Globetrotter in Pointe Shoes

"Everywhere you go, whether in the U.S. or abroad, there are beautiful people to meet and experiences to be had."

– Hannah Beaver

Written by Samantha Romano

Read or listen below. 🎧

Dance is a metaphor for life itself—an art that requires trust, adaptation, and joy in the unknown. These are the qualities Hannah Beaver embraced as she made the shift from a professional dance career to one that helps others discover the world through travel.

Growing up, Hannah was captivated by the storytelling in ballet. She fondly remembers the day her mother invited her to watch Swan Lake on their small television, which sparked a lifelong passion. Sitting close to the screen, she was swept into the magic of the performance and soon began dance lessons.

Hannah's love for dance deepened after attending a performance by Ballet Magnificat!, a Christian ballet company that conveys stories of faith through dance. “I vividly remember thinking, ‘I want to dance for Jesus too.’” For Hannah, dance became a way to express her deep love for God and the world He created, leading to a fulfilling career spanning over 25 years and a mission to help others experience life in new and meaningful ways.

Through her career as a professional ballet dancer, Hannah had the unique opportunity to travel the world, visiting incredible places that left an indelible mark on her spirit. 

She experienced the beauty of diverse cultures and formed connections with wonderful people along the way. “Everywhere you go, whether in the U.S. or abroad, there are beautiful people to meet and experiences to be had,” she explains. Among all her travels, a few standout places hold a special place in her heart.

One of Hannah's favorite destinations is the Czech Republic, where she had the privilege of touring and dancing through several cities. “Prague is one of my favorite cities on the planet,” she says, recalling the joy of exploring its ancient streets. She loves a traditional Czech breakfast: “fresh breads, coffee or tea, maybe some kind of sliced meat, fresh fruit & granola.” Hannah also finds it amusing that “a glass of beer is cheaper than water (at least it was the last time I was there!)”—a testament to the unique charm of her experiences there.

Another location that deeply resonated with Hannah is Greece. “The landscape is bright, and the people are boisterous and ready to have a good time all the time,” she shares, highlighting the vibrant culture that enveloped her. A particularly emotional moment occurred during her visit to Mars Hill in Athens, where the apostle Paul once addressed the leading thinkers of his time. Standing in that historic spot, gazing up at the Acropolis and the sprawling modern city, she felt the weight of his profound message: “the God who made the world and everything in it…He himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.” This connection to history—both ancient and modern—left a lasting impression on her, making Greece an unforgettable experience.

But it wasn’t just the landscapes or the historical significance that touched Hannah during her travels; it was the people. In Singapore, she had the honor of performing in the Victoria Theatre, a National Landmark, but what moved her most was the community of believers she encountered. “God’s church is not dead—it’s on the move, and in Singapore, it’s reaching people from many ancient cultures like India and China.” Everywhere she went, she found a vibrant network of faith and connection, reinforcing her belief that travel, like dance, brings people together in profound ways.

As Hannah’s dance career began to shift, her passion for travel continued to grow. During her time in Montgomery, Alabama, she formed a close friendship with a mom friend who worked as a travel agent. After experiencing her friend’s expertise in planning a family trip to Walt Disney World, where her tips on navigating the parks proved invaluable, Hannah’s interest in the travel industry took root.

Later, when her family relocated to Southwest Florida, she began to see that God’s current plan was not for her to reopen a dance studio like she had in Montgomery. Instead, she recognized an opportunity to channel her love for travel and her years of experience into something new.

She reached out to the agency, trained to specialize in Disney and Universal theme parks, Disney Cruise Lines, and all-inclusive travel, and began her journey in the travel industry. Today, she blends her storytelling skills with her passion for exploration, creating personalized travel experiences that turn her clients' dreams into reality.

To do this, Hannah surveys her clients, digging deep to understand their desires, and then creatively tailors their trips. “I think about practical ways to make their dream come alive or, as we would say in the dance world, ‘fleshed out,’” she explains. Her goal is to help her clients tell their own travel story, one filled with unforgettable moments.

As Hannah curates personalized travel experiences, she draws on important life lessons from her dance career, particularly adaptability. "We are trying to teach our kids by example to be what we call 'flexible'—no pun intended, being a former ballerina!" she shares. While travel can have its mishaps, she believes that flexibility is key.

"If you're mentally and emotionally prepared for plans to shift—whether it's due to weather affecting schedules, the need for a rest day, or the unpredictability of food—then you'll have a much more rewarding travel experience," she adds, reflecting on her ballet background, where flexibility is both literal and figurative.

Her approach to travel planning is not only about reducing stress but also about creating space for those magic moments. Clients who work with her benefit from her meticulous planning process, which includes everything from researching destinations to making real-time adjustments to itineraries if better deals arise. “There are no markups on the trip components I book,” she assures, and the best part? Her services come at no additional cost to the client. Travel companies pay her fees, which means clients get a professional travel planner without paying anything extra.

For Hannah, travel is not just a profession but a way of life, a philosophy rooted in her experiences as a dancer and storyteller. Her home reflects this passion for travel. While she embraces a minimalist aesthetic, one wall stands out: a gallery wall that she and her husband lovingly refer to as their 'travel wall.’ Filled with photographs from their journeys, it also displays a small sign that reads, “Travel—the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” 

As she looks to the future, Hannah dreams of returning to Italy, this time with her husband and children. "I want to start in Northern Italy and work our way south down the Amalfi coast," she says, her eyes lighting up at the thought of introducing her family to the places she loves.

“I often joke and say that I’m ruined forever,” she says with a laugh, “because now I can’t imagine life without being able to go and experience new places and people in God’s good world.” 

This passion drives her to share that joy with others. As she guides her clients, she loves to think about the stories they’ll bring home, making sure each trip becomes a cherished chapter in their family’s story.

To learn more, visit Hannah here.