Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre Susan Jaffe was a celebrated Principal Dancer with ABT for 22 years, before becoming a teacher and arts administrator. Susan sits down with Alicia to reveal her biggest talent, reminisce about struggling to sit at a piano as a young child, and recount joining the studio company of ABT at age 16. Our guest honestly talks about seeing a diet doctor, early challenges at the company, and dancing with Mikhail Baryshnikov. To close it out Susan discusses her life post retirement as a dancer, why it's always important to say yes, and how she is shifting power dynamics and creating a healthy environment for the next generation.

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Moving Moments was co-created by Alicia Graf Mack, Jessica Handelman, and David Krauss.

Photograph of Susan Jaffe in Swan Lake by Paul Kolnik.

This interview has been edited and condensed to fit the time format.

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