Listen:
Check out all episodes on the My Favorite Mistake main page.
My guest for Episode #312 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Jared Redick, a third-generation ballet dancer, choreographer, and award-winning educator. Jared is a full professor and Assistant Dean of Dance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He has performed with renowned companies including the Boston Ballet and Miami City Ballet, and now shapes the next generation of dancers through his leadership, coaching, and innovation in arts education.
In our conversation, Jared shares his favorite mistake—one that unfolded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic while producing a filmed version of The Nutcracker. A critical planning misstep nearly derailed the production when sets weren’t ready for a pivotal weekend of shooting. Facing immense time pressure and logistical complexity, Jared and his team were able to regroup, adapt the schedule, and ultimately find a better way forward. The experience became a lesson in flexibility, communication, and leading with calm under pressure.
Jared also reflects on his transition from performer to educator, how he defines effective leadership, and what it means to embrace vulnerability in pursuit of growth. We explore how his equity-focused curriculum changes are reshaping the world of ballet and how earning an MBA is helping him integrate business thinking into the arts. Throughout the episode, Jared’s humility, clarity, and passion for mentorship shine through.
Questions and Topics:
- What’s your favorite mistake, and what happened during the COVID-era Nutcracker production?
- How did you lead your team through the anxiety of that situation and find a solution?
- Was the missed set deadline more of a communication issue or a planning breakdown?
- Were there lasting lessons from that project that apply to future productions?
- Was anyone blamed or punished for the mistake—or was it handled differently?
- What role does leadership play in preventing or responding to these types of issues?
- What stage of the pandemic were you in when filming The Nutcracker? Were dancers masked?
- Can you tell us more about your personal path into dance and your early training?
- How does the transition from high school conservatory to professional ballet typically work?
- How did you navigate your own transition from performing to teaching and leadership?
- As a performer, how did you deal with the possibility—or reality—of making mistakes on stage?
- How do performers balance self-assessment with celebrating what went well?
- Did you regularly receive feedback or review recordings of your performances?
- How has your leadership style evolved as an assistant dean and teacher?
- What are “equity-focused curriculum updates,” and how are they changing ballet education?
- What are some challenges in making ballet more inclusive and accessible?
- How does bias in dance differ from other performing arts like music?
- What has been most eye-opening in your MBA program coming from an arts background?
- How do business tools like project management software support the arts?
- What does “embracing vulnerability” mean to you, and how does it relate to learning from mistakes?
Scroll down to find:
- Video version of the episode
- How to subscribe
- Quotes
- Full transcript
Find Jared on social media:
Video of the Episode:
Quotes:
Click on an image for a larger view
Subscribe, Follow, Support, Rate, and Review!
Please follow, rate, and review via Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, or your favorite app — that helps others find this content, and you'll be sure to get future episodes as they are released weekly. You can also financially support the show through Spotify.
You can now sign up to get new episodes via email, to make sure you don't miss an episode.
This podcast is part of the Lean Communicators network.
Other Ways to Subscribe or Follow — Apps & Email
Automated Transcript (May Contain Mistakes)
Mark Graban:
Hi, welcome to My Favorite Mistake. I'm your host, Mark Graban. Our guest today is Jared Redick. He is an award-winning master teacher, choreographer, and coach whose innovative leadership has transformed the global dance community. As a third-generation ballet dancer, Jared has graced the stage with the Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and more.
And he now shapes future talent as a full professor and Assistant Dean of Dance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. After an illustrious 20-year performance career, Jared transitioned into education. He's directed acclaimed productions like The Nutcracker, pioneered equity-focused curriculum updates, and earned accolades such as the UNCSA Excellence in Teaching Award—all while pursuing an MBA.
So Jared, it sounds like you're busy. Thanks for being here on the podcast.
Jared Redick:
Well, thanks for having me, Mark. I'm excited to have a conversation with you and explore my biggest mistake.
Mark Graban:
Well, maybe not necessarily your biggest, but your favorite?
Jared Redick:
My favorite.
Mark Graban:
Sometimes it's one and the same—the favorite and the biggest. So there's a lot we can talk about today, but as we usually do: Jared, what's your favorite mistake?
Jared Redick:
Well, I think my favorite mistake—as you kind of mentioned in my bio—was a situation that occurred when we were filming The Nutcracker during COVID. Everything shut down, so we couldn’t do in-person performances. We decided to turn this large production into a film.
A lot of details had to come together—COVID protocols, dancers, film crews, production teams. We had everything mapped out very clearly: an eight-day shoot schedule over four weekends. But when we got to our second weekend of filming, I was informed a few days before that the sets were not ready.
We were missing the entire set for that weekend. So we had to ask: What do we do? Every shoot day was critical. We ended up canceling that weekend and worked with the artistic team to make up those days later. We restructured the final weekend to shoot Friday through Monday.
Mark Graban:
So something good—or even better—came out of that delay?
Jared Redick:
Yeah, absolutely. In fact, we were able to squeeze more time into the schedule. We gained more total hours of filming than we would have if everything had gone to plan. It taught us a lot about flexibility and communication. Organizing 100 dancers and 50 people on the film production side, then pivoting on a dime—it was a monumental task.
Mark Graban:
How did you help lead people through that moment of anxiety and into a solution?
Jared Redick:
At first, of course, I was a little aggravated. But then I took a breath and reached out to the other artistic leaders. We worked through it step by step. The solution wasn’t difficult to find—it just required everyone being flexible and collaborative.
Mark Graban:
Was the delay caused more by a planning issue or communication breakdown?
Jared Redick:
A bit of both. Something got lost in translation about when we were filming those scenes. It wasn’t anyone’s fault—it just fell through the cracks. We assumed the right hand knew what the left hand was doing. We should’ve confirmed everything a couple of weeks ahead.
Mark Graban:
Was that production a one-off, or did it change how you approach future projects?
Jared Redick:
It was mostly a one-off in terms of scale, but it sparked a lot of other film-based projects for our dancers. We’re definitely more in the digital space now. If you look at something like Lady Gaga’s latest video and how dance is blowing up on TikTok and Instagram, it’s clear we need to make dance more accessible.
Mark Graban:
And nobody was punished or blamed—it seems like that wasn’t part of how you handled it?
Jared Redick:
Exactly. Stuff happens. Pointing fingers just wastes time and energy. Everyone wanted the project to succeed. The real takeaway was the importance of communication and confirming timelines well in advance.
Mark Graban:
Some people argue that without punishment, mistakes will keep happening. But I imagine everyone already felt bad enough.
Jared Redick:
Right. It comes down to leadership. You have to know your team. Some people need more support or structure. That was a big lesson for me: I could’ve helped more. And yes, people felt bad—we didn’t need blame. We just needed to fix the issue and move forward.
Mark Graban:
What stage of the pandemic were you in when filming? Were dancers masked?
Jared Redick:
This was October 2020—so right at the height of COVID, before vaccinations. Everyone was masked, we had health screenings, and strict protocols. You can actually see the dancers wearing masks in the PBS recording.
Mark Graban:
I’ll link to that in the show notes. If dancers can perform like that in masks, I think the rest of us could’ve handled it too.
Jared Redick:
We had fun with it. Film productions are different than live ones—you can stop and start, which is a luxury. But the dancers worked incredibly hard.
Mark Graban:
Tell me more about your journey into dance. Was it something you were steered into, or did you choose it?
Jared Redick:
It was both. My mom is a ballet teacher, and my brother and I grew up in the studio. I didn’t really commit until high school, when I got into a boarding conservatory program—ironically, the one I now teach at. That’s when it became real.
Mark Graban:
So it’s kind of like going pro after high school, similar to sports?
Jared Redick:
Exactly. Ballet is a young art form—similar to gymnastics in that way. Most dancers go straight into companies after high school. Some go to college first, but it’s less common.
Mark Graban:
And eventually you transitioned from performer to teacher?
Jared Redick:
Yes. Toward the end of my performance career, I started teaching more. Then I was offered a leadership role at Boston Ballet School while still performing. Doing both almost killed me—two full-time jobs. That helped me realize it was time to transition.
Mark Graban:
As a performer, how did you think about mistakes? How did you reflect afterward?
Jared Redick:
I rarely had a show where I didn’t make some kind of mistake. But you can’t get hung up on it. After every performance, I wanted to go back to the studio and work more. That’s how I improved—through self-reflection and a desire to get better.
Mark Graban:
Did you celebrate what went well, too?
Jared Redick:
Absolutely. Even if you felt off, the achievement of making it through a show—leaving it all on stage—is huge. Sometimes when I felt the worst, the artistic staff would tell me it was the best they’d seen. That disconnect is interesting.
Mark Graban:
Did you ever review “game film” or get feedback as part of the process?
Jared Redick:
Yes. Shows were recorded, and we got feedback—usually supportive, with suggestions. If something significant went wrong, we’d rehearse that section. But the culture was mostly positive.
Mark Graban:
As a leader now, how would you describe your leadership style?
Jared Redick:
Teaching is leadership. Whether I’m in the classroom or as assistant dean, my job is to support others—students, faculty, staff. When they succeed, we all succeed. I’m a big believer in servant leadership. You’re not leading from in front—you’re behind them, pushing forward.
Mark Graban:
Tell us more about your equity-focused curriculum work. What does that mean in the context of ballet?
Jared Redick:
Ballet has deep traditions, some outdated. For example, female dancers traditionally wear pink tights. Now we allow dancers to choose tights that match their skin tone. We’re trying to remove barriers and make spaces more welcoming—so students feel like they belong.
Mark Graban:
Ballet is such a visual art—bias seems harder to overcome than, say, blind auditions in music.
Jared Redick:
Definitely. There’s no hiding in dance. But even having these conversations helps move things forward. We want to expand access and representation—especially in education. The profession is tougher, like pro sports. But education should be as inclusive as possible.
Mark Graban:
You’re earning an MBA now. What’s that been like, coming from the arts?
Jared Redick:
It’s eye-opening. The arts are still a business—we’re in the business of art. The MBA helps me understand the broader systems that support creative work. For example, we studied Cirque du Soleil’s custom project management software—it was fascinating to see how tech underpins their global productions.
Mark Graban:
What does “embracing vulnerability” mean to you? How does it connect to mistakes?
Jared Redick:
Great question. If you’re sincerely pursuing your craft, vulnerability is essential. I feel it going back to school—I haven’t been in a classroom in years. But vulnerability helps us grow. As leaders, we’re often expected to have all the answers. But humility and honest communication are far more valuable.
Mark Graban:
I think vulnerability often gets misunderstood. People see it as weakness, but really it’s about risk—taking chances and pushing boundaries.
Jared Redick:
Exactly. That idea of “vulnerability tolerance” is like risk tolerance in investing. And leaders can shape environments where people feel safe taking those risks, even when outcomes aren’t what they hoped.
Mark Graban:
That ties back to your Nutcracker story—when people feel safe, they can adapt, solve problems, and even improve outcomes.
Jared Redick:
Exactly. It all comes back to leadership and support. When people feel valued, they’ll take initiative, try new things, and grow from setbacks. That’s how we all move forward.
Mark Graban:
Well said. Jared, thank you again for being here and sharing your story. We’ll include a link to that PBS Nutcracker video and any other highlights we can find. You’ve brought such valuable insights—about leadership, creativity, and learning from mistakes.
Jared Redick:
Thanks so much, Mark. I really enjoyed the conversation.
Key Takeaways from the Episode with Jared Redick
Promote a Culture of Supportive Leadership
As Jared illustrated through his leadership roles, supportive leadership involves understanding team members' needs, fostering their development, and providing necessary resources for success. By focusing on servant leadership—supporting others to achieve their best and acknowledging shared victories—listeners can improve morale and productivity within their teams.
Embrace Mistakes as Learning Opportunities
Jared Redick shared a story about directing a production of “The Nutcracker” during COVID, where things didn't go as planned due to an unforeseen issue with set readiness. Instead of letting this mistake derail the project, he and his team used it as an opportunity to rethink their strategy and schedule, leading to a more efficient use of time. By embracing mistakes, listeners can find innovative solutions and improved outcomes.
Fostering Inclusive Environments in Creative Spaces
Jared emphasized the importance of updating traditional practices within dance to be more inclusive, such as allowing dancers to choose tights that match their skin tone. By recognizing and adapting to the needs of a diverse group, individuals can create more welcoming and equitable environments in their respective fields, enabling a wider audience to participate and excel.