Life After Ballet: Megan Fairchild on Retiring, Motherhood, and What Comes Next
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 68
What does it take to build a long, sustainable career in professional ballet… and what happens when that career comes to an end?
In this episode, I’m joined by Megan Fairchild, former principal dancer with New York City Ballet. After an extraordinary career performing some of the most iconic works in the Balanchine and Robbins repertoire, Megan recently retired from NYCB and moved to France with her family.
We talk about ballet longevity, how her understanding of her body changed throughout her career, and what she learned from dealing with neck pain and adapting her strength and conditioning. Megan also shares her experience becoming a mother while continuing to dance at the highest level, returning to the stage after having children, and learning to balance motherhood and a demanding professional career.
We also talk about dancer identity after retirement, moving to France, pursuing education outside of ballet, and why Megan believes dancers need to stop comparing themselves to one another and focus on what makes them exceptional.
Megan offers an incredibly honest perspective on what it means to be a professional ballet dancer, and what it means to become a whole person beyond the studio.
Connect with Megan Fairchild:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfairchild17/
- Book: https://amzn.to/3SM2jvb
