I'm not even close to professional (22 years old and dancing for 3 years now), but I cannot thank you enough for this video! It is so intimidating to see all these talented young dancers with beautiful feet, extension and turnout... Sometimes I feel like a hippo in a tutu! So, this is exactly what I needed now. By the way, you look absolutely beautiful!!

I really think when I perform and let go and let my body do what I know what it’s going to do, (muscle memory) I can have the “it factor”. Passion cannot be taught as well as happiness and confidence is so important.

My God, I'm only at half of the video but I already love the positive yet realistic message you pass to younger dancers. I think your voice should really be heard in a time of extreme body standards and social medias. Sorry for my bad english ahah. Love from Belgium ❤

I know this is obviously your opinion, but I am so surprised that I hit all the things you said. Especially the musicality and artistry and picking up fast. All my teachers loved that about me because I knew what I was doing, am humble and love being corrected, pay attention to detail. Knowing all the choreography is so me, knowing my strengths I certainly do, confidence is great for me and I’m not afraid to get in the front and lead a group or be IN a group, and I am always listening and paying so much attention in class. *** unfortunately at age 16 I had to stop pre pro ballet due to developing multiple physical disabilities*** I hope I will be able to dance at a high level again in the future. Everyone I’ve spoken to said I can achieve it because I have the mindset and the determination.

Everything you said in the first two minutes about inclusivity, encouraging people to try, and allowing yourself to redefine your relationship with dance was just perfect!!!

When you were talking about the "X Factor" I literally got shivers cause it was so true. XD

This resonated with me SO. MUCH. From what you spoke about in terms of how much obsessiveness and negative self-image affects your growth and even how you carry yourself to the way you described that indescribable “x-factor,” it feels as though you were speaking directly to me in this video! Thank you for all that you do! :)

This was such a wonderful video! I wish this was the mindset while I was growing up. I was constantly told that I couldn't be a dancer because of my body type... short, curvy, pigeon toed... I have been able to develop my turn out to just over 90 degrees. Before ballet, I could not put my ankles together. I think that fixation on body type that exists in so many companies and schools squashes spirits and prevents the world from being blessed with so many potentially beautiful dancers. Thank you for your work!

Wonderful encouragement! Grounded and real advice.

Thank you so much for this video! I’m wanting to pursue ballet dancing professionally and your videos have really helped me. The small changes I can add can make a huge impact on my technique and overall stage presence. Your videos are very helpful for me and encouraging. Thank you!❤️

I LOVE THIS VIDEO!!!!

Great video.Very informative and uplifting. Thank you.

One of my favorite videos yet ❤️ Keep it up Kirsten! The quality of your content never disappoints :)

Amy Fote was a guest artist at my ballet school growing up, Ballet Pensacola. :) I love how small the world is!

❤❤❤ thankyou for this

love your videos 😍

Everything you said, I agree a 100% with It was so instructive and also reminded me the essential points of what I’m doing everyday ❤️ I am sharing this with all my friends! Thank you so much for your time and advices!

This is awesome

This video is AMAZING

This video reminds of one by Kathryn Morgan where she spoke of what it takes to become a professional dancer. She didn't have to die for technique but it was good, especially the port de bras, and she had amazing artistry, reliability, flexibility, and work ethic. Anyone who is interested should watch her videos on how she got the role of Juliet and became a soloist in NYCB. So interesting

As a dance major who is graduating this semester this is great. I love your videos 💕

This is such an amazing and true video! I'm a training dancer, and can honestly say that when you stop forcing your turnout, and think about your supporting leg and how you use what you have in the centre, it will improve! I thought I had awful turnout, but it turns out (ha) that i was using the wrong muscles and the right ones were really tight. I went to a physio for exercises and now I'm fine! I'm not flat, but my teacher says I'm good enough. Honestly, you will feel so much better if you don't force it and think about alignment instead :)

Nobody: Russian 6 year old: *dancing en pointe*

I looooved this video, it was so helpful, relatable and honest. Thank you for all those amazing tips and facts about the ballet world. Your personality as well is so calmed and soothing, but also so sweet and kind. Can you do a video on what are the correct muscles to use for turnout, I am consistently being called on that, and how to activate them.

Big fan

Can you make a video about the struggles of ballet and going through puberty?- and then being a teenager/ young adult with a different body?

I viewed this 2nd😁

Hi Kirsten, I’m Kirsten 💝

Please do a x factor video!!

I’d be such a good dancer if it weren’t for my lower legs. I have hypertension in my knees but somehow they look bent even when I use my hyperextendion (kind of like Gillian Murphy which gives me some hope). My lower legs also are kind of twisted (external tibial torsion) causing my natural line to sickle, and making it hard for me to balance on Demi pointe. Speaking of Demi pontie I have none. It makes rolling through my pointe shoes hard. I had an ankle sprain in my left ankle and now I have posterior impingement in my left ankle and can’t get over my box in first position on the left side. I have great turnout but my tibial torsion makes me look like i have less turnout. I have ingrown toenails and it feels like I’m getting stabbed in the toes when I’m en pointe. I suffered a spinal cord injury a couple of years ago that almost left me paralyzed and now I always get terrible spasms in my triceps that cause them to involuntarily straighten when I dance and I have to use my biceps to keep them from straightening and it’s exhausting and painful. Did I mention I’m 24 and not 15 like every other dancer who wants a professional career. I’m currently a trainee for a new professional company, but it doesn’t feel like a legit professional company. There are three other trainees with only a year of training. I get that they are men and that men have a better chance, but these guys have been dancing for one year and it shows! There are some people in the company that seem to be serious about a career in dance but there are others that have full time jobs not in dance. Sometimes I ask myself if people know what the word professional means. I know that the company is just starting out and my director claims that it will get bigger. I know no other company would ever consider giving me a contract let alone a trainee contract. I just don’t get it.

Off the subject...LOVE the wall art! Where did you get it?

many fantastic ballet dancers, are overlooked, in favour of skinny, less skilled waifs.

if I'm 16 and don't have the leg height you're talking about, it it too late for me to still be able to achieve them eventually? because I see my legs improving... but since I'm not gifted with legs that can go up to my ears, I'm not sure if I will be able to get there...

The scary ones are the ones that ask your body weight, I’m a healthy weight but I don’t want to share it because it implies the studio is going to check it.

Keep strong. Dont forget that despite the evil in this world, God is full of justice, mercy and love. Justice said we broke His perfect law - causing the world's previous perfection to be destroyed - and therefore we deserve Hell (like a punishment in any legal system but this is eternal as His perfect law is eternal too). Don't think you fit in that category? Ever done one of these?: lying, stealing - regardless of how small the object EVER, hating others - which is murder in God's perfect law, lusting (plus God sees our entire thought life). Justice says "the soul that sins shall die" - if we break one in thought/word/deed it's as if we're guilty of all of them. Quite simply, living by the law (which is doing everything perfectly) is impossible for sinful humans . The law shows us that 1. We will die in Hell if we fail to follow it and 2. We cannot save ourselves BUT, 3. God's perfect, immovable law points us to Christ, who followed and fulfilled the law in thought, word and deed perfectly in our place. He did what we couldn't and did it on our behalf. He was then sentenced to death on a cross, and took our personal punishment for our sin, paying our penalty (like paying our fine) completely FOR us, and has given us freedom. If we turn from the sins we have committed and repent (pursue the opposite direction of love through Christ) He will, overtime, recreate us into His image through The Holy Spirit which Jesus sends to all who accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior of their life. We cannot purify ourselves, but Christ lived that perfect sinless, pure life and then allotted it to our "account". That's where our righteousness comes from. Not from any good, works that you or I could do. It is not based on the amount of good works we do. God starts the changes, He carries it on, and He completes it in those who let Him. It's about letting Christ in to guide and teach you and obeying Him, again, through His power and instruction). He is our substitute in His life, death and resurrection. He essentially rewrote history in our place so that, if you believe in Him, it will be as if YOU had never sinned if you accept Christ's death as our own in our place. He is in Heaven right now preparing a place for us so that He can take His faithful, believing children home with Him when He returns. He will ressurrect us from death when He returns, giving mercy to those who accept His love, forgiveness, instruction and teachings in their life, and give justice to those who refuse it. He doesn't want ANY of us to go to Hell and die for continuing in evil and rejecting His way to life, thats why He died FOR us. Hes giving EVERYONE a chance, He wants everyone to take the free gift of salvation from Hell. He wants us to be His and begin to follow His life of love and service through His power and abiding (staying) with Him. So long as we keep our hearts near to Christ through His strength, strive to follow His will of perfect love revealed in the Bible, and let Him lead in the midst of (very certain) pitfalls and struggles, we will, in time, win the ultimate victory over sin, pain and DEATH through Christ. Even if you are willing to be made willing, pray for Jesus to come in and He will do what we can't. Give us The Holy Spirit who will guide us in the right way. NOTE: You are NEVER too sinful or messed up that God cannot turn your life around through Jesus. EVER If you have any questions let me know

Can you please quit doing this and do something else because I have cancer