Director: Jillanareceived a scholarship
at the School of American Ballet at age 11, where she was trained by George Balanchine. She was asked by Mr. Balanchine to join the New York City Ballet one year later and first performed with the company on her 13th birthday. By-passing Soloist she was promoted to Principal Dancer in six years
and performed with the company for 20
years. Jillana has appeared as guest artist with other major ballet companies including American Ballet Theater and National Ballet
of Washington, and in numerous television shows, including the Tribute to Balanchine,
and Noah and the Flood, choreographed for her by George Balanchine. Her partners
have included Jacques d”Amboise, Arthur Mitchell, Edward Villella, Eric Bruhn, and Rudolph Nureyev. She appeared in the Broadway musical, Destry Rides Again.
Jillana has taught at the School of American Ballet and Joffrey School, as well as
company classes for NYC Ballet, Paris
Opera Ballet, and Ballet West. She taught at the University of California at Irvine for 12 years, and for 11 years at DanceAspen, the last 2 as its Director. Jillana is a “répètituer”
for the George Balanchine Trust and sets
his ballets worldwide. Currently she is writing
her autobiography, which covers her years
with Balanchine. She is married, has two
children, William and Ana, and resides in Southern California.
Taos Ski Valley is a small village 15 miles north
of Taos, New Mexico, nestled in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. It was founded by Ernie Blake, and is very popular with avid skiers and boarders
in the winter. In the summer it hosts the world famous Chamber Music School in its 46th
summer and the Taos Opera Institute. In the summer of 1998 it became the first home for
the Jillana School.
the Jillana School
June 27 - July 24, 2010
Four week session
13th summer
11-17 years
pre-professional
Located in beautiful Taos Ski Valley, NM
Enrollment deadline, April 1, 2010
(priority to first received)
$2570.00 : four weeks*
includes room and board
* plus 8.5625% New Mexico General Revenue Tax
all monies are non-refundable
Application form can be found
on the web site or by request:
858-270-8248 phone/fax
3406 park west lane
san diego, ca 92117
Students unable to attend an audition may audition by DVD. Please send by March 1,
2010, accompanied by a $20.00 viewing
fee. It should consist of a short class and
a classical variation in practice clothes.
Former students will be accepted on a first received basis-no audition required.
Why the Balanchine Technique®?
Most of the world's notable ballet companies have one or more Balanchine ballets in their repertory. This technique enables a dancer to move quickly, a requirement for executing his choreography. Knowledge of the Balanchine Technique® and Balanchine Style® will benefit students pursuing acareer in dance, andwill help them in obtaining a company contract.
Schedule(example)
Monday - Friday
7:00am – 8:00am
breakfast
8:30am – 12:00noon
stretch followed by technique classes
12:00noon – 1:00pm
lunch
1:00pm - 5:30pm
pointe
variations
repertory
modern
pilates
lectures/ dance studies
5:30pm – 6:30pm
dinner
6:30pm – 8:30pm
classes/rehearsals/choreography party
Saturday
7:00am - 8:00am
breakfast
8:30am – 1:00pm
stretch followed by technique classes
1:00pm
lunch
Saturday afternoon
free time for optional activities.
Sunday
brunch and barbecue
free time for optional activities
Curfews
11 -14 years, 9:30pm Sun.-Fri.
Saturday 10:00pm
15 -17 years, 10:00pm Sun.-Fri.
Saturday 10:30pm
The Jillana School representatives
will meet planes at the Albuquerque
Airport in NM where supervised bus
transportation is available to Taos Ski
Valley for approximately $65.00.
18 or older? Check out “Technique in Taos”
A program for adults and teachers
stressing the Balanchine Technique®.
July 25th to August 8th,1 or 2 weeks