Judy Sharp
CBC Ballet Mistress & Education Coordinator; UCSD Lecturer in Dance
University of California, San Diego and California Ballet School and Company
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
I was raised in a musical family: Dad / concert master, Mom / pianist. We each played an instrument.
I began taking ballet at the age of 7 from Richard Carter and Nancy Johnson in San Diego.
Once hooked on ballet, piano slid, but I can play a bit still.
I began performing at age 7, with many opportunities at the Civic Theatre until I left for college.
Dad conducted the ballets; I danced; many great ballets under directors Sonia Arova & Thor Sutowski.
Although we performed, I choreographed my first ballet at Indiana University.
Injuries in my mid teens & getting married at 22 caused me to stop performing and focus on teaching.
Returning to San Diego I reconnected, taught, choreographed, grew, and started teaching at UCSD.
Education
High School
Career
CBC Ballet Mistress & Education Coordinator; UCSD Lecturer in Dance
I teach ballet, choreograph when I have opportunities, and have a variety of jobs for a ballet company.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Non-Profit Organizations
Music
Teaching / Mentoring
Day to Day
Office = CA Ballet Co; CBS = teaching; CBC has 4 shows / yr (extra theater hrs); UCSD summers OFF. Monday - swim, UCSD 10a-12p, Co office, home 3-5p. Tuesday - walk, UCSD 10a-12p, Co office &/or rehearse, CBS, home 7-8p. Wednesday - walk, UCSD 10a-12p, Co office, rehearse, home 9:30p. Thursday - swim, UCSD 10a-12p, Co office &/or rehearse, home 4-5p. Friday- Pilates, Co class, rehearse, office, CBS, rehearse, home 9:30p. Saturday - walk, 10a office, CBS, rehearse, home 6p. Sunday - walk or Pilates, 10a co class, rehearse, office, home 4p.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for professionals
If you are already a dancer, start teaching! Explore choreography whenever and wherever the chance arises. For admin work: Offer to help in a non profit organization to see what is needed to keep it running. You may have skills you could put to good use, from writing to proofing for others, or organizing wardrobe to contacting schools, you never know what you'll be asked to do. Computer skills are a plus especially graphic design.
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"Although I was not gifted with a "perfect ballet body" I was never discouraged from focusing on dancing as well as I could. I knew for myself that I would not be able to get into a big company. My noise was the reality of that."
Challenges I Overcame
Personal Trauma
