Joffrey Ballet School - Texas

Another round of applause and huge congratulations to our students, choreographers, faculty and staff on a truly fantastic year! We're beyond proud of the hard work and dedication that has made this year so special.

This season in Texas has been filled with dedication, artistry, and inspiring accomplishments that we are proud to celebrate as a community. One of the highlights of our semester was presenting two remarkable productions, Ecdysis and The Nutcracker Suite. These performances showcased the hard work and talent of our dancers, who brought the stage to life with their artistry and passion. The energy and commitment they poured into these shows were truly extraordinary, and we couldn’t be more proud of their achievements.

As we look ahead to the new year and the upcoming semester, we are filled with excitement for what’s to come. A new chapter brings fresh opportunities to grow, create, and connect, and we can’t wait to see how our dancers continue to shine.

On behalf of everyone at Joffrey Ballet School Texas, we wish you a joyful holiday season and a happy new year. May this time be filled with reflection, celebration, and inspiration for the year ahead. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another incredible semester!

Today, we celebrate the birthday of our visionary founder, Robert Joffrey!
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Born in 1930, Robert Joffrey’s passion for dance and innovation revolutionized the ballet world. In 1953, he founded the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, creating a space where artistry, creativity, and diversity could thrive. His groundbreaking vision brought ballet to new audiences, blending classical technique with contemporary influences.⁠
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From humble beginnings to a global legacy, we are honored to carry forward the artistry and spirit of Robert Joffrey’s work. Thank you, Mr. Joffrey, for inspiring generations of dancers and dreamers.⁠
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Prepare to be enchanted as our Texas Trainee Program takes the stage for a captivating performance of The Nutcracker Suite, led by Artistic Director Ceyhun Ozsoy. This beloved holiday classic comes to life through the dedication and artistry of our Texas Trainees, transporting audiences through scenes such as Waltz of the Flowers, Snowflakes, and more, each crafted to capture the enchantment of the season.

Opening the evening, our Jazz & Contemporary trainees will showcase their talent and versatility with a dynamic piece choreographed by Associate Artistic Director Kaili Bright. Originally presented at their midterm performance, this exhilarating work sets the tone for a truly magical night.

Join us for an unforgettable celebration of holiday joy, passion, and artistry—this is The Nutcracker Suite as you’ve never seen it!

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Click here https://bit.ly/txnutcrackersuite to purchase your tickets today!

Ending our Monday with more behind-the-scenes look at our Texas Trainees in action. We’ve been enjoying all of our highlights captured by Michelle from Interwoven Designs. Stay tuned for more!

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Get to know the choreographers of The Nutcracker Suite, the Fall Mainstage production of the Joffrey Ballet School Texas Trainee Program!

ozsoy - Ceyhun Ozsoy, born in Turkey, is the Artistic Director of the Joffrey Ballet School Texas Trainee Program and a long-time principal faculty member. Trained at Ankara Government Conservatory, he danced with the Turkish National Ballet Company in Ankara for 18 years as a soloist and principal dancer and eventually acted as ballet master as well. His wealth of experience and expertise continue to inspire and guide our students today.

- Ms. Hathaway began her ballet training at Colorado Ballet under Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker, later apprenticing with the company and training with Ballet Arts in Denver. For many years she and her husband Kirt have run the Hathaway Academy of Ballet and co-direct Collin County Ballet Theatre. She now teaches for the Joffrey Ballet School in Texas.

- Jaclyn Sartore, a Frisco, Texas native, holds a BFA in Dance from Texas A&M University and is certified in Reformer Pilates. She trained with Kirt and Linda Hathaway at Hathaway Academy, performed with Collin County Ballet Theatre, and received the Emerging Choreographer Award from Regional Dance America. This is her third season teaching at Joffrey Ballet School-Texas.

- Originally from Kailua, Hawaii, Kaili Bright is a dancer, choreographer, and now educator. She is currently the Associate Artistic Director for the Joffrey Ballet School’s Texas Trainee program. Kaili hopes to bring her unique style combining performance, and a fusion of technique and hip hop to the new generation of talent across the globe.

Join us Dec 13 at Lewisville Grand Theater! Purchase your tickets today: https://bit.ly/txnutcrackersuite

Who else is excited to see our trainees bring The Nutcracker Suite to life next month? In the studio, our dancers are perfecting every detail under the guidance of faculty members Jaclyn Sartore and Linda Hathaway. Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes moments as we count down to performance day!

Click here https://bit.ly/txnutcrackersuite for more information about the Fall Main Stage!

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Last week, our trainees celebrated Halloween at the studio in style! Swipe to see how students participated in the spooky festivities in a wide variety of different costumes!

It’s been a productive week in the studios for our trainees! As they prepare for the upcoming Fall performance, they’re working closely with Artistic Director Ceyhun Ozsoy and faculty member Linda Hathaway. Trainees are also embracing the challenge of creating original pieces and presenting their peers’ work, pushing the boundaries of their creative expression in faculty Giovanni Allen’s Composition class.

Click here https://bit.ly/txnutcrackersuite for more information about the Fall Main Stage!

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After a successful performance last Friday, our trainees are back in the studio, continuing their daily training and building momentum toward our Fall MainStage performance happening on December 13! Yesterday morning, the students kicked things off with a ballet technique class led by Artistic Director Ceyhun Ozsoy, followed by an energizing modern class with the inspiring Claude Alexander III.

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Stride with our Texas Trainees across the studio during their Modern class with Claude Alexander III! Students were able to work on flexibility and stability as they made sure to cover the entire floor.

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