Dawn Hillen

A master ballet teacher, Dawn has extensive experience with adult beginners and her classes are fun and informative. She has a unique approach to teaching adults. As Dawn says, “My mother and I became ballet dancers together! I was 9 years old, she was 31 and we went to classes together! The school we attended had a professional company- we trained hard and eventually we toured with that company throughout the Pacific Northwest performing The Nutcracker. I know firsthand what it is for an adult to realize the dream of becoming a ballet dancer. This gives me a different perspective than most dance teachers- I believe adults can do it well because I have seen it done!” Dawn has been instrumental in training adult beginners who are new to every aspect of ballet, including pointe. Under her guidance, students achieve technical proficiency and clarity, as well as an ease and fluidity in their dancing.

Dawn has been a member of our permanent faculty for more than 20 years. She has taught master classes and performed with dance companies across the United Stated and in Europe as well as performing on the theatrical stage and in independent films! Most recently, she appeared in “The Table of Silence” at Lincoln Center in NYC, September 11th (Buglisi Dance).

Ms. Hillen has been the resident choreographer for American Theater Dance Workshop, Wilkes-Barre Ballet Theater and its school, as well as a guest choreographer for the Eglevsky Ballet School, the University of Idaho Concert Series, and others. She has also been invited to show works in faculty showcases and at the 92nd Street Y here in NYC. Last fall she co-created, directed, costumed, and produced a new full length ballet “The Stone Ring” at City Center/Ballet Arts with a newly commissioned score and 28 dancers.

She is the creator of the sensational Pop Ballet ballet classes, and her new ballet in that style was presented at Symphony Space in NYC during the spring of 2013.

Every week she will create ballet classes for you that will build beautiful bodies while you learn one of the worlds most challenging art forms in a positively supportive atmosphere!