Six former ballet dancers have shared their journeys from the stage to unexpected new careers, from midwifery to the House of Lords, reflecting on the transferable skills of ballet and what they miss – and do not miss – about performing.
Lana Jones, former principal dancer at the Australian Ballet, retired in 2018 after performing in Cinderella. She now works as a midwife, a career she chose to focus on others rather than herself. She recalls the difficulty of leaving her ballet identity behind and the challenge of starting university in her 30s, but finds joy in helping women in labour feel safe.
Baroness Deborah Bull, former Royal Ballet principal, became a life peer in 2018. She compares the House of Lords to performance, noting the preparation, research, and theatricality of debates. She misses the physical articulacy of dance, saying her body once had “10,000 words” but now only “1,500”.
Sarah Dolník, formerly of the Czech National Ballet, studied social work online while still dancing, keeping it secret from directors. She retired before 30 to pursue a stable career and family, reflecting on the unhealthy pressures of ballet.
