Hi, I’m Susie Butler! I’m a ballet dancer in my 30s as well as a photographer, and web developer who loves activities that mix technical skill with artistic expression. I grew up in the UK and Los Angeles and now live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I started pre-professional ballet training at age 9 and continued until I had surgery on both hips for impingement and labral tears in my mid-twenties. This took me out of ballet for the most part of 7 years.
I returned to ballet in January 2022 at age 31, 13 months after having my son. Coming back after such a long time away has been a healing experience, allowing me to rediscover the pure joy of movement and work on building up the confidence that I lost during my pre-professional training days. But my return to ballet hasn’t been without challenges. In late 2022, I set a goal to return to pointe and perform a pointe role in The Nutcracker in 2023. Unfortunately, I developed Achilles tendonitis, which sidelined me—not just from pointe but from all dancing—for about six months at the end of 2023.
2024 was both a challenging and rewarding year. I returned to ballet at the beginning of the year, then in the spring performed a solo on stage that I first started working on in 2011, and danced consistently throughout the year despite battling various injuries. Earning a lead role in The Nutcracker—17 years after my last performance in the ballet—was a dream come true that I’ll treasure forever. Ballet will always be a part of who I am, and I’m passionate about proving it’s never too late to embrace your dreams.
Through my social media, @susietheballerina, I share my journey to inspire other adults to pursue their passions. When I’m not dancing, you’ll often find me behind the camera, specializing in gymnastics and dance photography. Capturing the artistry and athleticism of performers is a rewarding extension of my love for precise movement and creativity.
By day, I’m a web developer where I get to apply a blend of technical and creative skills. My most important roles, though, are being a wife to my amazing husband, Logan, and a mom to our energetic son, Sammy. We also share our lives with our two adorable Shiba Inu dogs, Falco and Zelda.
I hope my story inspires you to believe that you’re never too old to do what you love. Keep dancing, always 💙