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Jennie Ortega
Ballet Mistress
Jennifer Smith Ortega began training in sixth grade at the Athens School of Ballet, directed by Syd Bowen after being inspired at a performance by the Georgia Ballet of Coppelia. Two years later, she became a member of Athens Ballet Theatre, under the direction of Stanley Zompakos. She spent her senior year of high school in Carlisle, Pennsylvania at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet training under Marcia Dale Weary where she received fifteen ballet classes per week. She joined the Augusta Ballet Company, under the direction of Ron Colton then spent the next year training under Karel Shook in New York at Dance Theatre of Harlem. Jennifer continued her ballet training at the School of the Pennsylvania Ballet with Lupe Serano. Jennifer is thankful for her many fine teachers, most of whom were former members of New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.
Jennie's teaching experience includes three years at the Jean Willimas School of Ballet and Germantown Dance Theatre, a regional honor company in Philadelphia, teaching children and adults of all levels and ages. She transferred as a dance major from the University of Georgia to Temple University and earned her Bachelor's of Science degree in Elementary Education. Jennie also holds a Ballet Teacher's Training Certificate from David Howard in New York, and a Cecchetti Council of America Teacher Examination Certificate. Jennie and her husband Jose have lived in Tucker since 1995 and are blessed to be the parents of five grown children. She danced for many years as a member of Praise in Motion and directed Redeemer Dance Ministry from 1994 to 1999 which culminated in a full-length production of Pilgrim Progress. She directed Tucker Classical Ballet from 2006 to 2015, and has served as Lead Dance Instructor and Ballet Mistress of the Taylor Academy of Fine Arts since 2018
Jennie's teaching experience includes three years at the Jean Willimas School of Ballet and Germantown Dance Theatre, a regional honor company in Philadelphia, teaching children and adults of all levels and ages. She transferred as a dance major from the University of Georgia to Temple University and earned her Bachelor's of Science degree in Elementary Education. Jennie also holds a Ballet Teacher's Training Certificate from David Howard in New York, and a Cecchetti Council of America Teacher Examination Certificate. Jennie and her husband Jose have lived in Tucker since 1995 and are blessed to be the parents of five grown children. She danced for many years as a member of Praise in Motion and directed Redeemer Dance Ministry from 1994 to 1999 which culminated in a full-length production of Pilgrim Progress. She directed Tucker Classical Ballet from 2006 to 2015, and has served as Lead Dance Instructor and Ballet Mistress of the Taylor Academy of Fine Arts since 2018