Judith Svalander

Judith Svalander began her professional career at age 15 as a young protégé with Chicago’s distinguished Bentley Stone-Walter Camryn School of Ballet, also dancing with Ruth Page’s Lyric Opera Ballet and the American Ballet Theater and Joffrey Ballet Schools in New York City. Seven years dancing in Northern Europe followed, where she appeared as a soloist with the Swedish National Touring Theater and the Swedish Ballet of Gothenburg, training with Alexander Danilova and Edith Frandsen and with teachers from the Royal Danish Ballet. Judith returned to the US in 1972, and drawing from this impressive resume of experience opened the Judith Svalander School of Ballet and a dance company three years later. Over thirty years experience as a choreographer in McHenry County and beyond has earned Mrs. Svalander a strong reputation as an artistic innovator and visionary. Judith’s distinctive approach to choreography merges the Americana character dance tradition with the classical ballet aesthetic and discipline. As with ‘the Magi’, she also commissions and produces original ballets. The subject and styles of her original pieces range from classical ballet and contemporary choreography to jazz work. The creative vision behind this work is fueled by the belief that drama in movement portrays the essence of the human experience. Artistic collaboration has been key to Ms. Svalander’s growth as a dancer, artistic director and choreographer. Over 100 guest artists have appeared with Judith Svalander Concert Dancers, they include Andy Reitscel of the Royal Swedish Ballet Company, Warren Conover and Scott Schlexer of American Ballet Theater, Michael Anderson and Jennifer Goodman of the Joffrey Ballet and Patrick Mullaney and Roger Turner of Joseph Holmes Dance Theater.