Meet Jamie | Dance Instructor of the Year Nominee

MEET JAMIE

RVA DANCE AWARDS NOMINEE

When I was three, I was extremely shy so my mom enrolled me in ballet class to make friends. That was only the beginning. I grew up dancing at a studio in Rockland County, NY called Coupe Dance Studio. I took all genres of dance there and was fortunate to have incredible teachers. I spent my summers dancing at The Nutmeg Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, and Joffrey Ballet. During my senior year I took a weekly trip to the city to dance at Broadway Dance Center. After graduating high school, I spent two years at UNCSA training under Melissa Hayden, Nina Danilova, Fanchon Cordell and more. I was awarded a scholarship heading into my junior year but accepted an offer to be a trainee at the Richmond Ballet instead. Being a trainee allowed me to perform professionally alongside the company and in 2001, I was offered an apprenticeship with the Richmond Ballet. I was able to dance in ballets such as Balanchine's Who Cares?, Serenade and Valse Fantasie. I also danced in Now and Then, Vestiges, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Bouncing Light, and of course, the Nutcracker. I left Richmond Ballet in 2003 and continued my career at The Ballet Theatre of Maryland. My repertoire grew as I danced lead roles in Coppelia, Carmen, Little Women, The Scarlet Letter, The Seasons, Tango Dramatico, Dawn Songs and more. It was at BTM that I started teaching within their school. I taught ballet, pointe, pre pointe, variations and acting for dancers. I was also invited to choreograph for local high schools in the area. Eventually, I became Ballet Mistress to the professional company. I ran rehearsals, set ballets, and taught company class. In 2008, after retiring from the stage, I moved back to RVA. I am now the Ballet Mistress at Chesterfield Dance Center, a barre instructor at the Barre Boutique at Richmond Ballet and a guest teacher at The School at Richmond Ballet.

After performing a ballet, you reappear on stage to the sound of applause. Your heart fills knowing that you have touched someone with your time on stage. As a teacher, we don't always receive that applause. This nomination feels like my "Bravo", my standing ovation. Class after class, I try to make a difference in a young dancer's life. But as all teachers know, it is sometimes hard to know if you are succeeding. To know that I was nominated for this award from students and parents means so much to me. I am very grateful.

Fun fact: My husband is a former professional ballet dancer as well. We met while dancing at the Richmond Ballet. I am also a proud mom of three. I have a thirteen year old son, Ethan, a ten year old daughter, Alexandra and a seven year old daughter named Brielle. They are my world!