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Academy of Dance
Official School of The Joffrey Ballet
Ashley C. Wheater, Artistic Director
Christopher Clinton Conway, Executive Director
Anna Reznik & Alexei Kremnev,
Academy Artistic Directors
Elizabeth Millman,
Academy Managing Director
Joffrey Tower
10 East Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312.784.4600
Attendance Hotline: 312.784.4698
Fax: 312.739.0119
| Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, is located in the Exelon Education Center at Joffrey Tower in Chicago, Illinois and is the only training program owned, operated or endorsed by The Joffrey Ballet. The Joffrey Ballet is not affiliated with any other Joffrey dance training or school program. For more information, please contact The Joffrey Ballet at 312.784.4600. |
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Open Adult Division Faculty
Classes at the Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, are taught by some of the world’s most sought-after faculty. Click
on the names for bios if available
Melissa Bloch
Phil Brooks
Ariel Cisneros*
Jen Donohoo
Jocelyn Garner
Katie Garwood
Kasper
Megan Philipp
Dionna PridGeon
Kim Sagami
Ronn Stewart
*indicates current/former Joffrey Ballet company member or artistic staff
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MELISSA BLOCH (Pilates)
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PHIL BROOKS (Tap) moved to the Windy City in the summer of 2005 to pursue his dream of working with two of the tap world’s most acclaimed and active dancer-choreographers, Bril Barrett of M.A.D.D. Rhythms and Mark Yonally of Chicago Tap Theatre. Phil began his professional dance career immediately upon his arrival in Chicago, joining M.A.D.D. Rhythms and spending two years training and performing as part of the company’s prestigous “Wrecking Crew.” In 2007, Phil joined the melodic forces of the incredibly talented Chicago Tap Theatre (CTT) as an apprentice. He performs three times a year in CTT productions and has also appeared locally in Dance Chicago and at the Chicago Cultural Center. In the summer and fall of 2008, Phil appeared in the CTT production of “The Hourglass and the Poisoned Pen,” which ran in Chicago for four weeks before moving to Off-Broadway as a featured (invited) guest in the New York Musical Theater Festival.
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| ARIEL CISNEROS*
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ARIEL CISNEROS (Ballet) was born in Cuba where he received his training at the Professional School of Arts in Havana and Santiago de Cuba. A performer since the age of 10, Cisneros has danced with Ballet Camaguey, National Ballet of Cuba, Teatro Municipal of Rio de Janiero, Cleveland Ballet and Kentucky Ballet Theater. He is a former member of the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. Mr Cisneros has also appeared as a guest artist throughout the United States, Brazil and Europe. In 2004 he made his debut as a soloist with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in Aida and Carmen. He is also an established ballet teacher in the Chicagoland area, working extensively with companies like Deeply Rooted Dance Theater and Giordano Dance, as well as being a faculty teacher at Columbia College. His work as a teacher also extends to the youth with The Joffrey Education and Community Engagement outreach Program with After School Matters.
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| JEN DONOHOO
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JEN DONOHOO began her training in Cincinnati, OH with members of the Cincinnati Ballet as her ballet faculty. Her passion for teaching began at the age of 11 when she became an assistant to her teacher and studio owner, teaching her own classes by the age of 15. Her teaching continued throughout college where she graduated with a BA in Dance Performance with a minor in Dance Education from Ball State University. Immediately following graduation, she began a contract dancing on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. She had the pleasure of working with Chicago choreographers, Harrison McEldowney and Jeremy Plummer, as well as works by Sherry Zunker and Laura Dunlap. She has been dancing, performing and teaching in Chicago for the past year.
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| JOCELYN GARNER
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JOCELYN GARNER (Keep Fit Ballet, Ballet) is a native of Chicago. She has been performing and teaching dance for many years, in both private and academic settings. She recently earned her Ph.D. at Laban/ City University, London, which concerns the influence of somatic practice on motor learning, motor control, and creativity in dance. She completed her B.A. in Performing Arts, with a dance concentration, in Colorado, and her M.A. in Dance Studies at Laban. She is a guild certified teacher of the Feldenkrais Method and holds a BASI Pilates teacher certification. She completed her Certificate in Dance Education in the Cecchetti Method of classical ballet through the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance. Throughout her studies and training she has performed and taught dance around the world. Prior to her return to the States, she was a full-time member of the Faculty of Education at the Royal Academy of Dance, her role being central to ballet training and dance science studies. She also taught at private dance schools throughout London. Along with her work at the Joffrey Ballet Academy, she is an Adjunct Professor in the dance program at Northwestern University, is a distance learning tutor for the Royal Academy of Dance, and a Pilates instructor.
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KATIE GARWOOD (Ballet) began her early training in Middletown, Ohio under Phyllis DeWeese and later studied under Raphael Grigorian in Corning, New York. With this strong foundation Ms. Garwood studied all over including Dayton Ballet, Pointe Park College, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Chicago, and North Carolina Dance Theatre. At Indiana University, she earned her Bachelor of Science in ballet and arts management under the wonderful teaching of Violette Verdy, Jasque Cesbron and Leslie Peck. She has been privileged to work with many teachers and choreographers through the years including Mark Godden, Kevin McKenzie, Daniel Duell, Patricia McBride, Barbara Pontecorvo, and many others. In North Carolina, she began teaching extensively at DancePlace, the official school of North Carolina Dance Theatre. However, the highlight of her career was the privilege of dancing, teaching and working with Ballet Magnificat under Kathy Thibodeaux. Ms. Garwood was first a trainee, then an apprentice and eventually a soloist with the Alpha touring company. In the fall of 2008, she took an opportunity to teach at a conservatory in Prague, Czech Republic, an exciting and life changing experience. Now she resides in Chicago and is excited to be a part of the Joffrey Ballet Academy.
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KASPER (Hip Hop) teaches and choreographs for many different dance teams, high schools, colleges, and universities throughout the U.S. Kasper was featured on the first season of FOX’s smash hit So You Think You Can Dance and performed on ABC’s Dance Fever. He was also asked to appear on MTV’s The Wade Robson Project. His dance credits include dancing for Manheim Steamroller and Bad Boy Bill at the B96 Summer Bash, taking the stage right after Shakira and just before P. Diddy. He has danced for Nike (Culture Shock Chicago), Hip Hop ConnXion, and Dance 2XS Chicago. Currently, he is choreographing for the Jump Smokers, and has been dancing for Ty Taylor (Rockstar INXS) in Los Angeles and in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, as well as choreographing and performing with Dezmond Meeks from American Idol (Season 4). His choreography has won numerous awards and last year, his dance team from Lake Zurich High School went undefeated in competition, and took first in state. Kasper is now on the teaching staff at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. In addition, Kasper has started his own entertainment company, BOOM Entertainment, where he DJ’s and entertains at various private events including bar mitzvahs, weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, school parties, and more! Kasper loves dance, and continues to spread his knowledge throughout the country, inspiring students wherever he goes.
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MEGAN PHILIPP (Ballet)
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DIONNA PRIDGEON (Modern) is a graduate of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. She received her B.A. in Dance, May 2004. She has had the privilege to work with well-known choreographers such as: Lou Conte, Carmen de Lavallade, Daniel Ezralow, Kevin Iega Jeff, Donald McKayle, Lizzie McKenzie, Harrison McEldowney, Margo Sappington, and many others. Her recognitions include: tour scholarships from Monsters of Hip Hop and The Pulse On Tour – Protégé Award, Mia Michaels/Wild Dance Intensive, Millennium Dance Complex, and the Future Star Award issued by Dance Spirit Magazine. Dionna has promoted D.A.R.E. Dance Education in Chicago Public Schools through Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Kraft Foods. Currently, Resident Choreographer for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre and Teaching Artist throughout the Chicagoland area, she has set many of her own works on Pillow Project Dance Company, Xpressions Contemporary Dance Co. (PA), Pittsburgh Dance Ensemble (PA), in addition to high schools, colleges and dance studios throughout Illinois. Her more recent credits include: Black Nativity at the Goodman Theatre, Thodos Dance Chicago – New Dances, Coachella – Palm Springs Music Fest, Dancejam.com/Jessi Malay Showcase in Orlando, FL, and Dance Chicago ’08.
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KIM SAGAMI (Ballet)
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RONN STEWART (MoPeD®), a redhead from a small town in southern Alabama with indigenous roots and raised Jewish, shows that dedicated artists often arise from unusual circumstances. His professional experience includes work with Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Wats On Dance, Harrison McEldowney, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Thodos Dance Chicago, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Gail Gilbert Dance Ensemble, a tribute to Bella Lewitzky and The Santa Fe Opera. Ronn co-founded Moving People Dance Santa Fe (2001), a school and a professional and pre-professional contemporary dance company. His students have gone on to attend The Juilliard School, the School of American Ballet, Boston Conservatory, New York University/Tisch School for the Arts, Point Park College, Cornish College and the Universities of Arizona, Oregon and Utah. In 2005 Stewart founded The Santa Fe Dance Festival presenting: Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Lemon Sponge Cake and Maria Benitez Teatro Flamenco among others. Moving People alumni are working professionally with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Shen Wei Dance Arts, Lar Lubovitch, Kegwin + Company Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, the touring company of High School Musical, and the hit movie Superbad.
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Due to professional engagements, approved substitute faculty may occasionally fill in for regularly scheduled faculty.
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