opportunities, and the value of saying "yes" to life's unpredictable paths.

“Sometimes you do something and you think, I have no idea why I'm doing this... but if you just continue doing it, it will lead to the next thing and the next thing.”
—Susan Jaffe [20:07]

Listeners are encouraged to follow Moving Moments on Instagram and the Artful Narratives Media website for future episodes and updates.

Notable Quotes:

1. Susan Jaffe [01:18]: “My biggest talent was perseverance. We have to figure out so many things on a day to day, minute to minute basis about our technique, interpretation, musicality, spatial awareness, et cetera, et cetera. And so that gives us all dancers perseverance.”

2. Susan Jaffe [02:35]: “I don't think it's any particular thing that I do, but I think that's very much a dancer thing that we have to figure out so many things on a day to day, minute to minute basis.”

3. Susan Jaffe [08:09]: “I went to the audition, and at the end of that audition, this very large man, his name is Charles France... said, Mikhail Baryshnikov thinks you're very talented.”

4. Susan Jaffe [15:57]: “The most important thing is to do as much of the research as possible... you become a vessel, you become a conduit for whatever that story is.”

5. Susan Jaffe [28:36]: “Power means nothing if it's not in service. Otherwise, it's just ego.”

Susan Jaffe’s episode on Moving Moments offers an inspiring look into the life of a dedicated artist who has navigated the challenges of the dance world with resilience and grace. Her insights provide valuable lessons for both seasoned dancers and those aspiring to enter the field.