Meet Sarah Tallman | Ballet Master and Choreographer

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

Hi Sarah, how do you think about risk?
Taking risks is essentially the vehicle to create change. Any decision we make to act on the stirring of our hearts generally has risk attached to it. Risk often sounds scary but I believe it is a tool for expansion. Whether it’s a small step or a big one there is always risk. I like to think about risk as adventure.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m currently the Assistant to the Artistic Director and Ballet Master for Wonderbound, a contemporary ballet company in Denver. I spend my days teaching morning ballet class, learning choreography, staging ballets, helping to run rehearsals and other administrative duties that are required to assist in the creation of performances for our season. While I do have an office, I spend the majority of my time in the dance studio and theatre. And to be honest, spending my days in the studio in any capacity was always where I wanted to be. The road to arriving in this career started young!

My parents exposed me to dance at a young age by enrolling me in ballet classes at the local dance studio, and I fell head over heels. From there, I just kept going until it became something I knew I could not and did not want to live without. The dance studio and the stage were where I felt at home. Before I knew it, I was a college graduate and on my way to seeking out company positions in the professional world. I danced professionally for 20 years before retiring from performing and focusing on teaching and choreographing. I now happily pass down my learned knowledge and experiences to one dancer at a time while also continuing to learn from teachers, mentors, artists, and experiences on my journey. There will always be people at any stage that will offer valuable perspectives.

I was always told to have a backup plan if things didn’t work out, but that thought process never resonated with me. I knew this was a career path I wanted, and there were no other options. It was not easy, but I learned to use my resources, work hard, and harness a teachable, adaptable spirit. I found what I was looking for and have never looked back. Dabbling in our passions can feel safe, but going all the way lands us in places we never thought we could go.

Challenges are certainly a part of those endeavors. As a dancer, I overcame them by stepping one foot in front of the other, viewing them as opportunities to dive further. Challenges are nudges to change and become an opportunity to look at things from different angles. Challenges can be dubious because there is the possibility and probability of failure, which in and of itself is a gift! I look at them as almost a dare. Make it fun. The answer may not come quickly or be readily available, but by becoming close friends with uncertainty, I have discovered tenacity, patience, and clear decision-making. There, of course, is doubt, but that, too, is an ally and vehicle to ask better questions and to make space for further research, evaluation, and a deep listening in to your environment and senses.

I want the world to know that when you find something you love, do that and do it over and over with the intention of mastery. It’s easy to get distracted by the outside world or when your ventures become hard. The artist will constantly battle inner dialogue and peripheral opinions, but standing strong in your resolve and passion will ultimately bring joy, intrigue and wonder to the world. There are people who are looking for what you have to offer.

I am incredibly proud of the work I have done and continue to do in the dance world. I am a creature who truly loves to learn and share what I’ve learned.

And now in my position, I am able to do just that. I danced in the company for several years before joining the artistic team. As a dancer, I had an unique way of communicating with the audience and now as Ballet Master I have an opportunity to share my voice in a different way as I teach and mentor current artists in the company. Dance is truly an oral tradition passed down to one dancer at a time.

The skills I currently use look very different but the mentality I learned as a dancer have provided a stable platform to perform my current responsibilities. Each day offers varied directions that allow me to research and respond. I never imagined I would need to use technical capacities outside of my physical body but it’s turned out that I use technology daily. I also document and take copious notes as new ballets are being choreographed. I have developed a way of notating steps by creating a language on paper that preserves the work as it’s being developed. And that’s the magic of sticking to the work you love. There are surprises at every turn.

When I am not in the studio at Wonderbound, I find joy in sharing ballet and movement creation with young students and pre-professionals who are craving knowledge. They exhibit the pure joy of training their bodies while discovering who they are becoming as dancers and people.

Learn and share. Create and share. Practice and share. Fall down and share!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love it when friends come to town! I would most certainly invite them to a Wonderbound rehearsal and take them to a performance. I know the work is beyond entertaining and will leave an impression on their hearts and awaken a new part of their soul. The shows are not to be missed!

I also like showing off the Botanic Gardens, Red Rocks, and anywhere in the mountains. As a native of Colorado, I admit that I take the beauty of our state for granted, though when friends come to town, I am reminded of just how majestic this area is.

Denver also has walkable neighborhoods with beautiful parks, unique local restaurants and a thriving music scene. There are a number of bands and solo musicians that are bound to be playing on any given weekend.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There have been so many people on my journey who have encouraged, fostered and supported my career decisions. I’m incredibly fortunate to have mentors, teachers and friends who have walked alongside me and helped facilitate my success. My thanks goes to my parents, teachers, the leadership team that I currently work under and my dearest friends who also happen to be in the art world! My big shoutout goes to my husband, Chris. He is a rock, a huge encourager and my biggest supporter. Always lifting me up when I might be feeling low and there to bring me back to earth should my head get too far into the clouds.

Website: sarahtallman.com and wonderbound.com

Image Credits
1st image – Martha Wirth Photography
Additional images – Amanda Tipton Photography