Tiler Peck on Ballet, Big Dreams, and Her New Book XO Ballerina Big Sis
by Jennifer Clare
Tiler Peck is a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and is one of the top ballerinas working today. She has amassed a loyal following on social media, where she shares inspiration, ballet tips and tricks, and helpful advice for young ballerinas. Her posts became so popular that she collected her best bits of wisdom into a new book for young readers titled XO Ballerina Big Sis.
We took the opportunity to ask Tiler a few questions about what inspires her, the secret sauce for success, and her best advice for young people. Read on to learn more about this incredible dancer and her new book in this exclusive interview.
Brightly: You’re best known as a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet — what inspired you to step into the world of writing for kids?
Tiler Peck: The idea really grew out of an Instagram series I started, where I’d share advice and always sign off with “XO, Ballerina Big Sis.” Almost immediately, I saw how much people connected with those little notes of encouragement, and I loved being able to support them by answering their questions. As dancers, so much of our lives are spent doing what we’re told, without always using our own voices. Writing this book was a way for me to be that “big sis” dancers might not even know they needed, and to pass down what I’ve learned over the years, and hopefully help the next generation of dancers grow with confidence.
In XO Ballerina Big Sis, you share a lot of helpful advice about ballet. What are some of the skills learned through dance that you think are important for kids to apply to everyday life?
One of my favorite lessons in the book is something I call Talent+. To me, talent is never enough on its own. What really matters is the work you put in. The combination of effort and passion is what leads to growth. It’s a lesson I carry into everything I do, not just ballet. I truly believe that if you’re willing to work hard and allow yourself the space to flourish, you can become the best version of yourself.
Were there any parts of the book that felt especially meaningful to write?
Yes, there are two subjects that I think are so important, but are not always easy to talk about: competition and injuries. Both are part of dance, but they’re also part of life. With competition, my advice is always to focus on yourself. The more energy you spend comparing, the less you have to invest in your own growth. Competition can be healthy when it pushes you to be your best, but if it starts to consume you, it’s time to shift the focus back to what really matters: taking care of yourself.
As for injuries, the best part of enduring a hardship is that you will always grow from that experience. Sometimes it is hard to remind yourself of that while you are down, but you will reemerge a different and more beautiful dancer because you will have learned more about yourself.
One of the things that makes ballet so special is how it tells a story without saying a word. How do you think dance helps young people express emotions and tell their own stories?
Dance is such a gift because it allows you to express yourself without speaking. Some people are shy or quiet, but when they dance, their emotions come alive. It’s really a universal language that everyone can understand.
What’s the one thing you think every ballet student should always have on hand?
A ballerina big sis 🙂
What kinds of books did you love to read when you were a young girl? Were there any stories that helped shape you as a person?
I loved mystery novels, the kind of books that kept me turning the pages, wondering what would happen next. But one book that really stayed with me as a little girl was Dance, Tanya.
What advice would you give to kids who dream of being dancers — or writers — someday?
I would say: Go for it! The sky truly is the limit, and you won’t know how far you can go unless you try. A dance career takes discipline and hard work, but if you put in the effort, it is worth every single moment. And whether it’s dancing, writing, or anything else you dream of, believe in yourself, stay curious, and never be afraid to take that first step.