Six Ballet Dancers on Career Pivots After Retirement

Six former ballet dancers from companies including the Australian Ballet, Royal Ballet, Czech National Ballet, Northern Ballet, Estonian National Ballet, and Bavarian State Ballet II describe their post-retirement careers. Lana Jones, former principal at the Australian Ballet, became a midwife after her final performance in Cinderella in 2018. Baroness Deborah Bull, former Royal Ballet principal, was appointed a life peer in the House of Lords in 2018. Sarah Dolník, formerly with the Czech National Ballet, left at age 27 to become a social worker and kindergarten teacher. Federico Bonelli, former Royal Ballet principal, became artistic director of Northern Ballet after a Clore fellowship. Maria Seletskaja, former principal at the Estonian National Ballet, retrained as a conductor during the Covid lockdown. Kay Tien, who turned down a contract with Bavarian State Ballet II due to injury, founded the career consultancy Pivot Pointe. The dancers reflect on transferable skills, identity shifts, and the challenges of leaving ballet.