Judith Svalander School of Ballet

JUDITH SVALANDER (Artistic Director) Judith Svalander began her professional training with Bentley Stone and Walter Camryn in Chicago, continuing in New York at American Ballet Theatre and Joffrey Ballet Schools. Her professional experience in dance began at age 15 in Chicago with Stone-Camryn Ballet, Ruth Page’s Lyric Opera Ballet and a weekly television series on WGN-TV.

Mrs. Svalander spent more than seven years in Northern Europe dancing with various companies. She trained with Alexander
Danilova and Edit Frandsen and with teachers from the Royal Danish Ballet. She was a soloist with the Swedish National Touring Theatre as well as the Swedish Ballet of Gothenburg. A Belgium dance program with Maurice Bejart was aired internationally and featured Mrs. Svalander.

Thirty-three years ago, Mrs. Svalander returned to this area to start her own dance school, and in 1979 she formed the Judith Svalander Dance Theatre. Mrs. Svalander is a 2002, 2004 and 2005 recipient of the Who’s Who Among American Teachers Award. Her school was, for the third year, recognized as one of Chicagoland’s finest schools by Dance Chicago.

Mrs. Svalander teaches advanced levels ballet and pointe.

LYNNE ALBERDING, a student of the JSSB for eleven years, trained and performed in 2004 in St. Petersburg, Russia with Russia Vaganova teachers from the Marinsky Theatre and Conservatory. A graduate of Butler University, she is also a Certified Pilates Instructor through the BASI Method.

GREG BEGLEY (Resident Guest Artist) was an original member/featured performer with Hubbard Street Dance Company (HSDC) as well as the company’s ballet master. A former principle dancer with Ruth Page Chicago Ballet and soloist with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, he now guest teaches for HSDC, River North Dance Company, the Ruth Page Foundation and choreographs throughout the country.

LAURA BOBOWSKI (Creative Dance Director) has a Master’s Degree in early childhood education. She also teaches the children at SEDOM and is widely known in the area for the wonderful dance programs she produces for these children. Laura has been teaching for the J.S.S.B. for over 20 years.

JULIE HARRIS (FRAZIER), a student of JSSB for thirteen years, enjoyed performing with the Judith Svalander Dance Theater. She graduated from Colorado State University in 2002 with a BSW. She has been a service coordinator with early intervention for the state of Illinois.

JULIE HIRSCH (FIORE) (Children’s Ballet Director), a graduate of the JSSB, is a soloist with JSDT. She has taught at JSSB for 14 years and choreographed for JSDT for 11 years. Mrs. Hirsch recently had choreography featured in both Dance Chicago and Best of Dance Chicago. Mrs. Hirsch is both the school’s Children’s Ballet Director and Character Dance Director. She is Assistant Director of the The Nutcracker and guest teaches throughout the Chicagoland area.

CHESNEY MURPHY (faculty), a former JSSB student, has a B.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography as well as talent management at Columbia College in Chicago. She enjoys working in the entertainment world and teaches through the Chicagoland Area.

NATALIA NEGRON (faculty), a former JSSB student, is a dancer with Leopold Group in Chicago. Born in Rio Piedras, Puetro Rico, she trained at the Nashua School of Ballet, at Ballet Concierto, Boca Ballet Theatre and Dreyfoos High School for the Arts. She has a B.A. in Child Development from the University of Illinois, where she continued her training in ballet and modern dance.

NORA KAY PELT (Business Administrator), a graduate of the JSSB, Mrs. Pelt earned a BFA in Dance from the University of Illinois on a full tuition scholarship. She then directed a dance program in Glen Ellyn for five years and was Artistic Director of the Glen Ellyn Children’s Dance Theatre. Mrs. Pelt has a Master’s Degree in Arts, Entertainment and Media Management from Columbia College.

LEIGH SPOEHR (Montessori Director of Dance) trained at Mercyhust College and speaks highly of her training with Ellen Jones. She was featured in musical theatre performances at the Erie Playhouse, taught at the Erie Civic Ballet and performed at the Performing Arts Center. Her degree is in early childhood education. Mrs. Spoehr directs the in-school creative dance program for area Monterssori schools.

TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM The school has a teacher training program and gives qualified students the opportunity to learn to teach by first assisting in classes and eventually substitute teaching when the occasion warrents. Amanda Goerlitz, Laura Kathrein and Becky Mikos are Advanced Student Teachers.