The Grace & Form Podcast

Chun Wai Chan: How I Learned to Dance Smarter, Not Harder

From Guangzhou to New York, cramping on stage to commanding the spotlight, Chun Wai Chan shares the story of how grit, laughter, and letting go helped him become the first Chinese principal dancer at New York City Ballet.
In this episode of Grace & Form, Chun opens up about the physical and mental battles behind the curtain: from writing a letter to his parents to convince them to let him dance, to redefining success across continents. We talk training, injury, cultural expectations, building a personal brand, and the infamous Swan Lake performance that almost ended in disaster (hint: cramps, chaos, and a lot of heart). This one’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt.
Take class with Chun or one of our incredible Grace & Form teachers, here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Train with the best ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Try 7 Days Free and Download our App:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Launch the app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Shop our Discount Dance edit here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DD EDIT⁠⁠

Indiana Woodward: Body Image, Self-Love, and the Journey Between

From growing up between continents to rising through the ranks of New York City Ballet, your co-host Indiana Woodward shares her deeply personal journey with body image, identity, and learning to embrace herself fully. In this candid conversation, she opens up about the pressures of ballet, the impact of being told her body wasn’t “right,” and the long path toward self-love and acceptance. We also talk about what it means to build something of your own, and how Grace & Form became part of that healing.
Take class with Indiana or one of our incredible Grace & Form teachers, here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Train with the best ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Try 7 Days Free and Download our App:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Launch the app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Shop our Discount Dance edit here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DD EDIT

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.
Take class with one of our incredible Grace & Form teachers, here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Train with the best ⁠⁠⁠⁠
Try 7 Days Free and Download our App:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Launch the app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Shop our Discount Dance edit here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DD EDIT

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 ⁠⁠
Try 7 Days Free and Download our App:⁠⁠⁠ Launch the app⁠⁠⁠
Shop our Discount Dance edit here: ⁠⁠⁠DD EDIT

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 ⁠⁠
Try 7 Days Free and Download our App:⁠⁠⁠ Launch the app⁠⁠⁠
Shop our Discount Dance edit here: ⁠⁠⁠DD EDIT

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 ⁠
Try 7 Days Free and Download our App:⁠⁠ Launch the app⁠⁠
Shop our Discount Dance edit here: ⁠⁠DD EDIT⁠

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.
Take one of Devon Teuschers ballet classes on our Grace & Form studio app: ⁠Learn from Devon⁠
Try 7 Days Free and Download our App:⁠ Launch the app⁠
Shop our Discount Dance edit here: ⁠DD EDIT

Wendy Whelan: The Evolution of a Dancer

From Center Stage to Leadership, we sit down with Wendy Whelan to explore learning, letting go, and lifting the next generation. A former New York City Ballet principal dancer and current associate artistic director, Wendy shares her incredible journey—from performing at the height of her career to stepping into a leadership role. In today’s episode, Wendy opens up about her evolution, embracing growth, and empowering the voices of future dancers.

Introucing The Grace & Form Podcast

Introducing, The Grace & Form Podcast – your backstage pass to the world of movement and the stories that shape it.
Join us as we sit down with dancers, creators, and artists who find joy and inspiration through movement. From career-defining moments to lessons in resilience, we explore the journeys that have shaped them—on and off the stage.
Meet your hosts and get ready for new episodes every Monday. Let’s move, learn, and be inspired—together.