From Wall Street to the Barre: Santa Monica's Adult Ballet Community Takes Center Stage

When Shannon Erdmann commutes from Calabasas to Santa Monica for ballet class, she's trading one high-pressure environment for another-but this time, the pressure comes with joy.

"Ballet has always been a huge stress reliever for me," says Erdmann, a Wall Street banker who left professional dance at 21 to pursue finance. "It's a happy place where I can have fun and just focus on my body."

Erdmann is one of over 70 adult dancers preparing to take the stage this Saturday at Westside Ballet's "Beyond the Box" Adult Showcase, a performance that challenges conventional ideas about who gets to be a ballerina-and when.

The showcase, running at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at Moss Theater, features performers ranging from complete beginners to former professionals, ages 20 to 70. What unites them isn't technical perfection, but a shared passion that transcends age and circumstance.

Sarah Madison Photography

Performers range from beginners to former professionals in the "Beyond the Box" program.

Second Chances and New Beginnings

For some, like Hillary McCarthy, a 3D animator, the showcase represents a return to something long lost. "There's nothing quite like the feeling of dancing onstage," McCarthy reflects. "It's a joy I haven't felt in years, and I'm deeply grateful to experience it once again" after an 18-year hiatus.

Others are discovering performance for the first time. Yael Hartstein, a real estate and construction lawyer who started dancing in her 40s, admits the showcase is "an immense challenge for someone like me who has never performed before. Hopefully I will discover a performer lurking within (or at least avoid falling on my face!)."

The program spans from classical Swan Lake excerpts to contemporary pieces exploring themes of passion and dreams. James Ady, formerly of Pennsylvania Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, is staging a Swan Lake waltz that incorporates dancers of all levels.

Building Community Through Movement

Sarah Madison Photography

Connie Bell takes a break from the barre with fellow dancers in Santa Monica.

What emerges from conversations with participants is how the adult program has created an unexpected community hub. Addie Van Gessel, who owns restaurants in Venice and Santa Monica and serves on the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, has been dancing at Westside since 1994.

"There is nothing like the joy I see exuding from the dancers as they rehearse and perform on stage, many for the first time," says Van Gessel, who has helped produce the adult showcase since 2023. "Westside is truly a second home for all its students."

Mary Jo Wilzig, a retired dentist who transitioned from classical piano competitions in Kansas to ballet in Los Angeles 30 years ago, calls herself the unofficial "mayor" of the adult program. "Coming daily to Westside has become my source of joy and connection to fellow dancers, devoted teachers, and a warm, receptive staff," she says.

Professional Lives, Artistic Souls

The diversity of participants reflects Santa Monica's eclectic professional landscape. Emilie Feyler, an economist who grew up in Paris and moved to LA last year, found the program helped her connect with the community. "Participating in the Adult Showcase was a wonderful opportunity for me to connect with fellow ballet enthusiasts shortly after moving to LA," she says.

Jaelyn Lytle, an elementary school social worker, views dance as essential self-care. "I strongly believe that you can't take care of others unless you take care of yourself-and for me, dance is that outlet," she explains. "About a year and a half ago, I took my first class at Westside, and I instantly knew I had found my new dance home."

For Megan Rara, a 29-year-old social media manager from West Hollywood, the program offered a chance to reconnect with childhood passions. "I did ballet, jazz, hip hop, and Polynesian growing up-and I really wanted to reconnect with it as an adult," she says. "I was looking for a place to move, connect, and have fun with people who love dance as much as I do."

Sarah Madison Photography

Performers range from beginners to former professionals in the "Beyond the Box" program. Sorcha Whitley pictured here. 

Beyond Personal Fulfillment

The adult dancers also serve as advocates for Westside Ballet's youth programs, attending performances and supporting fundraising efforts. This intergenerational model creates what organizers call a "sustainable ecosystem" for dance education.

Erin Lewis, a finance director who started ballet as an adult, describes the transformative impact: "Getting the chance to perform feels so special. It's pushed me way out of my comfort zone - but in the best possible way. Ballet has become such a grounding and fulfilling part of my life."

A Cultural Shift

Sarah Madison Photography

Adult ballet participants prepare choreography ranging from classical Swan Lake to contemporary pieces for Saturday's  performance at the Moss Theatre in Santa Monica.

The growing adult ballet movement reflects broader changes in how Americans view fitness, community, and lifelong learning. Unlike the rigid hierarchies often associated with professional dance, these programs emphasize personal growth over perfection.

Melissa Taw, a corporate marketer who started as a freestyler before discovering classical training as an adult, appreciates the supportive environment. "It's like being in an intensive and I love the opportunity to grow with my fellow students," she says.

As Erdmann notes, the worlds of finance and ballet share surprising similarities: "both are fast paced, creative, and you are always striving for perfection." The difference, perhaps, is that in ballet class, that striving comes with community, artistry, and the simple joy of movement.

The Beyond the Box Adult Showcase runs Saturday, August 2, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at Moss Theater, New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd. Tickets are $35 and available at westsideballet.com/adultshowcase

Jill Homes is a freelance arts writer covering Santa Monica's cultural scene.