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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
Joffrey Tower
10 East Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312.784.4600
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 Youth 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
Derrick Agnoletti*
Phil Brooks
Ariel Cisneros*
Jen Donohoo
Jocelyn Garner
Katie Garwood
Dome Lorusso
Stephanie Martinez
*indicates current/former Joffrey Ballet company member or artistic staff
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DERRICK AGNOLETTI joined The Joffrey Ballet as a seasonal dancer in 2003, became an Arpino Apprentice in 2004, and was promoted to full company dancer in August of 2005. Born and raised in San Jose, California, Mr. Agnoletti trained at the San Jose Cleveland Ballet School and received scholarships to San Francisco Ballet School, School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theatre summer intensive. Prior to joining The Joffrey Ballet, Mr. Agnoletti attended the University of California, Irvine where he completed a double major in Sociological Sciences as well as Dance, graduating with honors. While attending UCI, Mr. Agnoletti had the opportunity to study and dance works of Anthony Tudor, Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Donald McKayle, Martha Graham and David Allen. For two consecutive years Mr. Agnoletti studied and performed with the Conservatoire National Superiuer du Paris exchange program as well as Donald McKalyle’s UCI Etude Ensemble. Since joining The Joffrey Ballet, Mr. Agnoletti has performed Caught!, Celebration, Creative Force, Deuce Coupe, The Dream, The Green Table, Giselle (Peasant pas de duex), Light Rain, Motown Suite, The Nutcracker (Fritz and Snow Prince), N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz!, Petrouchka, Les Presages, Romeo and Juliet (Mercutio), Le Sacre du Printemps, Sometimes it Snows in April, Square Dance, Viva Vivaldi, and A Wedding Bouquet.
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| Phil Brooks
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PHIL BROOKS moved to the Windy City the summer of 2005 to pursue his dreams of working with two of the tap world’s most acclaimed dancer/choreographers, Bril Barrett of M.A.D.D. Rhythms and Mark Yonally of Chicago Tap Theatre. Phil began his professional dance career, joining M.A.D.D. Rhythms through the company’s prestigious “Wrecking Crew.” In 2007, Phil joined the melodic forces of Chicago Tap Theatre (CTT). In the summer/fall of 2008, Phil appeared in the CTT production, “The Hourglass and the Poisoned Pen,” which ran in Chicago before moving to Off-Broadway as a featured guest in the New York Musical Theater Festival. Though no one can doubt Phil’s first love is tap (his feet are always moving), he began dancing at the age of 14 at Strictly Dancing Ballroom Studio, becoming a classically trained ballroom dancer. He has also explored other dance forms, including jazz, Irish and African to name a few. Phil’s tap training began at the Capital Academy of the Performing Arts in New Mexico and continued at NMSU. Phil currently teaches tap at several studios in the Chicagoland area. He would like to thank everyone who has ever given him support and promises to always deliver his best!
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| Ariel Cisneros
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ARIEL CISNEROS 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 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 department at Northwestern University, is a distance learning tutor for the Royal Academy of Dance, and a Pilates instructor.
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| Katie Garwood
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KATIE GARWOOD 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 priviledged 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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| Stephanie Martinez
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STEPHANIE MARTINEZ started her dance career with River North Chicago Dance Company under the direction of Sherry Zunker and Frank Chaves. During her 14 years with the company she performed principal roles in the works of Ashley Rowland, Daniel Ezralow and Randy Duncan among others. Martinez has worked independently with directors and choreographers including Mark Robin and Mark Eckstein (Swing), Kenny Ortega and Gus Giordano. She has been featured on several PBS specials including River North Rising and Love in Four Acts. She was director of the dance department at Spence New York City. She is currently collaborating and performing with Concert Dance Inc. under the direction of Venitia Stiffler. Martinez is honored to premiere her first collaborative work with Francisco Aviña.
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For faculty for our Summer programs, click here
Due to professional engagements, approved substitute faculty may occasionally fill in for regularly scheduled faculty.
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