Risa Kaplowitz, Full-Time Faculty

Ms. Kaplowitz arrives at Sarasota Ballet from New Jersey where she spent the past 18 years directing and teaching at Princeton Dance and Theater Studio (PDT), which she co-founded with former ABT ballerina Susan Jaffe. Ms. Kaplowitz was also the Artistic Director of Princeton Youth Ballet, for which she choreographed eight full-length ballets. Originally trained at Maryland Youth Ballet and on scholarship at American Ballet Theater, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Houston Ballet, she was a principal dancer with Dayton Ballet, soloist with Ballet Manhattan, and company member of Houston Ballet. Ms. Kaplowitz has coached dozens of dancers for Youth America Grand Prix and her ballets, and many of her students went on to have professional careers. Ms. Kaplowitz serves on the American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum's Board of Examiners, has successfully presented students for the Curriculum's exams for nearly ten years, and teaches master classes for studios presenting exams.