Jillian’s early ballet training began in Michigan at Milligan School of ballet, under Karen Milligan. By age twelve, Jillian attended summer school at the world-renowned National Ballet School in Canada. She continued to refine her technique until age fifteen when she was accepted into the Harid Conservatory. Her early high school years were spent at Harid where she rigorously studied ballet, pointe, repertoire classes, character and historical dance, jazz, modern, music theory, anatomy, nutrition, art and dance history. During her time there she had the privilege of working with prominent choreographer Mark Godden and performing ballets including La Bayadere, Concerto Barrocco, Serenade, and the Nutcracker. Jillian spent her summer breaks attending school at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and American Ballet Theatre. After a two-year stay at The Harid Conservatory, Jillian went on to finish her training at Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. She maintained a demanding schedule in all forms of dance, completed her ballet examination and performed in Les Sylphides and Grand Defile' Classique. Upon graduation, Jillian was invited to join the New Jersey Ballet where she performed both in the corps de ballet and as a soloist in many ballets including; Paquita, Sleeping Beauty, Valse Fantasies, Don Quixote, Giselle, Flower Festival and Corsaire. Jillian then went on to work with the Rebecca Davis Dance Company, in Philadelphia, to explore a contemporary and modern vocabulary of movement. There, Jillian acted as rehearsal director, dancer, teacher, as well as photographer, videographer and social media correspondent. Currently, Jillian works on a freelance basis and enjoys principal and ensemble roles at the Roxey Ballet Company, among others. Jillian is also a passionate teacher and aims to instill in her students proper coordination and technique, musicality and quality of movement and a sense of personal responsibility and independent thinking.
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