Bio

Amy Russell is from Paw Paw, Michigan. She started dancing at the age of 4, the beginning a life-long love of dance. This passion has driven her to recognition as the lead ballerina for a semi-professional company. There, she partnered and collaborated with professional artists from the Grand Rapids Ballet Company and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.​In September 2016, Amy launched her own ballet company called Ballet Kalamazoo to share her love for ballet and passion for helping others. Amy's choreography has been featured in original ballet stories such as "Snow White", "Rapunzel ~ A Fairytale Ballet,"Princess Aurora ~ The Sleeping Beauty", "The Sugar Plum Fairy"~ A Nutcracker Story and "The Music Box Ballerina" ~ Welcome to the Wondrous World of Ella. Amy was the proud recipient of a 2013, 2016 and 2018 Kalamazoo Artistic Development Initiative Grant with the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo which funded her teacher studies with American Ballet Theatre and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Amy is committed to continuing education and preserving the high standard of technique required as a ballet teacher and dancer. Amy Russell is an AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT National Training Curriculum. Amy most recently attended the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s Teacher Training Workshop and Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 4-day Intensive Teacher Training Seminar. Amy is proudly certified in the innovative Progressing Ballet Technique, Level 1 Teacher Training with Lisa Howell and with "If I was A Bird Yoga" for children ages 2-13 years old. Amy is certified in Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED. Amy and her husband Kirk have two daughters named Sylvia and Juliet and live in Downtown Kalamazoo.

Testimonial 

I learned so much during the 3 day Level 1 Teacher Training. I gained a much better understanding of the human body and the many amazing things it can do. My dancers are currently working on a two week training plan and using the Ballet Blog exercises to support their goals.