Tranquility du Jour #12: Starting Ballet in Midlife
Season 2
Welcome to Season 2 of Tranquility du Jour, where we explore the joys and challenges of midlife. Join us for inspiring guests, practical tips, and space for meaningful reflections.
Regardless of whether you identify as a ballerina, you won’t want to miss this week’s episode with Julie Leung of Broche Ballet and the International Adult Ballet Festival. Together, we delve into trying new things—and more—during midlife.
Thank you for joining me for last night's A Tranquil New Year event—it was such a treat to have you tune in from Australia, Germany, Spain, the US, and Canada! During our hour together, I guided you through four journal prompts, offered a peek inside the Coterie, shared my go-to New Year's tranquility tips, and more. Now, pour a cuppa tea, grab your journal, and enjoy the replay HERE.
In this week’s episode, Julie and I touch on . . .
1. Ballet Dreams in Midlife
Julie discusses how midlife women often reconnect with their childhood or lifelong dream of learning ballet. She emphasizes creating a supportive, judgment-free environment through her online program, allowing women to learn at home without the intimidation of traditional studios.
2. Overcoming Fear and Building Confidence
Julie shares how her own experiences with fear and vulnerability, such as starting singing lessons despite intense anxiety, inform her empathetic teaching approach. She highlights the importance of breaking down challenges and building confidence in manageable steps.
3. Translating Ballet Lessons Into Life Skills
Ballet is more than physical movement; it’s a way to confront fears, develop resilience, and embrace imperfection. Julie emphasizes how the lessons learned at the barre—like perseverance and focus—can extend into other areas of life, helping women tackle challenges with grace.
4. Tranquility Through Connection and Mindfulness
Julie finds tranquility in small, intentional moments, such as daily dog walks and mindful breaks. She encourages staying present, taking tasks one at a time, and finding joy in the process rather than perfection.
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Visit kimberlywilson.com/podcast for more and Substack for shownotes.
Grab your journal, a cuppa tea, and settle in for this week’s inspiration!
Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #12: Starting Ballet in Midlife
Our Guest: Julie Leung
Julie Leung (formerly Gill), founder of Broche Ballet, is a passionate advocate for adult ballet dancers, creating a vibrant community where dancers of all ages and skill levels can thrive. With over a decade of experience as a dancer and instructor, Julie combines her extensive background in the arts with her love for ballet to offer a range of online and in-person programs tailored to adult learners.
Starting ballet at 17, Julie defied the odds, finding her way onto the stage and earning a dance minor from Pace University. After running a successful studio in Denver, she transitioned to an online platform, providing access to full-length classes, private lessons, and personalized guidance for adult dancers around the world. Julie's commitment to performance culminated in the creation of the International Adult Ballet Festival, a groundbreaking event that offers adult dancers a platform to express themselves on stage.
A believer in the power of vulnerability, Julie empowers her students to embrace their passion for ballet, regardless of when they start, and encourages them to share their stories through performance. She is also dedicated to helping her students overcome personal challenges, from stage fright to physical limitations, offering a supportive and encouraging environment. Julie continues to innovate in the adult ballet space, expanding her offerings, such as her Beginner Pointe Program, Broche Magazine, Broche Banter Podcast, and nurturing a global community of ballet enthusiasts.
Julie lives with her shelter dogs Tina and Rosie, and loves early morning work sessions. You can find her sharing her expertise through her podcast, teaching ballet, or developing new projects to inspire and support dancers.
Find Our Guest
@julietheballerina on Instagram and TikTok
@brocheballet on YouTube, Instagram
@iabf_adultballetfestival on Instagram
Mentioned in the Show
Coterie: yearlong immersion to support women in finding more beauty and balance in midlife. Doors close on January 12.
My interview on the Broche Ballet podcast
Year of Tranquility digital course. Doors open on January 8.
Join the Substack Private Collection for five monthly tranquility tools, my month in review with resources, and occasional extras for only $1.90/week ($99/year)
All Tranquility du Jour offerings: work 1:1, salons, digital courses, and more
La Vie Parisienne Digital Course: designed to transport you to the heart of Paris
Podcast Host: Kimberly
Kimberly Wilson is a psychotherapist, author of seven lifestyle books, and host of the Tranquility du Jour podcast. She also serves as president of the Pigs & Pugs Project.
With over 25 years of experience, Kimberly is dedicated to helping midlife women find balance and beauty in their lives. She holds master’s degrees in Women’s Studies and Social Work and has been featured in publications such as Huffington Post, The Washington Post, and Cosmopolitan.
Living in Washington, DC with her rescue pugs and longtime partner, Kimberly shares her passion for tranquility, ballet, loving her 50s, and more at kimberlywilson.com.