Joshua Brooksher ~ Ballet Teacher

Joshua grew up in Mesa, AZ where he received his early training in ballet at Ballet Etudes and Jeanne's School of Dance. At the age of 13 he left Mesa for Washington D.C. to attend Universal Ballet Academy now Kirov Academy of Ballet), one of the premier ballet training schools in the world, on full scholarship for their comprehensive program. Studies included ballet technique, repertoire, ballet theory, pas de deux, historical court dance, character dance, contemporary movement, pedagogy, music theory, nutrition, kinesiology, painting, sculpture, injury prevention, Pilates and Gyrotonics. Mr. Brooksher graduated from UBA with High Honors, and from Bethesda Chevy-Chase High School with a Certificate of Merit, in 1993. During his years at UBA, he had the opportunity of learning the craft of classical dance from some of the world's true masters, the most influential of which is Rudolf Kharatian a graduate of Alexander Pushkin.

Some of the roles that Mr. Brooksher was most known for are Achteon in La Esmerelda, Albrecht in Giselle, Prince Seigfried in Swan Lake, Sugar Plum's Cavalier in The Nutcracker and Lucien from Paquita, among other leading male roles. He also performed in more contemporary roles such as The Lead Roper in Rodeo, as well as Kevin O'Day's Principia, Dwight Roden's Skinny Puzzle and Scarlet Symphony, The Cheshire Cat in Trey McIntyre's Aliss in Wonderland, as well as many Balanchine ballets and is well known as an excellent partner.

Joshua has worked some of the world's greatest teachers: Allen Baker, Ruodolf Kharatian, Mikhail Lavrovsky, Ludmilla Morkovina, Alla Sisova, Nikolai Morosov, Yelena Vinogradova, Oleg Vinogradov, Vladimir Kolesnikov, Margarita Zagurskaya, Suzanne Farrell, Andrei Garbouz, Irina Koplakova, Oleg Briansky, Cynthia Gregory, Gelsey Kirkland and Suzanne Farrell are some of those who have given Mr. Brooksher his extensive knowledge and insight into the art of ballet and his training as a premier male dancer and partner.

After dancing professionally over the following decade with The Kirov Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Indianapolis Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, and Texas Ballet Theater, Mr. Brooksher returned home for a season with Ballet Arizona before embarking on his teaching career. Mr. Brooksher has always been a teacher; even at a young age his attention to detail distinguished him to his peers and teachers. During his school years, Joshua regularly took the time to return to his home in Mesa, AZ to teach for Ballet Etudes and Phoenix School of Ballet. Students he taught there have gone on to become professionals all over the world.

Mr. Brooksher is a founder and currently the Artistic Director for Southwest Classical Dance Institute. As such, he is involved in all aspects of running a successful professional level training program. His responsibilities have included teaching & coaching all levels of classes in the 8-year Vaganova-based program, choreography, curriculum and syllabus structure development, as well as administrative duties associated with such a position. SCDI students have gone on to attend Conservatories and Universities as well as securing work as professional dance artists.

Mr. Brooksher is currently Resident Guest Faculty at The Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts in CT. He also serves as the Chairman of the Sate Representatives of Classical Dance Alliance, an organization created to promote the highest standards for classical ballet in the United States through teacher training programs and educational awareness of the importance of pedagogical training.

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