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Sarah Aspinall
By Lucy Roberts
Why did you initially want to go to ballet school?
I fell in love with ballet at the age of 2! Whilst I was quite shy during my school years and never part of the ‘in crowd’ - I always had ballet - it was my sanctuary, my happy place. My late teacher Pearl recognised I had a natural talent with ballet, and when she passed away and her daughter took over the school - she became my mentor, recognising my natural affinity with the form of dance and really helped encourage me to grow and flourish as a dancer. I was offered a scholarship for ballet school which appealed to me as it meant I could further my practice and consider turning what had always been a hobby into a career and life choice. I felt very fortunate and proud to be given the opportunity.
And then why did you make the transition to law school?
My mum was pivotal in the decision making process. She only wanted what was best for me, yet sadly, considered ballet to be a risk. What if I didn’t get the audition? What if I got injured? What if I put all the hard work in only to become an out-of-work dancer? There were too many ‘what ifs’ for her to be comfortable with me pursuing a future in dance.
Whilst ballet was my pride and joy, I had also always excelled academically - so I was lucky to have options. My mum saw law as safe and lucrative. And so I followed her dream, not mine…
What made you want to go back to ballet?
Having been in law for ten years, I went to NYC to celebrate my 30th birthday with a friend. On our penultimate night in the Big Apple, having enjoyed a wonderful, fun-filled stay - we were mugged at gunpoint. It sounds so cliche, but it really was one of those ‘life flashing before your eyes’ moments! I returned to the UK full of determination and feeling strangely empowered after the terrifying incident. I simply had to pursue my dream. And that dream had always been ballet. I bid farewell to law, and trained to be a ballet teacher. I’ve never looked back.
Could you explain why you wanted to create Breaking Ballet and what it is?
In 2017, I decided to set up my own online platform - Breaking Ballet, following a Facebook page for my classes which has done really well. At this point I was nearly 40 and had to ignore the nagging feelings of imposter syndrome - there were so many younger fitness influencers in the space which could have been very off putting if I wasn’t so determined. Instead I listened to my audience - women over the age of 40 who wanted short, sharp workouts to make them look and (more importantly) feel good about themselves. This was my market. These women were my students.
Above all, I wanted to break the myths and perceptions of dance or ballet only being for a younger generation. I wanted to break down the barriers to entry when it comes to exercise and help build a community of strong, powerful, resilient women. And so Breaking Ballet was born!
And you've also launched BBackstage which is an online membership model, so why did you want to do that?
I developed the online membership platform BBackstage in 2018, which was a way for members to access my signature Breaking Ballet Method workout. The membership offers access to videos, regular challenges, a newsletter and an inclusive community forum. I had seen from the Facebook group that these women were personable and sociable - they loved the community vibe of my workouts as much as the fitness itself.
BBackstage unites women in their quest for mind and body betterment. My method attracts former ballet dancers, people who dreamed of taking up ballet when they were younger but perhaps couldn’t afford it, through to those seeking a graceful alternative to high octane gym classes.
What would your message be to people who are stuck at a desk like you were and want to pursue their passion instead?
Don’t let ‘fear of the unknown’ stop you. You can make a decision to not let the circumstances of your past, or your current circumstances hold you back. You can move towards that fear and achieve so many great things because of it. I took my time and did all my research well before I left my legal career. I knew it was what I wanted to do, even if it felt daunting. I had no idea it would work and I certainly had no idea it would evolve into what I’m doing today. If you have passion, an unwavering faith and are prepared to put in the effort, you cannot fail.
For more information on Breaking Ballet membership head to breakingballet.com