First Coast Ballet Theatre

We’re back to the barre this week! Classes start for our fall season tomorrow August 10th! Come dance with us! 🩰 Link in bio!

We are welcoming our next guest instructor in our summer masterclass series, Linda Reifsnyder Jenkins. She is teaching ballet on Saturday, August 8th, from 11:00-12:30 PM. Read more about her! ⤵️

Linda Reifsnyder Jenkins’ professional career as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer spans over 40 years. Her early professional training included scholarship student with the Joffrey American Ballet Center in New York, Ruth Page Foundation School of Dance and the Ed Parish Dance Foundation in Chicago. As a dancer, Ms. Reifsnyder Jenkins appeared as a soloist with the Chicago Ballet, Kiel Ballet (Germany) and the National Ballet of Peru (South America) dancing a full range of classical repertoire and a full list of modern and contemporary ballets.

In 1993, Ms. Reifsnyder Jenkins settled in Jacksonville and in 1998 completed her BFA in Dance at Jacksonville University. In 2011 Ms. Reifsnyder Jenkins joined The Florida Ballet staff as a faculty member and Administrative Director. Following the passing of Founding Director Laurie Picinich-Byrd in 2014, she became Artistic Director until 2020 when she retired from the position. In addition to being a faculty member, Ms. Jenkins is The Florida Ballet’s Curriculum Coordinator.
Ms. Reifsnyder Jenkins is an ABT® Affiliate Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® National Training Curriculum Teacher Training Intensive in PrePrimary through Level 7 & Partnering. She has successfully presented students for examinations achieving the Fellow status. In 2021, Ms. Reifsnyder Jenkins was invited to the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum’s Board of Examiners.

Our next guest artist teachers are John and Sofia Abenanty!!! They both have a professional career that spans continents. John is currently dancing in the company at Orlando Ballet. Sofia is teaching full time and is the head of the pre-preparatory department at Orlando Ballet. Join us for classes you won’t want to miss!!! They’ll be teaching Thursday July 30- August 1. Details link in bio!
Come dance with us ! 🩰

Our next guest instructor in our summer series is Michelle J. Ottley-Fisher. She is teaching a modern/contemporary class on July 25th, from 12:30-2 P.M. Read more about her below 👇

Michelle J. Ottley-Fisher, a native of the US Virgin Islands, began her dance training with the Theatre Dance Company of St. Croix.  Now in her 34th year in public education, she has been fortunate to have spent all of those teaching years at performing arts schools.  Ms. Ottley began with an internship and then 4-year instructional start as an Earth Space Science and Dance instructor at the prestigious Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.  She then accepted the role of director of dance at what was then, the Landon Middle School for the Arts and Academics.  Prior to this she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance and Secondary Education from Jacksonville University where she has been honored as the university’s 2017 Distinguished Alumni in Theatre/Dance.  She has been the head of the dance department at the LaVilla School of the Arts since its inception 26 years ago, she is the proud mother of three incredible women,  and is proud to be a part of this new venture.

Announcing the first instructors in our 2026 Summer Guest Artist Series ⭐️

🗓️ On Saturday, July 11th, from 12:30- 2:00 PM we are excited to welcome back Jacksonville native Susan Dodge. She will be instructing a Paul Taylor inspired modern class.

🗓️ On Saturday, July 18th from 11-1 PM Darli and Anton Iakovleva will be instructing a ballet masterclass. From 1-2 PM, they will be instructing a variations class. We are delighted to invite them back this summer.

Ready to lock in your spot? Registration is located on our website, or in person! Come dance with us! 🩰

Happy 250th America!!! God Bless the USA 🇺🇸❤️