Judy Jacob, Artistic Associate and Chairman of Faculty at the School of Richmond Ballet, is from Detroit, where she studied ballet with Evelyn Smith.  She trained in London, England, with Anne Heaton, John Field, and Valerie Taylor, and at Butler University (B.A.) and Indiana University (M.S.) with George Verdak, William Glenn, Peggy Dorsey, Anton Dolin, and Kenneth Melville.  After graduation, Ms. Jacob danced professionally with Memphis Ballet, performing principal roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy (The Nutcracker), Swanhilda (Coppélia), and the title role in Cinderella.  She also created roles in ballets by choreographers Ron Cunningham, Jill Eathorne Bahr, Norbert Vesak, Robert Kelley, and Philip Jerry.  Ms. Jacob was the Associate Artistic Director of Fort Wayne Ballet prior to joining Richmond Ballet in 1995.  She was Assistant Ballet Master of the Richmond Ballet professional company for two years.  Named Richmond Ballet Artistic Associate in 1998 and serving as School Director 1998-2021, Ms. Jacob now oversees ballet curriculum for the School, teaching, and directing the Richmond Ballet Trainee Program.

Photo Credit: Sarah Ferguson