Intermediate Master Class with Jessica Kilpatrick

PBS is thrilled to announce the second Master Class in our Master Class Series for this season! On Sunday, November 8, we are excited to welcome acclaimed ballet teacher and educator Jessica Kilpatrick for a special class created especially for young dancers ages 10-14. Ms. Kilpatrick’s approach to classwork is truly inspiring. She encourages dancers to focus on the essential elements of strong ballet technique, with a particular emphasis on alignment, placement and understanding of how the body works. Through her joy and passion for the artform, she gives dancers the tools they need to approach their classwork with greater awareness and purpose, building a strong foundation for their continued growth. Most importantly, Ms. Kilpatrick gives younger dancers the encouragement necessary to enjoy the process in a joyful and inspiring environment.

Jessica Kilpatrick began her ballet training at the School of the Hartford Ballet and went on earn a BFA in Dance Pedagogy from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford.

Throughout her performing career, Jessica danced in classical ballets and works by influential choreographers including José Limón, Anthony Tudor, Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, and Merce Cunningham. Her repertoire also includes Kirk Peterson’s American Nutcracker. After moving to New York City, she became a founding member of Alison Cook Beatty Dance and later joined Amy Marshall Dance Company, performing in the United States and internationally.

In 2016, Jessica joined The School of Philadelphia Ballet, where she served for seven years as Principal of Lower School & Adult Programs. Under the direction of Angel Corella, she also appeared on stage in beloved character roles including the Nurse in Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet, Berthe in Giselle, Aiya in La Bayadère, and Madge in La Sylphide.

Jessica’s passion for teaching began at age sixteen, when she shared ballet with members of the Boys & Girls Club in Hartford, Connecticut. Since then, she has taught at Ballet Hispánico, The Joffrey Ballet School, The Ballet School of Stamford, and The Hartt School Community Division, where she served as Artistic Director of the 2014 Junior Summer Ballet Intensive. More recently, she has been an adjunct professor at Drexel University and a teaching artist with The Rock School for Dance Education and the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet.

Her artistry has been featured in two dance documentary films: Inlets 2, highlighting Merce Cunningham’s work as filmed at the American Dance Festival, and I AM by award-winning filmmaker Glenn Holstein. The latter documents a ballet Jessica choreographed featuring Philadelphia Ballet’s Second Company and students from St. Katherine’s Special Education School.

Jessica extends her deepest gratitude to her mentors Susan Brooker, Franco De Vita, Peggy Lyman, Samantha Dunster, and Angel Corella for their guidance and for instilling in her a lifelong love of dance.