Jennifer Dournaux, Instructor

Jennifer Dournaux has been a dancer for almost 50 years, and a teacher of dance and movement for nearly 20.  She received her ballet training in the 1980s with the Southern Ballet Theater, now known as the Orlando Ballet, where she also performed as a company member for two years. Jennifer has studied dance in many incredible cities, including New York and Chicago. In 2005 Ms. Dournaux began teaching as a certified Pilates instructor, a pathway that has fed her interest in the anatomy and physics of human movement.  This knowledge lends itself to her unique approach to teaching; always trying to better understand the anatomy of dance. In 2012 Ms. Dournaux earned her master’s degree in the Humanities, with an emphasis on dance history. Examining the past as the foundation for dance today is something that she is passionate about. She believes that her students gain a more connected understanding of their art form when they have knowledge of its roots. In 2013 Ms. Dournaux earned an American Ballet Theater National Training Certificate in levels PreK to 3.  She applies this well-rounded approach to ballet training in all of her classes and is honored and grateful to be a part of the ABT NTC community. In 2015 Jennifer joined the faculty of The Dance Company and has found it an absolute privilege to assist the amazing students at TDC in achieving their goals. She feels as though she is at her best when she is teaching; sharing her acquired knowledge with the students and learning so much from them in return.  Her academic studies, paired with her real-life experiences as a dancer, have given her comprehensive perspective and understanding of quality dance education, an understanding that she is continuously expanding. Outside of the dance realm, Jennifer is an adjunct professor in the Humanities Department of both St. Johns River State College and Florida State College of Jacksonville.