Judith Svalander School of Ballet

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 and on faculty at the JSSB.

Sarah Elizabeth Chisholm has danced at the JSSB for 11 years. She is delighted to have performed in Dance Chicago, at local fundraisers, Carey Rose Winski and had the honor of performing as Sugar Plum Fairy in 2007.

Clarissa Fiore has been training at the JSSB since the age of 6. Her favorite roles were Clara and Ballerina Doll. Clarissa also enjoys performing at Dance Chicago and hopes to pursue a career in dance.

Tony Flannigan starting dancing at the age of three with the JSSB. He was awarded full scholarships to attend The Rock School and Ballet Austin Summer programs. Tony attended Indiana University and was a ballet major for two years. He then transferred to Loyola University of Chicago to pursue a Marketing Degree with minors in dance and spanish. Tony is also pursuing a modeling career with Elite Models in Chicago.

Amanda Goerlitz has been dancing for thirteen years, training at the JSSB for all of them. She has had the wonderful opportunity to perform in Dance Chicago for multiple years and as Clara in the 2007 Nutcracker.

Julie Fiore Hirsch is a recipient of the Carey Rose Winski Artistic Achievement Award. She studied at the JSSB for 15 years and has been involved with the JSDT for nine years as both a soloist and choreographer. A teacher with the JSSB for 12 years, she is both the school’s Children’s Ballet Director and Character Director. Julie guest teaches throughout Chicagoland and is Pilates Certified. For the past seven years, she has been Assistant Director/Staging Repetitur for the JSDT’s Nutcracker production.

Marielle Jacquez began dancing at the age of 4 in Atlanta. She has been happy to work with such guest artists as Valery Lantratov and has performed in Dance Chicago numerous times. Marielle intends to attend college as a dance major and aspires to dance for many years to come.

Jourdan Morales began dancing at the age of 2 and has danced with the JSSB for the past 11 years. She was Clara in the 2007 Nutcracker and has performed multiple times in Dance Chicago.

Natalia Negron, a former JSSB student, is a dancer with Leopold Group in Chicago and is on faculty with the JSSB . 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.

Alivia Schaffer has studied at the JSSB for nine years and danced for 15 years. She has performed at Ravina’s Ruth Page Tribute and many times in Dance Chicago. Alivia’s passion is dance and she plans to pursue a professional dance career.

Lauren Spoehr began dancing with JSSB at age 4. She danced the roles of Snowflake, Spanish soloist, Colombine doll, He/She doll, and others in the Nutcracker. She has performed in Sleeping Beauty, Can-Can, Carnival of the Animals, Gift of the Magi, Winter Magic, and Dance Chicago. She will never forget dancing a solo in JSDT’s 2007 special performance for Maria Tallchief.