Darla Hoover, Former NYCB Dancer — On Balanchine and the Art of Teaching | Pushing Over the Box

Darla Hoover started dancing in a barn. Her teacher took one look at her and told her parents: "You need to save your money — she's going to end up in New York." She did.

In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Darla Hoover — former New York City Ballet dancer, syllabus coordinator at Ballet Academy East, and one of ballet's most respected teachers and répétiteurs. They talk about growing up under the legendary Marcia Dale Weary, navigating homesickness at the School of American Ballet, what it was like to dance for Balanchine, the panic of performing Serenade when you don't know when the flick happens, and why Darla believes the most important thing she can pass on to her students has nothing to do with technique.

Darla was honored in 2021 with a congressional commendation for her dedication to arts and education and with the Marcia Dale Weary Legacy Award.

TIMESTAMPS:
[01:08] How Darla Started Dancing — and Marcia Dale Weary's Prophecy
[13:00] The Serenade Panic Story
[22:33] Balancing Perfectionism in Dance

ABOUT THE GUEST: Darla Hoover is a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet and currently serves as syllabus coordinator at Ballet Academy East. She is one of the Balanchine Trust's most trusted répétiteurs, staging works across the world including Serenade, Rubies, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. In 2021, she was honored with a congressional commendation for her contributions to arts and education and with the Marcia Dale Weary Legacy Award.

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:
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Website: https://pushingoverthebox.com
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Topics discussed: NYCB dancer interview, Balanchine legacy, ballet teacher interview, Marcia Dale Weary, School of American Ballet, ballet perfectionism, ballet staging, ballet répétiteur, advice for young dancers

Guest: Darla Hoover — Former NYCB Dancer, Syllabus Coordinator, Ballet Academy East

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