MEET OUR FACULTY AND STAFF
JUDITH ELINS PALACIO
Artistic Director and FounderPhoto coming soon
Judith has been a working artist in the NJ/NY area for over twenty years. She performed and studied at the New Dance Group, NYC, Cecchetti School of Ballet, Alvin Ailey School, and New Jersey Ballet with some of the most recognized teachers and artists in the dance community. Judith has been a faculty member and repertory instructor for youth and adult programs throughout the tri-state area. As a freelance dancer, she has performed at New York University, presented at Dance Educators of America, Theatre In Action, New Dance Group, Fiorello H.Laguardia High School, Montclair State University, Englewood Performing Arts Center, The Skirball Center, and City Center. In addition to her work with Jersey City Ballet Theater, choreography credits include Cristina Fontenelli’s Christmas in Italy, Disney World Orlando, Student performances at Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, and the London 2012 Olympics. Judith received her Simonson Teaching Certification under the direction of Lynn Simonson NYC and Pilates certification from the Physical Mind Institute, NYC. She completed the Finis Jhung Method of Ballet Fundamentals Teacher Training Workshop 2015 and 2017 under the direction of Finis Jhung. Judith was the dance speciaist at Saint Dominic’s Academy and the Embankment School. Currently she is a dance specialist at the Hudson Montessori School, where she also co-produces the end-of-year production. Judith and co-founder Richard Palacio started Jersey City Ballet Theater to bring ballet performance and choreographic opportunities to dancers in the community and introduce ballet to an audience who otherwise may not have the opportunites to experience ballet. The school offers scholarships and affordable classes taught by dedicated professionals. In addition to teaching and working with the Company, Judith stays current by continuing to take Classes and workshops in the Tri-state area.
SIMON KAZANSTEV
Simon was born in Russia and attended the famous Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, where he successfully completed his dance training in 8 years. Upon graduation, he joined the Stanislavsky Ballet, one of Moscow's leading companies. He toured internationally with that troupe, dancing solo roles in such classics as Giselle, Swan Lake, La Esmeralda, Le Corsaire, and The Nutcracker, as well as performing prominent roles in contemporary ballets. At the same time, he attended the Bolshoi Ballet Academy College, where he earned a BA in Pedagogy and Dancing and became an assistant to the late Professor Alexander Bondarenko, who was a leading authority on ballet technique and coach to many principal dancers of the Bolshoi Theater. Simon is a guest artist and ballet master for Jersey City Ballet Theater Company.
PHOTO COMING SOON!
ESTELLE BOTELLA CALLAHAN
Estelle is from Paris, France and trained at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts where she graduated in 2011. She spent summers training at Boston Ballet School, Colorado Ballet Academy, and the Royal Ballet School. She went on to dance as a trainee with American Repertory Ballet for two years. She joined Connecticut Ballet in 2013 where she was featured as Clara in their Nutcracker alongside Julie Kent and Alexander Hammoudi and spent a year with Manassas Ballet Theatre. In 2015, Estelle moved to Germany to dance with JSLN Dance Company where she spent two years touring Europe performing numerous works of classical and neoclassical ballet. In September 2017, Estelle was featured on French national television in the TV show “Prodigies” on France2 where she performed with the Winter Palace Saint Petersburg Ballet. Recently, Estelle has been performing with Connecticut Ballet, Thomas Ortiz Dance, Ballet for Young Audiences, Lydia Johnson Dance and the American Ballet Theatre. Estelle is a member of the Jersey City Ballet Theater Company
LAUREL ZALESKI MANGINI
Laurel is a NYC based freelance contemporary/ballet dancer. She has had the opportunity to dance all across the globe studying and performing at the Royal Danish Ballet, Jacob's Pillow, Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Adriatico (Italy) and in Finland at the Skiing on Skin Festival. In 2010 Laurel graduated with honors for excellence in dance from Tulane University; Since moving to New York Laurel has performed with Hee Ra Yoo and Dancers, Giada Farrone, Ballet Inc., The Garden State Opera, Jersey City Ballet and also served as co-artistic director of The Rogue Dancers.
Chloe Rain Russell
Photo coming soon
Chloe Russell is a ballet dancer, choreographer, and instructor based in NYC. She received her early training from Ballet Memphis, Collage Dance Collective's trainee program, the Ailey School, and The San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. She received her teaching training in the RAD Method while dancing with Chattanooga Dance Theatre and Chattanooga Ballet in Tennessee. She currently enjoys freelancing with various companies around the New York area including Jersey City Ballet, City Dance NY, American Ballet Russe, and City Ballet of Boston as well as choreographing her own projects.
GUEST TEACHERS
J.Joseph Burke
Eli Cano
Sonya Cole
Shannon Grant
Erika Keller