Jillana
{{Short description|American ballet dancer (born 1934)}}
Jillana (born 1934) is an American ballet dancer and instructor, and a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet.
Early life and education
Jillana was born Jill Zimmerman[https://web.archive.org/web/20160911060400/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G2-2588811999.html Directory of Women Worldwide: 20,000 Women Through the Ages], January 1, 2007 in Hackensack, New Jersey. She took lessons in tap and ballet dancing as a small child.[http://www.criticaldance.com/interviews/2002/jillana020603.html criticaldance.com: interview with Jillana]
Jillana attended the School of American Ballet, beginning at age 11, after earning a scholarship.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19820831&id=KsRNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aoMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7130,8004980 The Deseret News – Google News Archive Search] She trained there under George Balanchine.[http://boisestatepublicradio.org/post/ballet-idahos-dancers-learn-balanchine-disciple Ballet Idaho's Dancers Learn From A Balanchine Disciple | Boise State Public Radio] She was recruited by the New York City Ballet (then known as Ballet Society) one year later; when she was thirteen she made her first appearance with the company.[http://balletnews.co.uk/ballet-news-the-george-balanchine-foundation/ The George Balanchine Foundation | Ballet News | Straight from the stage - bringing you ballet insights] At age 17, she was featured in Seventeen magazine, in the January 1952[https://perusevintage.com/2021/04/29/seventeen-magazine-january-1952/ Seventeen Magazine, January 1952 at Peruse Vintage] issue.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crhsyu-2i-M&t=357s Seventeen Magazine, January 1952 - Full Vintage Flip Through]
Career
After six years of experience with the New York City Ballet company, she was promoted to principal dancer; she continued in this capacity for twenty years.[http://dancetabs.com/2014/05/new-york-city-ballet-spring-gala-and-justin-peck-premiere-everywhere-we-go-new-york/ "New York City Ballet Spring Gala: Fanfare for a New Theater, If I Loved You, Allegro Brillante and Everywhere We Go"]. DancdTabs, 8 May 2014 Balanchine created roles for her in many ballets, including Liebeslieder Walzer.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-03-19-ca-22747-story.html Jillana: Memories Of Her Balanchine Days - Los Angeles Times][https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/25/arts/this-week-city-ballet-holds-an-alumni-weekend.html "THIS WEEK; City Ballet Holds an Alumni Weekend"]. By GIA KOURLAS. The New York Times. April 25, 2004{{cite book|author=Barbara B. Heyman|title=Samuel Barber|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u6QGtHHtr6MC&pg=PA334|year=1992|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-535810-0|pages=334–}}[http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwdance/article/BWW-Reviews-Ballet-in-Cinema-from-Emerging-Pictures-Presents-La-fille-mal-garde-20130410 BWW Reviews: Ballet in Cinema from Emerging Pictures Presents 'La fille mal gardee' - BWWDanceWorld]
Jillana has danced with a number of partners, including Jacques d'Amboise,[http://www.ballet-dance.com/200709/articles/DAmboise200708.html Ballet-Dance Magazine - DVD Review - Jacques D'Amboie: Portrait of a Great American Dancer] Arthur Mitchell, and Edward Villella. Jillana has also performed with other ballet companies including American Ballet Theatre and National Ballet of Washington, D.C. She has appeared on Broadway, in the musical Destry Rides Again,{{cite book|title=Who's who of American women|url=https://archive.org/details/whoswhoofamerica0000unse_o9a8|url-access=registration|year=1973|publisher=Marquis Who's Who|isbn=978-0-8379-0408-5}}{{cite book|title=San Diego Magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-kjAQAAIAAJ|date=May 1976|publisher=San Diego Magazine Publishing Company}} and in a number of television shows, including Noah and the Flood (with choreography by George Balanchine).
Jillana has worked as an instructor at The New York City Ballet, the School of American Ballet and Joffrey School, Paris Opera Ballet and Ballet West.[http://lubbockonline.com/entertainment/2013-05-11/martin-leads-16-ballet-lubbock-dancers-prestigious-summer-workshops#.UsgAcbRMxUo Martin leads 16 Ballet Lubbock dancers into prestigious summer workshops | Lubbock Online | Lubbock Avalanche-Journal] She also taught at the University of California at Irvine and was the director of DanceAspen.
Jillana now runs her own summer dance program, The Jillana School.[https://books.google.com/books?id=S-RuSzcrBnAC&dq=Jillana+ballet+review&pg=PT95 The Ballet Companion: A Dancer's Guide to the Technique, Traditions, and ... - Eliza Gaynor Minden - Google Books] She sets ballets on companies worldwide for the George Balanchine Trust.
References
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Category:School of American Ballet alumni
Category:New York City Ballet principal dancers