As our 2026-2027 Season begins, we are thrilled to welcome a new member to the BalletX family: Jennifer Tierney, Director of Education & Dance eXchange! With two decades of experience, Jennifer brings a deep passion for dance education and an unwavering commitment to the future of the arts to the BalletX team. Join us in welcoming Jennifer, and keep reading to learn more about her!
Tell us a little about yourself and your journey with dance, the arts, and education.
My journey in the arts began at age 17, and thankfully, it has been an exciting and wild ride ever since!
I left my hometown of Sacramento, CA, to train at Ballet West Academy. After a year of post-high-school training, I went on to dance professionally with Milwaukee Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, South Carolina Ballet, and Oakland Ballet.
After retiring from full-time performance, I moved into dance education and spent more than 17 years as the owner and director of American Dance Center in Kansas City. There, I taught hundreds of children each week and had the pleasure of working closely with an incredible team of teachers and administrators. During my time as Director, I developed and codified a method for teaching ballet to young dancers ages 3–8, which I have since had the opportunity to share and train with teachers at studios across the United States.
I also co-directed a youth performing company and served as its Wardrobe Director. This role sparked my deep dive into costume design, leading me to create costumes for several full-length ballets as well as countless smaller repertory pieces. Since then, I have designed costumes for SMU Dance Department, Owen Cox Dance Group, Concept Zero Contemporary Dance, Milwaukee Ballet II, Philadelphia Ballet, and many others.
For the past three seasons, I have been honored to serve as Wardrobe Manager with Philadelphia Ballet. Now, I am thrilled to have my feet fully planted – and pointed – back in dance education with BalletX!
What brought you to BalletX? What about BalletX’s commitment to dance, education and community engagement resonates with you?
I have been rooting for BalletX since the company’s inception. BalletX has always been a trailblazer in the U.S. dance community, and fittingly, “Trailblazers” is also this year’s Dance eXchange theme!
When I was dancing professionally, there were few opportunities to work with a regular-season company that was truly committed to creating new and exciting work. BalletX was one of the first companies of its kind in this country, and I have long admired its fearless spirit and commitment to innovation.
After retiring from performance, I continued to follow BalletX through the careers of close friends who danced with the company. Once I moved to Philadelphia, one of the things I was most excited about was finally being able to attend BalletX performances and cheer them on from the front row.
What an incredible honor it is now to be entrusted with helping advance the mission of this extraordinary dance treasure from a leadership position. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of BalletX’s next chapter!
Tell us about Dance eXchange. What makes this program special?
I truly believe there is nothing more important in this world than children. As a dance educator, I have always been passionate about sharing the most joyful aspects of dance with young people, and Dance eXchange is exactly that: pure, concentrated joy through the lens of dance education.
What makes the program even more special is the incredible team of teaching artists, interns, and volunteers who bring their passion for dance and young people to every experience. Together, we are an unstoppable team, committed to getting every Philadelphia-area child dancing with their whole selves.
There is nothing more rewarding than watching a young person discover the joy, confidence, creativity, and freedom that dance can offer. I am so proud to be part of creating those moments through Dance eXchange.
What do you think makes this program so compelling and meaningful to the Philadelphia community?
The fact that Dance eXchange brings dance directly into six area schools during regular class hours sends a powerful message to young students: dance and the arts are important.
Philadelphia has such a vibrant and thriving arts community, and it is one of the many things that makes this city such a wonderful place to live. By introducing children to the arts and giving them a meaningful dance education experience – one they may never forget – we are helping them understand the value of creativity, expression, and the arts in their own lives.
More importantly, we are investing in the future of Philadelphia’s arts community. When we instill that sense of importance in our children, we help ensure that the arts will continue to thrive in this city long after you and I are gone.
What do you hope students take away in their experience with Dance eXchange?
There are so many benefits to the Dance eXchange program, but the takeaway I am most hopeful for is that students discover they are capable of great, difficult, and important things.
Through the NDI method, Dance eXchange challenges students to reach for their greatest potential, live life fully, ask a lot of themselves, and then share their gifts with the world. It takes tremendous focus, courage, and vulnerability to get up on stage and perform at the end of the year, and that accomplishment is something they can carry with them far beyond the studio.
My greatest hope is that students feel an incredible sense of pride in completing a program like Dance eXchange and recognize the power they have within themselves. I want them to take that feeling of accomplishment and confidence into every aspect of their lives, knowing that when they are faced with challenges, they are capable of showing up, working hard, taking risks, and doing difficult things.
Can you share a specific memory that continues to remind you of the power of arts education, or a moment when you saw dance make a real impact on a young person?
I believe the percentage of students who can experience the transformative power of dance when given the opportunity is 100%. There isn’t a child who cannot learn something meaningful about themselves through dance.
Dance education gives young people the opportunity to recognize their individual strengths and discover how they can use those gifts not only for their own growth but for the betterment of their community. Just as importantly, it teaches them that what they have to offer matters, and that they have something unique and valuable to share with the world.
What motivates your commitment to expanding dance and arts education throughout Philadelphia?
I see myself as a steward of the space between children and dance education, and I take that role very seriously. I know firsthand how incredible the power of dance can be for a child who may not always feel seen, heard, or celebrated.
The dance floor is a place where every child can shine. It is a place where they can discover their strengths, find their voice, and experience the joy of being fully themselves. And when our children shine, the future of our community is bright.
What do you hope to build for the future of Dance eXchange in the coming years?
My wildest dreams for Dance eXchange center around expanding the program to reach even more age groups. Currently, we work with students in 3rd and 4th grade, but I believe this program has the potential to span the full range from Kindergarten through 4th grade.
Imagine the impact of giving children multiple years to experience the joy, discipline, creativity, and confidence that dance can offer. The possibilities are enormous, and I would love to see Dance eXchange grow into a program that reaches even more young people across Philadelphia.
If you are someone who is as passionate about children and education as I am, come find me at the next BalletX event. Let’s dream for tomorrow and the future of Dance eXchange together!
