Much like her teaching, Zeller’s research brings ballet pedagogy into dialogue with Critical and Feminist pedagogies. Her forthcoming book, Humanizing Ballet Pedagogies: Philosophies, Perspectives, and Praxis for Teaching Ballet (Routledge) theorizes ballet pedagogy as a critical praxis and considers a range of approaches for humanizing, equitable teaching in ballet. Her 2016 book, Shapes of American Ballet: Teachers and Training before Balanchine (Oxford UP) unearths the work of European and Russian ballet pedagogues during the early twentieth century. Other writings of note are her chapter in the 2021 anthology (Re:)Claiming Ballet, and her “Reflective Practice in the Ballet Class: Bringing Progressive Pedagogy to the Classical Tradition,” in the Journal of Dance Education. (See Research.)
In addition to presenting research at CORPS de Ballet International conferences and in a 2019 public lecture for the Temple University Dance Studies Colloquium Series, Zeller has facilitated dialogues around Ungrading and progressive pedagogies in Dance programs and faculty development workshops. Recently, she was a panelist for the Royal Academy of Dance’s Guest Lecture Series, served on the faculty of the Digital Pedagogy Lab, and was a guest on several education podcasts. Her teaching has been formally acknowledged with a TCU Deans’ Teaching Award and a feature in TCU Magazine. She currently serves as Past-President of CORPS de Ballet, International.