Dance Educator
Photo by Tanya Constantine
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Welcome to my dance education page!
My professional life as a ballet dancer began as an apprentice with the Joffrey Ballet under the mentor-ship of Trinette Singleton after studying on scholarship with both Alonzo King and Richard Gibson in San Francisco. I went on to dance as a principal dancer with numerous ballet and modern companies before joining the National Tour of Phantom of the Opera. Since then, I have worked regionally on numerous shows, have added film, TV, and commercial work to my resume and am establishing myself as a choreographer, director, dance educator and writer. Along the way I earned a BA from the University of California, Irvine in Dance and an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts with a Performance Creation Concentration from Goddard College. I love to teach and live for dance. I always have several theater and film projects in the works and believe fervently in employing the arts as a force for social good. I incorporate all of this life experience into energetic and technique based classes emphasizing clean unadorned port de bras, a strong core, clear alignment and quick movement. Classes are aerobically and technically challenging but retain a lightness of spirit and a great deal of love. Please contact me to get on my mailing list to keep current on available classes. While my current focus is on the college and conservatory student, I am also available for private lessons and coaching. My favorite classes of each week are my open ballet classes which combine students from all over the spectrum of my teaching.
I am currently at Southern Utah University in the Department of Theatre, Dance and Arts Adminstration, serving as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance for the 2023/2024 Academic Year. BA: Dance, UC Irvine MFA: Interdisciplinary Arts with a Performance Creation Concentration, Goddard College Additional Certifications: Arts Management: UC Irvine/Merage School of Business Teaching Artists: Center Theatre Group Mental Health First Aid Teaching Philosophy Statement Contributions to DEI Statement Teaching Sample Student Testimonials Come dance with me!
I am currently available for private coaching over zoom. Please reach out for rates and to set up a personalized program. |
Parent testimonial:
Nancy Dobbs Owen is far beyond ordinary, as a human being, an artist, an instructor, and a mentor.
When my daughter (now 21, a professional concert dancer) began learning from Nancy at age 8, it was clear that Nancy would become an integral part of our dance lives. I watched her magic as an instructor and molder of little bodies, young dancers, as she gently taught each dancer how to think differently about connecting their muscles, their cores, and their minds. How to ‘lift from within’, to ‘turn out using those elusive inner thigh muscles’, and how to connect feet in aerial, to the shoulder blades! My daughter has studied with many incredible teachers, and none other than Nancy taught with the innate understanding that each dancer’s body is filled with unique potential, possibility, and facility.
Though my daughter is now an adult professional, she continues to return to Nancy when she comes back for breaks, knowing that she’ll be coached, mentored, challenged and reminded of both her excellence and areas of weakness that need continual work. We both rely on Nancy for the imperative reminder that dance is a marathon, not a sprint.
For the record, I love going to watch her teach, even now. Her spirit, her knowledge, and her love for her students make every class a master class, for dancers and spectators alike!
Nancy Dobbs Owen is far beyond ordinary, as a human being, an artist, an instructor, and a mentor.
When my daughter (now 21, a professional concert dancer) began learning from Nancy at age 8, it was clear that Nancy would become an integral part of our dance lives. I watched her magic as an instructor and molder of little bodies, young dancers, as she gently taught each dancer how to think differently about connecting their muscles, their cores, and their minds. How to ‘lift from within’, to ‘turn out using those elusive inner thigh muscles’, and how to connect feet in aerial, to the shoulder blades! My daughter has studied with many incredible teachers, and none other than Nancy taught with the innate understanding that each dancer’s body is filled with unique potential, possibility, and facility.
Though my daughter is now an adult professional, she continues to return to Nancy when she comes back for breaks, knowing that she’ll be coached, mentored, challenged and reminded of both her excellence and areas of weakness that need continual work. We both rely on Nancy for the imperative reminder that dance is a marathon, not a sprint.
For the record, I love going to watch her teach, even now. Her spirit, her knowledge, and her love for her students make every class a master class, for dancers and spectators alike!
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During the Covid-19 Spring Semester Shelter in place order, our students have all been sent home. For their midterm, I asked my ballet classes to learn a variation and gave them various prompts, illustrated in the video. I edited the most original and fully realized into a little sizzle reel. I hope you enjoy these young artists!
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