Skylar Brandt has danced Giselle, Swan Lake, and Don Quixote on the ABT stage — but behind the roles is a story of a herniated disc she tried to dance through, a promotion she almost didn't wait around for, and a lesson about perfectionism she wishes she'd learned at 13. This one is really special.

In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Skylar Brandt, Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre. They discuss what it's really like rising through every rank at ABT, her experience recovering from a serious back injury, and the advice she'd give her younger self about perfectionism and finding her voice.

TIMESTAMPS:

[11:48] Favorite Parts of Each Rank at ABT

[32:02] Recovering from a Herniated Disc Injury

[41:41] Advice for Young Dancers

ABOUT THE GUEST: Skylar Brandt is a Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre, one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world. Known for her expressiveness and artistry, she has performed lead roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, and many more. She trained at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT and has been with the company since she was 16 years old.

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/

Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742

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Topics discussed: ballet injury recovery, herniated disc, ABT principal dancer, perfectionism, advice for young dancers

Guest: Skylar Brandt — Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre

Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com