In this deeply personal conversation, Magdalena Westman traces the arc of her life from her early years in a pastor’s family in Czechoslovakia to her transformative experiences in South Africa—where the seeds of her art therapy practice first began to take root.
Growing up in a home filled with intellect, faith, and compassion, Magdalena’s childhood was shaped by both inspiration and challenge. Her family’s moral integrity during the years of political repression left a lasting imprint, instilling in her a sensitivity to human struggle and resilience. Those formative experiences would later find their way into her work, not through words, but through color, texture, and the spontaneous movement of the hand across paper.
Our conversation moves gently between memory and meaning—how a sense of “being different” as a child became a source of empathy, and how the creative act became, for Magdalena, a path to freedom and healing. In South Africa, amidst new landscapes and cultural encounters, she began to sense art’s potential to bridge inner and outer worlds—a realization that led her to study and eventually teach art therapy after returning to the Czech Republic.
Today, Magdalena is known for her intuitive approach to creativity—inviting people to reconnect with their childlike curiosity through mark-making, reflection, and presence. Her workshops and writings reveal how even the simplest doodle can become a doorway to emotional understanding and self-discovery.
This interview offers a rare glimpse into a life shaped by courage, creativity, and compassion—and into an artistic philosophy that reminds us that healing often begins with a single, spontaneous line.
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In this deeply personal conversation, Magdalena Westman traces the arc of her life from her early years in a pastor’s family in Czechoslovakia to her transformative experiences in South Africa—where the seeds of her art therapy practice first began to take root.
Growing up in a home filled with intellect, faith, and compassion, Magdalena’s childhood was shaped by both inspiration and challenge. Her family’s moral integrity during the years of political repression left a lasting imprint, instilling in her a sensitivity to human struggle and resilience. Those formative experiences would later find their way into her work, not through words, but through color, texture, and the spontaneous movement of the hand across paper.
Our conversation moves gently between memory and meaning—how a sense of “being different” as a child became a source of empathy, and how the creative act became, for Magdalena, a path to freedom and healing. In South Africa, amidst new landscapes and cultural encounters, she began to sense art’s potential to bridge inner and outer worlds—a realization that led her to study and eventually teach art therapy after returning to the Czech Republic.
Today, Magdalena is known for her intuitive approach to creativity—inviting people to reconnect with their childlike curiosity through mark-making, reflection, and presence. Her workshops and writings reveal how even the simplest doodle can become a doorway to emotional understanding and self-discovery.
This interview offers a rare glimpse into a life shaped by courage, creativity, and compassion—and into an artistic philosophy that reminds us that healing often begins with a single, spontaneous line.
Leaving Ballet to Find Ballet Again – Michael Raynaud’s Unusual Path
Petra Sittig
1 hour 12 minutes 44 seconds
2 months ago
Leaving Ballet to Find Ballet Again – Michael Raynaud’s Unusual Path
In this interview, I speak with Michael Raynaud, ballet teacher for the third-year students at Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham, UK. Originally from France, Michael began ballet at the age of seven and went on to train for six years at the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet School. Upon graduating, he joined the English National Ballet, touring the world with Swan Lake before becoming a permanent member of the company.
Michael opens up about his remarkable journey in the world of ballet, sharing both the triumphs and the challenges that shaped him—notably the serious injury he sustained in his final year of training in Paris. This moment of adversity became a turning point, teaching him invaluable lessons about resilience, mental strength, and the deeper aspects of being a dancer. He reflects on how nearly every dancer faces injury at some point and emphasizes that the true measure of an artist is how they respond, adapt, and grow stronger from such experiences.
In our conversation, Michael also delves into his transition from professional dancer to ballet teacher. After retiring from the stage, he chose to step away completely from the ballet world and pursued a course in interior design. This seemingly unexpected detour gave him a renewed perspective on life beyond the studio. He believes that this time away helped him become the passionate, empathetic, and grounded teacher he is today—one who understands the full arc of a dancer's life.
Now at Elmhurst, Michael not only teaches advanced ballet technique but also prepares his students for the often unpredictable path that follows graduation. He encourages them to see beyond auditions and rejections, reminding them that “not getting a role or a place in a company is not the end—just a redirection.” He urges young dancers to stay open to possibilities and keep their passion alive, because the future often brings opportunities in the most unexpected ways.
What shines through in this interview is Michael’s deep dedication to nurturing the next generation of dancers—not only technically, but emotionally and mentally. His holistic approach, shaped by both his career and his time away from ballet, offers invaluable insights into what it means to truly prepare for life as a professional artist.
Join us for this heartfelt and empowering conversation about the beauty of ballet, the reality of setbacks, and the importance of embracing both discipline and possibility on the journey from student to stage—and beyond.
Petra Sittig
In this deeply personal conversation, Magdalena Westman traces the arc of her life from her early years in a pastor’s family in Czechoslovakia to her transformative experiences in South Africa—where the seeds of her art therapy practice first began to take root.
Growing up in a home filled with intellect, faith, and compassion, Magdalena’s childhood was shaped by both inspiration and challenge. Her family’s moral integrity during the years of political repression left a lasting imprint, instilling in her a sensitivity to human struggle and resilience. Those formative experiences would later find their way into her work, not through words, but through color, texture, and the spontaneous movement of the hand across paper.
Our conversation moves gently between memory and meaning—how a sense of “being different” as a child became a source of empathy, and how the creative act became, for Magdalena, a path to freedom and healing. In South Africa, amidst new landscapes and cultural encounters, she began to sense art’s potential to bridge inner and outer worlds—a realization that led her to study and eventually teach art therapy after returning to the Czech Republic.
Today, Magdalena is known for her intuitive approach to creativity—inviting people to reconnect with their childlike curiosity through mark-making, reflection, and presence. Her workshops and writings reveal how even the simplest doodle can become a doorway to emotional understanding and self-discovery.
This interview offers a rare glimpse into a life shaped by courage, creativity, and compassion—and into an artistic philosophy that reminds us that healing often begins with a single, spontaneous line.
