Taylor Russel

Ballet Instructor

Taylor Russell received her MFA at Hollins University and received her BFA from Jacksonville University for her undergrad. During her MFA, Russell decided to study and focus on mental health and the catalyst behind it. It has allowed her to dive deeper into understanding black history and culture, narrowing her focus on researching black women’s mental health and how it has affected them over the years. Her passion for dance started at the tender age of three and has had the privilege of training at Meg Segreto’s Dance Company and Performance Edge Dance Complex leading up to her college training. Russell is well versed in disciplines such as Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Pointe, Contemporary/Lyrical, and more. Throughout the years of her dance training, she has attended many prestigious summer programs, including Alvin Ailey, Rockettes, Vladimir School of Classical Ballet, Joffrey Ballet Summer Intensive in L.A., California, Alonzo King Lines Summer Intensive training with Alonzo King himself. As a competition dancer, Russell was a repeated high scorer in small group and solo dances, competing for title in her senior year of high school, taking 3rd place in the national championship. In love with drama as well, Russell was chosen to be the lead choreographer and lead performer in several adapted musical stage plays for Standing Ovations Theater, the most renowned homeschool drama club in Broward County. Grease, High School Musical, and Fiddler on the Roof are some of her credits during that time. In her four years at Jacksonville University, she has quickly become a chosen favorite for exclusive pieces early on in her freshman year. She has worked with and been a principal dancer for choreographers such as Robert Moses, April Henehan, The Nicholson Twins - backup dancers for Ariana Grande, Joe Cutler of Koresh Dance Company, Kara Davis of Alonzo King Lines Ballet, and several others. She had a short stint on the Sirens Jacksonville University dance team but chose to focus on her classical dance training and finish up her B.F.A. of Dance. Regarding professional experience, she performed in Super Bowl 2020 as a field dancer as team Shakira. As a dancer and educator, it is her desire for all children, regardless of socioeconomic background, to experience and explore the gift of dance. Upon graduation, it is her desire to grace the stages in the United States and abroad, sharing her love for dance as a hopeful professional and dance teacher.