Instagram story viewer> @cgdancementors> Posts

Creative Generations Dance Mentors

@cgdancementors

374

followers

668

following

Our vision is simple: dancers should always know they have advocates standing with them, always. From mentors to dance wellness, CG is your team!

POSTS STORIES REELS

We’re honored to be featured in CanvasRebel this month, sharing the story behind Creative Generations and the future we’re building—one dancer at a time.

Our mission is to make dancer mentorship and wellness support a normalized, accessible part of every dancer’s training—especially for those stepping into the most intense and formative years of pre-professional and professional life.

We’ve had the privilege of working with dancers from Sacramento Ballet 1 & 2, Philadelphia Ballet 2, Richmond Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet 2, World Ballet, ABT, JKO, and ABA. These dancers—and their families—deserve holistic support that strengthens not just their technique, but their health, resilience, and ability to navigate the system with agency.

Because we are former dancers ourselves, from many companies and walks of life, we bring unbiased, deeply informed care that simply hasn’t been part of most traditional ballet structures—until now.

I want to thank our small but mighty team: @ikologriffin @jamiebdee @eelliott35173 @amyfleonards @draimeept @jodyhermanrdn Ikolo, Jamie, Elise, Amy, Aimee, Rhodes, Jody, and Pierre. Your time, wisdom, and care have made this possible. What we’re building isn’t just for the dancers—it’s with the dancers. And it’s working.

If you’d like to read the article or support this mission, message us. We’re not doing this alone. We’re partnering with aligned organizations like the Shamrockk Foundation, Bay Area Dancewear, and visionary teachers and directors who believe in this change.

Dancer to dancer, across generations .

https://canvasrebel.com/meet-derek-sakakura/ #balletmentorship #dancerwellness #creativegenerations •#preprofessionaldancers #professionalballet #dancerhealth #balletsupportsystem #balletlife #dancecareer #mentalhealthfordancers #ballettraining #balletcommunity #injuryprevention #dancerresilience #futureofballet by @cgdancementors

Our program exists solely to support young dancers and their families—fully and honestly.
That means giving them real tools, real talk, and real advocates.

They deserve more.
They deserve someone who truly gets it and is on their side.
Someone who’s walked the road.
Who has their best interest at heart.
And who’s in it with them.

That’s what Creative Generations is here for.
No fluff. Just the full picture—with care. videographer: Richard Shirk @trashfalcons

#CreativeGenerations #DancerMentorship #PreProSupport #BalletMentor #DanceCommunity #YoungDancers #ArtistSupport #DanceTraining #CareerInDance #MentorshipMatters #DanceEducators #ProfessionalDancerLife #SupportTheArts #DancerWellness #FutureOfDance by @cgdancementors

What if one conversation could change your dance journey? 🩰 ✨

Creative Generations is proud to offer 1:1 strategic mentorship sessions with world-class professional dancers and mentors who truly care about what you really want from dance.

✨Elise Elliott — former Houston Ballet soloist and professional rehearsal director — is one of our featured advisors to help you explore your training, your goals, and where dance might take you!
Whether you’re pre-professional, auditioning, performing, or just needing clarity on your next step, these sessions are a powerful space to reflect, plan, and be seen.
This is not just coaching — it’s deeper than that. It’s a conversation with someone who’s lived it, and wants you to thrive!

Limited spots available. Book today. Link in bio or scan QR. For private zoom lessons from Elise, visit: https://elliottprivateballetcoaching.com

#OneConversationCanChangeEverything
#CGMentors #dancementorship #balletcoaching #preprofessionalballet #danceaspirations #eliseelliott #futureofdance #ballet #dancer #balletdancer #professionalballet #creativegenerations by @cgdancementors

MENTOR MONDAY (on a Tuesday)

Ballet Found Me, the end of Story 1.

Ikolo Griffin was eight years old, in a little blue onesie under Mother Ginger's skirt, dancing The Nutcracker. From somewhere out in the dark, he heard it: "That's my baby!"

He knew that voice. That was his mom.

Embarrassed and proud, all at once. That is what it feels like when the person who loves you most sees you on stage and cannot help crying out.

Every dancer advisor at Creative Generations has a moment like that, and a road behind it. If your dancer could use guidance from someone who has been there, DM us to learn how to begin.

#MentorMonday #balletcommunity #dancerlife #balleteducation #balletmentorship by @cgdancementors

Never believe the cane. 😄
Tag your Yoda!👇. (And as much as we love our teachers, let's talk about how we can prevent the cane! )

#balletreality #balletteacher #dancelife #balletmemes #creativegenerations by @cgdancementors

MENTOR MONDAY

We're starting a new series: the journeys of our own dancer advisors and mentors, in their own words.

First up, Ikolo Griffin, Associate Director of Creative Generations. Ikolo found ballet through a scholarship from San Francisco Ballet's outreach program. He trained through the school and became the first student from that program to earn a company contract. Today he's on the faculty of San Francisco Ballet School, and we're proud to have him as one of our dancer advisors.

Every advisor at Creative Generations has walked the road of the professional dancer. DM us to learn how to begin!

#MentorMonday #balletcommunity #dancerlife #balleteducation #balletmentorship by @cgdancementors

MENTOR MONDAY - IKOLO GRIFFIN
We're starting a new series: the journeys of our own dancer advisors and mentors, in their own words.
First up, Ikolo Griffin, Associate Director of Creative Generations. Ikolo found ballet through a scholarship from San Francisco Ballet's outreach program. He trained through the school and became the first student from that program to earn a company contract. Today he's on the faculty of San Francisco Ballet School, and we're proud to have him as one of our dancer advisors.
Every advisor at Creative Generations has walked a unique path to their dreams of becoming a professional dancer. DM us to learn how to begin!
#MentorMonday #balletcommunity #dancerlife #balleteducation #balletmentorship by @cgdancementors

Something new starts tomorrow.

We've been sitting on three true stories — about one of our mentors, about a kid who wasn't looking for ballet until ballet found him, about jumping too high and standing too small and filling a whole Opera House anyway.

One story a week. Drawn like a graphic novel, because that's how big they felt.

Mentor Monday starts tomorrow. Don't miss Story 1.

#balletfoundme #ballet #balletdancer #balletlife #dancersofinstagram by @cgdancementors

One deep breath.

Sunday. Groceries on the couch, phone face-down, shoes off. The first weeks of a new season ask a lot— new school, new company, new everything. Before the week starts again, take your minute.

Dancers are elite athletes, and elite athletes recover on purpose. Rest is part of the training, not the absence of it.

What does your reset look like today?

We're here, and we're absolutely rooting for you.

#sundayrest #ballet #balletdancer #balletlife #dancersofinstagram by @cgdancementors

Your body just gave everything. Your nervous system doesn't know that yet.

The LAND Protocol is a 3-minute somatic recovery tool developed for dancers — built from the lived wisdom of former professional dancers and dance wellness specialists who know what it actually takes to sustain a performing body over a career.

L · Let it move
A · Anchor through sound
N · Name what happened
D · Declare it done

This kind of knowledge doesn't come from a textbook. It comes from decades on the floor, in the wings, in the studio — and from the groundbreaking somatic research of Peter Levine, Bessel van der Kolk, Resmaa Menakem, and Gabor Maté. We've brought their science into the language of dance.

At Creative Generations, everything we offer is tailored to the individual dancer — where you are right now, what your body needs, and where you want to go. No two paths look the same.

If you're a pre-professional dancer, a parent, or a studio director curious about how we work — we'd love to start a conversation. Drop a 💙 below or send us a DM.

#ballet #balletdancer #preprofessionaldancer #dancerwellness #dancerecovery dancementor dancecoach somaticmovement danceeducation creativegenerations by @cgdancementors

Audition season is coming fast. Before you hit “submit,” get another set of professional eyes on your video.

Over the next two weeks, the ShamRockk Advisory Board will select at least 10 young men to receive a full audition video review from trusted ballet professionals who know exactly what companies are looking for.

Each selected video will be carefully reviewed, and you will receive specific, actionable feedback on technique, presentation, musicality, and overall impact. The goal is simple: help you submit a video that actually represents you well and strengthens your audition.

We are incredibly grateful to the amazing current and former directors, artistic staff, and professional dancers who have chosen to partner with the ShamRockk Foundation to support young men in this moment of transition.

Limited spots. Real feedback. No fluff.
DM us to submit. #DoItForRemi by @cgdancementors

"At first I felt awkward freely texting my mentors ... buy that is the entire purpose of CG." - Charles. 💫Real mentorship isn't a scheduled appointment once a month; it's a continuous thread of connection. It’s knowing you have someone in your corner who truly doesn't mind the questions, the doubts, or the sudden need for advice. 📱✨. In fact, that's exactly what we are here for.
Whether it's reassurance on a bad day or guidance on a big decision, we are built to be accessible. We are here to witness your becoming, not just evaluate your performance.
Thank you, Charles, for trusting us to support your journey. #RelationalMentorship #DancerSupport #MentalHealthInDance #CreativeGenerations #Dancementor by @cgdancementors