Ballet at Blaisdell Studios
Ballet classes at Blaisdell Studios are taught by Merilee Blaisdell whose prominent dance background is rooted in ballet performance and represents the culmination of Merilee’s illustrious career as a professional dancer and extensive training in body movement allowing her to bring her passion and years of study into her own space and share it with her clients.
Merilee started taking ballet classes at the age of 3, and at 16 years old, she received a scholarship to study with the Joffrey Ballet. Soon after, her professional career began as a principal dancer with Ballet Pacifica, in Orange County, CA. She then starred in the multi-media arena show, Disney on Parade, as Alice in Wonderland, and went on to perform in seven shows on Broadway, in New York City. Merilee starred off-Broadway, at the Manhattan Theater Club, in the Arthur Schwartz review, “Dancing in the Dark,” and originated the role of Sister Mary Leo, in the off-Broadway hit, “Nunsense,” which she also helped choreograph, and appeared in many other productions on stage, in film, and on television.
In addition to Merilee’s ballet training and dance career, Merilee earned her BA, with honors, in Performing Arts, from St. Mary’s College of CA, and has created programs and taught movement and dance at schools and universities on the east and west coasts of the US. In addition to her formal education and practical training, Merilee has continued her education and is certified to teach in additional therapeutic body movement and healing methods. Click here to see Merilee’s full bio.
Above photo: Merilee starring as Alice in Wonderland in the national and international touring show “Disney on Parade.”
As ballet is Merilee’s “first-love”, she is thrilled to be able to offer Therapeutic Adult Ballet Classes in several formats ranging from online classes, in-studio group classes, and private or duet sessions.
