Artistic Director
Nancie Woods
Nancie Woods is originally from England, where she trained at Elmhurst Ballet School with Bridget Espinoza and the Rambert Academy in London with Mary Munro and Patricia Norman. Ms. Woods studied the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus and gained the Advanced Certificate before beginning her professional life as a dancer. Her performing career began in Strasbourg, France with the Ballet du Rhin, where she toured extensively throughout Europe dancing soloist roles at an early age. Upon her arrival in the USA, Ms. Woods joined Delta Festival Ballet in New Orleans where she received excellent training and mentoring from Director Joseph Giacobbe, former Rambert teacher Mary Munro, and the company's Artistic Advisor Ivan Nagy. She worked with several renowned choreographers and appeared (as Lilac Fairy) with Karen Kain and Patrick Bissell in Delta's production of The Sleeping Beauty. Woods then joined the Dallas Ballet under the direction of Flemming Flindt and was soon promoted to soloist. During her tenure with the company she performed a diverse repertoire of works of the famed August Bournonville, George Balanchine, Jose Limon, Alvin Ailey, Susan Marshall, Bryan Pitts and Flemming Flindt. She was one of three dancers chosen to represent Dallas Ballet at the American Guild of Musical Artists' 50th Anniversary Gala performance at Lincoln Center. She joined Ballet Oklahoma under the direction of Bryan Pitts and danced many soloist and principal roles working with choreographers such as Peter Anastos and Dane LaFontsee. In addition to her experience in ballet companies, she also spent several summer seasons performing as principal dancer with the distiguished Santa Fe Opera, working alongside illustrious opera singers, directors and designers.
Ms. Woods's teaching career began whilst still a professional dancer, she taught all levels of ballet at the Dallas Ballet Academy, the School of Ballet Oklahoma, Santa Fe Dance Foundation and Corpus Christi Ballet.
Following the retirement of company co-founder Kathryn Fredgren, Ms. Woods became the Artistic Director of Arlington Center for Dance (now BalletNova Center for Dance) after having served on the faculty for 11 years. She owes much of her development as a teacher, choreographer and coach to the mentoring of Mrs. Fredgren.
She has choreographed and staged numerous works for BalletNova, including Grande Tarantelle, The Seasons, A Moment to Muse, The Firebird, Les Sylphides, Act II of Giselle, The Nutcracker, Paquita, and the recent Music of the Spheres amongst others.
Ms. Woods is dedicated to educating and mentoring dancers in a positive, nurturing environment and preserving the traditions of classical ballet through quality dance productions.
The Woods' Philosophy
Her own ballet training at Elmhurst Ballet School and The Rambert Academy, coupled with the teaching tradition started at BalletNova by Kathryn Fredgren, have helped her form her belief in "teaching the whole student ." She believes strongly in treating every child with dignity and respect and she is firmly committed to the idea that training dancers for a professional career is possible in a caring atmosphere with mutual respect. Even though the field of dance is tough and requires rigorous physical and mental training, she wants her students to understand that they can push themselves and reach their fullest potential while still caring for their bodies, balancing their lives and learning healthy life habits.
Although the odds are great against dancers entering the difficult and competitive professional world, Woods is commited to providing challenging, professional preparation and a meaningful experience for all dedicated students. Dance training offers a multitude of life enriching possibilities for all.
Woods' heartfelt goal is to ultimately help build intelligent minds of self-confident individuals who will be successful in the professional dance world or wherever their career paths lead.
