Jennifer Drake, originally from Frisco,TX began her dance training at the age of 2 at The Tuzer Ballet under the direction of Pat and Tanju Tuzer. Jennifer's early studies took her to The National Ballet of Canada where she studied for almost a year and summer programs at The Kirov in Washington D.C. At the age of 15, Jennifer continued her training at The Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton,FL.

 

Upon graduating with the President's Academic Award of Achievement, Jennifer joined The Cincinnati Ballet where she performed corps, soloist, and principle roles including Myrtha in Victoria Morgan and Devon Carney's 'Giselle', Temperament Fairy and Carabosse in Kirk Peterson's 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Winter Fairy' and 'Step Mother' in Victoria Morgan's 'Cinderella', Jennifer in Val Caniporoli's 'Lamberena', 'The Gods' in Seventh Symphony where she was coached by the late Frederic Franklin, and Second Regiment Lead in George Balanchine's 'Stars and Stripes'.

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Since then, she has performed as a principle artist with companies across America and began freelancing, including performing with Ballet Manila in the Philippines, works with Melissa Barak's company Barak Ballet in Los Angelos,CA, and Amy Seiwert's company Imagery in San Francisco,CA.

 

Some of Jennifer's favorite full length roles include Odette in Swan Lake where she was coached by the late Elaine Thomas of the Royal Ballet, Carmen, Giselle, Cinderella, and George Balanchine's 'The Man I Love' and  'Fascinatin Rhythm' in 'Who Cares?' as well as Valse Fantasies. Her favorite contemporary original works choreographed on her are leads in Darrell Grand Moultrie and Ma Cong pieces.

 

She has been a guest choreographer for Chattanooga Ballet in Chattanooga,TN and Arova Contemporary Ballet in Birmingham,AL.

 

Jennifer began forming The Dancer Project in the late Fall of  2015 with local Nashville artists, creating an artistic outlet and place for professionals to train for free. After four successful performance series, she decided to make a brick and mortar ballet community and school to allow dance to be more accessible to see and do. She is excited to shape the ballet community with affordable professional training for both youth and adults and to bring performances to communities that lack access to see live performance art.

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Along with teaching and choreography, Jennifer enjoys spending time tending to her garden, playing with her dog 'Bluey', cat, horses, parolette and chickens on her farm in Gallatin,TN with her wife, Amanda and baby, Elouise aka "Louis".

She accredits where she is today to the support of her family throughout her professional dancing career and to her wife who helped her believe that the dreams she dreamt on paper could come true in spite of hardships and doubt. With dance training spanning over 36 years of her life and 21 years and counting of professional teaching and performing career, Jennifer loves sharing her passion for dance with Nashville, Goodlettsville, and surrounding communities. She invites you to come, try out a class, and to Join the Pursuit and be a part of a community of artists, for artists, by artists. 

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