About this episode

Ashley Hod discusses her journey from ballet student to soloist at New York City Ballet and her evolving definition of success.

Ashley Hod was a 17-year-old student at the School of American Ballet when Hurricane Sandy shut New York City down — and in the middle of it, sitting at her grandmother's house with the power out, she got the phone call that changed her life: she was being made an apprentice with New York City Ballet, starting the following Tuesday. In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Ashley Hod — soloist with New York City Ballet and recipient of the 2018 Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists. They talk about the overnight jump from student to professional, the day she found out she'd been promoted to soloist alongside six of her closest friends, two ankle injuries and what they taught her about patience, and how fourteen years in the company have changed the way she defines success. TIMESTAMPS: [04:01] From SAB Student to NYCB Apprentice — The Hurricane Sandy Phone Call [06:38] The Day She Found Out She Was Promoted to Soloist [19:25] Redefining Success — Why the Title Was Never the Point ABOUT THE GUEST: Ashley Hod is a soloist with New York City Ballet. Born and raised in Great Neck, New York, she began dancing at age four and trained at the School of…

People in this episode

Host: Jasmine Jain

Guest: Ashley Hod

Topics covered

• promotion
• success
• ballet
• injuries
• career journey

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New York City Ballet, School of American Ballet, Lincoln Center

Books & works: Dewdrop, Sugar Plum Fairy

Places: New York City, Great Neck

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