Meet The Pros
#GotheJoffreyDistance: Josie Walsh’s Audition Tips
Audition season is well under way and our teachers want to give you some feedback! We asked some JBS summer intensive directors to share their tips on how to have a great audition and we’re going to share them with you one by one. First up, Josie Walsh Director of the San Francisco and Los Angeles Jazz & Contemporary intensives! (more…)
Why I Do What I Do: JBS Youth Ensemble
Back in October, Joffrey Ballet School started a brand new youth ensemble. With the vision of Artistic Director Jo Matos, the performance group aims to share the power of art and public service with New York City. Check out Ms. Jo’s inside look on how this all got started and what the Youth Ensemble is looking forward to this year! (more…)
Why I Do What I Do: Shaping the 21st Century Dancer
I began my professional dance career in 1981. Since I started dancing in college, in 1977, I didn’t have a specific goal as to where I wanted to end up. All I knew is that I wanted to dance, and needed to dance. I auditioned for everybody, and everything. I danced in clubs, and with small modern dance companies, and jazz dance companies, and contemporary ballet companies. I danced in music videos, and industrials. I danced in off-Broadway shows, and toured in musical theater touring companies.
My career took me around the world working with great choreographers and performers. Cab Calloway, Talley Beatty, Murray Louis, Alwin Nikolais, Donald Byrd, Jose Limon, Joyce Trisler, Paradigm Dance, just to dust the surface. I’m proud of my career. I had the time of my life doing what made me happy every day while making a living, and seeing the world.
In 1998 at 40 years old, I retired from full time dancing. I went on to teach in Universities around the metropolitan area. I think I’ve put in at least a year in every college and university that had a dance department. The farther I was away from dance as a dancer, the more I could study the challenges of what we do. I never felt the challenges when I was in it, but I could surely see the young dancers of today being challenged by something every day. As a teacher, I wondered how I could help the young dancer achieve the kind of successes I was able to achieve.
The International Dancer – With Josie Walsh
