Joanne Kalmbach

Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Pointe & Tap

Joanne Kalmbach has been working as a dancer/teacher/choreographer in the Philadelphia area for over 35 years. She began her dance training under the direction of Donna Muzio at The Dance Center and was one of the founding members of the Brandywine Ballet. During that time she studied with teachers such as Cherie Noble, Michael Lopuszanski and David Kloss. Ms. Kalmbach went on to become a Principal Dancer with Brandywine Ballet Company as well as Ballet Klös in Philadelphia. While with Ballet Klös, in addition to performing in Philadelphia, she also toured with the company traveling from Philadelphia to Kentucky. In Kentucky, the company performed at the Governors Ball. After this performance, Ms. Kalmbach was featured on the front page of the Kentucky newspaper.

 

Ms. Kalmbach also attended the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts studying ballet, modern and jazz with teachers such as Andre Pap and Peter Bertini. Her ballet training and teaching is based on the Vaganova Method of Ballet. This training is used as a basis for teaching other forms of dance, such as contemporary, lyrical and jazz. Ms. Kalmbach also extensively studied jazz at various schools and studios in the Philadelphia and New York area studying with teachers such as Shimon Braun, JoJo Smith, Luigi and Frank Hatchett.

 

Ms. Kalmbach also danced with Omnibus Productions while performing at the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City.

 

Presently, Ms. Kalmbach heads the Dance Department at the Avon Grove Charter School where she has been teaching ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical and creative movement to students in grades 3-12 since 2004. Ms. Kalmbach is responsible for creating and implementing the dance education program for grades 3-12. In addition to teaching there, she stages and choreographs two full length dance performances for the public each school year. She is also the choreographer for the high school musicals, most recently choreographing the Broadway version of Mary Poppins. Ms.Kalmbach also created and implemented the dance education program for grades 3-12.

 

Ms. Kalmbach is also on staff at the Dance Center/Brandywine Ballet where she she has taught all levels of ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical and contemporary. She has also choreographed pieces for Rose Tree Park Dance Festival, Chester County Dance Festival and Chester County Hospital May Festival.