
BALLET
Photo by Billy Brown
I began my early training in ballet with Nancy Bielski at the David Howard School of Dance. I continued my studies at the prestigious School of American Ballet and while there, also performed child roles in Nutcracker, Coppelia, Circus Polka and Union Jack with New York City Ballet. At the age of seventeen I was invited to join Miami City Ballet as an Apprentice. During my five-year tenure with Miami City Ballet I had the opportunity to perform soloist and principal roles under the direction of world renowned -Edward Villella. Following the Miami City Ballet, I joined Alabama Ballet under the direction of Wes Chapman. There I performed title roles in both Coppelia and GIselle while dancing in other roles choreographed by Wes Chapman, Roger Van Fleteran, and John Summers. Finally, I joined the Washington Ballet under the direction of Septime Webre, where I danced as a soloist and performed principal roles while, at the same time, I increased my knowledge of contemporary dance vocabulary. I retired from professional ballet dancing in 2001.
While training for Certification in the Alexander Technique I continued to teach ballet. I discovered a true love for teaching and passing on my knowledge of ballet with an emphasis on somatic education. I have coached and Ballet Mistressed for companies including Massachussetts Youth Ballet and American Academy of Ballet, and the child cast of Velveteen Rabbit with ODC. After moving to San Francisco in 2004, I taught at ODC for many years under the mentorship and direction of Augusta Moore. I have taught Intermediate, Advanced Beginning, Level 5 in the youth program and the open adult professional classes there. In addition to teaching throughout San Francisco, I have taught for Amy Siewert's Imagery, ODC and for Smuin ballet.
I am currently teaching at the University of San Francisco in their Performing Arts and Social Justice Program where I have had the opportunity and honor to choreograph for their Spring concert among other esteemed choreographers and faculty from USF and the Bay area. I am continually searching for ways to further my own education as a dance instructor and to pass on my wide array of knowledge to my students. Most recently I have been studying with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, the founder of Body-Mind Centering®.
upcoming classes with jennifer
Starting October 4th on Tuesdays
10:30-12:00 at MoBu


working with Selah on her placement doing tendu devant at Belvoir Terrace summer Belvoir Ballet intensive



working with Selah on her placement doing tendu devant at Belvoir Terrace summer Belvoir Ballet intensive
Dancer Selah Capri at Belvoir Terrace Ballet intensive
2017 by Jennifer polyocan 415.279.2039 jennifer@movemindfully.com