We had the good fortune of connecting with Bean Shindell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bean, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I noticed a real need for more effective ballet training after teaching at different schools across the country. I saw that the level of teaching that I was lucky enough to experience growing up is unfortunately lacking. While there are outstanding schools and talented teachers out there, I often saw students struggling with incorrect techniques and not getting the personalized attention they deserved. This sparked a strong desire in me to create a space where everyone could enjoy tailored classes and coaching. People are always asking what the “beyond” part of Barre & Beyond is, and the answer is fitness and nutrition. Through my journey in the professional ballet world, I’ve gained a ton of knowledge about the industry, as well as insights into fitness, cross-training, and nutrition. Along with teaching ballet to aspiring dancers, I also want to help adults reach their health and fitness goals in a fun and sustainable ballet-inspired way. Sadly, social media influencers often give misinformation and promote fad diets rather than information based on dietetics and science. My goal is to help simplify the journey, making it enjoyable and achievable—whether it’s in ballet or fitness—while being honest about what it really takes to succeed.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have had the pleasure of getting to dance and work with people from all over the world, and I have much more experience than most dancers around my age.

I have learned valuable lessons from every place I have danced, which now influence my coaching. The common thread of excellence that I saw and experienced in both my training and dancing was a focus on technique and not tricks, which is the philosophy that I now teach by. I focus on teaching the correct movements and concepts, while also explaining why it is beneficial or important. One of the problems with the modern world is that people rush through fundamentals which leads to poor performances and injuries. I feel strongly that the history of ballet is getting lost, so when I teach I incorporate both techniques and stories so my students gain perspective on why and not just what. In ballet every step has a story. Forget the story, and you’ve lost the art. Many people have told me that I am a fantastic teacher, so I know that has been a huge part of my success so far. I also have to give credit to the wonderful people who have helped me navigate the business side of things. I know a lot about ballet, fitness, and nutrition, but I had a lot to learn about running a business! Some fantastic mentors helped me through the ins and outs of creating and managing my own business—from handling paperwork to designing a beautiful website. Their support has been incredible, and it’s really the combination of skills and expertise that has helped Barre & Beyond thrive. After starting Barre & Beyond I had to learn when to be “ballet”, and when to be “business”. I am a perfectionist so it is difficult for me to let things go until they are exactly the way I want. I tend to fixate and doing that purely on business tasks was detrimental to my teaching. I learned some effective time management techniques; now I set a certain amount of time per task and when the alarm beeps I move on. The “one woman business” is a myth. Learning to delegate whether to another person or AI has been tremendously beneficial for my business- it lets me focus on my teaching! Adding the business dynamic into something that I live for was a big learning curve, but I am a much more well rounded person because of it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Denver is a very exciting city, it has a great balance between city and nature. Anyone who knows me knows that I try not to go anywhere where my dog Princess Aurora (named after the ballet) can’t go. She is 3 lbs so she comes in a purse I have for her, so unless it is truly unavoidable she will be with me. I am obsessed with coffee, so the first stop would be at a local coffee shop. I would most likely stop at Bivouac up in Evergreen. They are a super great little coffee shop that is very involved in the community. Personally I am a bit of a shopaholic so pretty soon into the trip I would take them to Cherry Creek. I enjoy just looking around for something unique. One reason that I chose Denver as a place to live was because of the Denver Center for Performing Arts. I have been to many performance venues and DCPA is really top notch! During the trip we would need to take multiple classes at Denver Dance Center. It truly is a gem for adult open classes for all levels. It reminds me of open classes I took in New York. I try to balance my dancing with cross training, so we would for sure go to Black Swan Yoga. They are donation based and have many different teachers so there is something for everyone. I am a habitual walker, either we would walk Downtown, or there is a beautiful walk up in Evergreen by Elk Meadow. One of my favorite new restaurants is Ukiyo. If someone is a foodie the Japanese Peruvian fusion at Ukiyo is truly fantastic. They have a welcome mocktail that is yuzu that is fabulous. Even if you drink alcohol I would recommend trying this mocktail. When I am up in Evergreen there is a wonderful family owned sushi and Thai restaurant called Nana Sushi Thai. They are just the most lovely family with delicious food, so I try to support them whenever possible. They also do a great bubble tea. There is also the cutest tea store in Idaho Springs called Spice and Tea Exchange. They sell the best tea and spices. The women who run the store are also very endearing. Finally, I would go to Gastronom European Russian store. My favorite food is caviar, and they have such a variety! After a run of performances, I always splurge and buy a tin of caviar from them as a treat for successful shows. They also import some really fun and interesting Eastern European foods, so I enjoy shopping around. I always buy something random to try when I am there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have so much admiration for the ballet teachers who had a tremendous impact on my life, especially Ahita Ardalan Bergman. Ms. Ahita was an incredible role model, showing me how to navigate both the highs and lows of life. She taught me so much more than just ballet; she gave me life lessons I carry with me to this day! I strive to embody those qualities and pass them on to my students. Our conversations often touched on topics that can be tricky for parents to address, and those discussions were crucial in shaping my ability to cope with disappointment and celebrate my achievements. Ms. Ahita really helped shape who I am. Without her I wouldn’t of had the professional ballet career that I have today.

Website: barreandbeyond.org

Instagram: barre_beyond

Linkedin: barreandbeyond

Facebook: barre-beyond

Image Credits
Dan Jahn

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