Have you checked out this video clip of New York City Ballet’s Ashley Bouder executing flawless fouetté turns at 37 weeks pregnant? Insane, right? Well, yes and no. Today, more and more female dancers are embracing their craft both during and after their pregnancy. Having a child is no longer certain to stifle a dancer’s career. Rather, expectant and new mothers have the freedom to choose their own paths for both them and their babies. Each dancer’s journey is unique, but dance can certainly be a part of that new chapter.

Here, Dance Informa speaks with five professional dancers — from ballerinas to Broadway performers — who are new mothers. Read how each woman decided to incorporate dance into her life during her pregnancy and how her identity and career as a dancer have changed since giving birth…READ MORE