About Our Founder
Jessica Clayton is a local professional ballet dancer with an impressive performance history and repretoire under her belt. She shares her knowledge by teaching pre professional programs to children who dream of one day becoming a dancer like her.
Jessica began her training under Marina Rodgers who was a soloist with the San Fransisco ballet. Jessica continued her training with Youth Ballet Colorado (now Ballet Nouveau Colorado). There she enjoyed the opportunity to dance pre professionally in the youth company as a soloist. She danced the role of Clara in the Nutcracker in 1998.
She then left in 1999 to train with the Academy of Colorado Ballet. She was in the Colorado Ballet II company under the direction of Inessa Pakri. She also studied intensively with Meelis Pakri, Colorado Ballet principal. While with Colorado Ballet Jessica got the opportunity to perform several variations including White Swan Variation on several occassions. She also performed the Blue Bird Variation, Lilac Fairy Variation, and Grand Pas Classique. With Colorado Ballet II she performed in La Esmeralda, Don Quixote, La Bayadere, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast and several Nutcrackers.
Jessica now dances and performs with Ballet Ariel as a company member.
In 2008 Jessica joined the Academy of Classical Ballet staff as a Master Teacher. She received her Dance Padagogy training under the direction of Carla Parks. She teaches Checcetti, and Vagonova styles focusing on proper placement. She performs in the Academy of Classical Ballet's Nutcracker and has danced Snow Queen, Arabian Sultana, Party Scene Parent, and a Flower.
Jessica has also created a syllabus and class schedule for Allana's Academy of Dance, Dance Tech Training Center, and Studio 21 where she teaches ballet to serious dancers.
Jessica will continue to teach and hopes to one day travel to Russia to get a degree in Dance Padagogy from the Moscow State Academy of Choreography and then start her own pre professional school and company.
Along with her intensive dance training, Jessica is reaching out to the community by serving as a PTA Member at Bear Creek Elementary School. She has goals of joining more PTA's to ensure that education remains a priority in the community!
Email: jess.clay23@yahoo.com