Jean Emile - Jean Emile Dance Artist

"Raptus" by Duato with Aryeh Weiner

April 2019

On tour with Elke Schepers circa 1987

"Be Italian" for El Molino burlesque theater in Barcelona with Patricia Paisal leading the group

Short Biography

Jean Emile is a product of the New York City dance scene.

After finishing off his training at prestigious schools like: the former high school of performing arts, the school of American ballet, Dr. Glory's youth theater, and the Ailey School among others He went directly into the Netherlands Dance Theater 2 under the direction of Arlette Van Boven. After his second year at NDT2 he went into the main company under the direction of Jiri Kylian.

During his 1st. year there: Jiri Kylian cast him in his first full length ballet “Kaguyahime” as one of the leading suitors and for the coming 4 years he established choreographic relationships with Mr. Kylian, Nacho Duato ,Mats ek, Hans Van Maanen, Billy Forsythe and Ohad Naharin among others.

Due to the yearly choreographic workshops the dancers were encouraged to choreograph and that is where Jean started venturing into choreography.

Jean then went to Madrid to dance for former colleague, Nacho Duato's company La Compañía Nacional de Danza and after a year there he returned to the Netherlands Dance Theater's [NDT] main company where he furthered his artistry.

In 1996 Jean left NDT to dance for various choreographers in New York and to begin his transition into choreography and teaching.

From '96-'09 he moved to Vegas to be a dancer and dance captain in the hotel Paris' 'Notre Dame de Paris' while serving as a dance evaluator and talent scout for Cirque du soleil and Dragone.

Moved to Oakland, California to serve as ballet master for the Oakland Ballet under the direction of Karen Brown.

He established himself in Barcelona, Spain where he began a long relationship with Elise Lummis 'La Companyia’ teaching and nurturing in the school whilst keeping relationships with the Ailey school and choreographing ballets for companies such as Ballet Hispanico, 'Ailey 2' among others as well as musicals and cabarets in Europe.

Jean has also set ballets for schools and companies from 'Kylian', 'Van Maanen' and 'Duato'.