NAN HAO

Founder / Director

Nan Hao began her formal ballet training at Alaska Dance Theater at age 10. At the same time, she was also trained in Chinese classical dance by her father, Jimmy Hao, who was then the ballet master at Alaska Dance Theater. Nan was a gifted and dedicated student and was invited to perform solely at the annual International Night in Anchorage many times, where she received recognition as a young and talented dancer.

In her high school years, Nan attended several summer dance intensive programs, including high educational dance programs with college students at Stephen’s College and the Chinese Student Dance Association of the University of Missouri-Columbia. Nan was a vivid and passionate performer in many styles and could always touch people’s hearts with her dancing. After graduating high school, Nan attended the University of Missouri-Columbia. She co-founded a hip-hop dance crew, "Official Dance Crew," and was invited to perform three consecutive years at the opening ceremony for the "MAASU" conference in the Midwest.

Nan has been invited as a young guest artist to perform by Portland Community Ballet, June Taylor Ballet, University of Portland Oregon, Stephen’s College, University of Missouri-Columbia, Chinese Association of St. Louis, Fresno City College, and Chinese Association of Fresno. Nan began working at Break the Barriers in Fresno, California, as an assistant dance director, also as a performer and choreographer after she graduated from MU. Nan continued to challenge herself in exploring different choreographic ideas and styles, and she also enjoyed working with students who have different cultural backgrounds, with different abilities, and disabilities. At that time, she danced with Fresno Dance Collective, a local contemporary dance company, for two years. In 2012, Nan moved to New York. She received a ballet training program at the Joffrey Ballet School. In 2015, Nan relocated back to California with her family, and she has worked at Jun Lu Performing Arts since then. In 2023, Nan started freelancing her work and teaching with other local schools.

JIMMY HAO

Ballet Master / Professor

Jian-Min (Jimmy) Hao earned his MFA from the University of California, Los Angeles. He was a principal dancer with Guiyang Ballet, China. During this time, he was awarded Best Performer in 1979 at the Guiyang Dance Festival. Then, he became a faculty member for the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy after he graduated from there and toured internationally as a dancer with the Youth Company of the academy. He was twice awarded for excellence in teaching and three times awarded for outstanding choreography at various dance competitions in China. Five times he received awards for outstanding contribution in multicultural programs from the Chinese Culture Association in the US.

In 1994, one of his works received an honor to participate in the final gala performance at the American College Dance Festival. In 2001, Jimmy was a nominee for Mayor’s Arts Awards (Mayor George P. Wuerch) in Anchorage, Alaska. In 2014, he was invited as a special guest by Beijing Dance Academy to attend the Fifth International Ballet Competition. His choreographic works were presented in China, Japan, South Korea, India, France, and the United States.

He has been a guest artist, a ballet master, a professor, and director at the Beijing Dance Academy and Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Shanghai Normal University, the Yuzhiya International Ballet School in Tokyo, UCLA, Stephens College, University of Missouri-Columbia, Los Angeles Modern Dance and Ballet, Alaska Dance Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Arizona Youth Ballet, Bay Pointe Ballet of San Francisco, and Beach Ballet of Tijuana, including many professional schools and companies worldwide since 1984.

MADISON LEONG

Assistant Director / Hip Hop / K-pop Instructor

Madi Leong has taught weekly, guest, and performance classes for five years, working with a variety of different ages and dance levels in choreography, Hip Hop, and K-pop. Along with studio teaching, she was a Choreography Director for the dance company, ECLIPSE and was an active member for 5 years.

​Madi's dance journey encompasses an impressive array of styles, including Hip Hop, Modern, Jazz, and Jazz Funk. While she has honed her skills across these diverse genres, her heart now beats to the rhythm of Hip Hop and the freedom of open-style choreography. With boundless enthusiasm and a deep-seated love for movement, Madi eagerly anticipates the opportunity to infuse the studio space with her infectious passion and innovative creativity.

Madi's teaching philosophy centers on more than just technique; it's about fostering a sense of self-discovery and empowerment. With her guidance, students not only refine their skills but also develop the confidence to embrace their individuality and boldly step into the spotlight. In Madi's class, dance isn't just an art form—it's a transformative experience that celebrates the unique journey of every student who walks through the door.

LAUREN DO

Pre-Ballet / Jazz / Hip Hop / Lyrical / Contemp Instructor

While pursuing her Masters in Teaching, Lauren Do has trained and developed dancers of all levels and ages, both in recreational and competitive spaces. Her experience in teaching includes classes in contemporary, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and K-pop. Her competitive hip-hop team has won multiple 1st place awards both in category and overall, and her work has won awards in choreography at regional competitions. As a dancer, she is currently a member of New Age Theatrics’ competitive team, who recently took home 1st place at World of Dance Bay Area. Lauren utilizes academic teaching techniques in her classes to help foster a creative space that lets students form their dance identities. Her core goal as an educator is for her students to develop as artists, athletes, and people.

ARIANNA FU

Administration

Guest Teachers/Choreographers

CATHERINE XU

Guest Instructor

Ballet / Contemporary / Jazz / Lyrical

Catherine began dancing at age 4, training and competing in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap, and hip hop. However, at 13, she began focusing on ballet. She started training at Osipova Ballet Academy and spent many summers dancing at world-renowned ballet academies such as American Ballet Theatre, San Fransisco Ballet, and the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Catherine has also participated as a soloist and ensemble dancer at various competitions such as the Youth America Grand Prix and World Ballet Competition, where she has been invited to Finals for two consecutive years. In the past few years, Catherine has choreographed multiple solos in various styles for showcases and competitions. Many of these dances have placed top 10 at different competitions and have been invited to nationals.

LINDA HURKMANS

Guest Instructor

International Ballet, Pilates, P.B.T. teacher, choreographer, coach, ballet judge from the U.S.A. Artistic Director of San Jose Dance Theatre (2013-2021) and launched professional company 2020.

As a child, Linda Hurkmans was given detailed Vaganova training from Connie Schwarze and performed for San José Dance Theatre. She was then heavily mentored by Larissa Sklyanskaya (Soloist with Bolshoi Ballet), Natasha Papina (Soloist with Kirov Ballet, and the 1st ballet partner of Mikhail Baryshnikov), Benjamin Harkarvy, and Conrad Ludlow (Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet). Hurkmans received full scholarships to Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet, and at the age of 16, a full scholarship to the University of Utah Ballet Dept. She danced professionally with The Royal Danish Ballet, the Utah Ballet/Ballet West, The Norwegian Andanse Ballet, Zahkraz Dance, and The Norwegian National Ballet in conjunction with The Year of Dance in Norway and the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. She competed in the 72 country ITI International Ballet Competition in Helsinki, Finland, 1991, and appeared in the CBS Mini-Series “At Mother’s Request” starring Stefanie Powers.

Linda Hurkmans holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts, Cum Laude, in Ballet Performance from Univ. of Utah, a Master’s Degree in Psychology from the Notre Dame de Namur University, and full Pilates certifications in Pilates Mat and Apparatus from Turning Pointe Studios and the PhysicalMind Institute. She has taught youth, pre-professional, adult ballet dancers and Pilates students for 18 years in Europe and in the U.S. and at Stanford University and Santa Clara University, where she helped found the Pilates program for dancers and athletes. Hurkmans’ choreography has been performed at the Norwegian State Ballet, Western Ballet, Zohco Dance Co., Santa Clara University, Foothill College, Pasquale Esposito’s Italian Christmas, and San Jose Dance Theatre.

In 2014, Hurkmans was named the Artistic Director of San Jose Dance Theatre and helped re-open the doors to the academy and rebuilt it from 0 students to over 100 today. She has choreographed a full length version of “The Nutcracker”, 20 original works for the school and company and has staged “La Bayadere Kingdom of the Shades:, “White Swan Pas de Deux”, “Swan Lake Four Little Swans”,“Swan Lake Pas de Trois”, “Le Corsaire Pas de Deux”, “Paquita Grand Pas Classique” and more. Hurkmans has overseen San Jose Dance Theatre’s collaborations with Margaret Wingrove’s Dance Co., with Foothill College, and performances at SjDANCE Co. Festival, the Montalvo Arts Center, Santana Row Tree Lighting Event, World Wide Women’s Festival at Santa Clara University, San Francisco Movement Arts Festival, and the San Jose Center for Performing Arts.

Linda’s World Premiere of “The Firebird” was performed to Sold Out audiences at the Hammer Theatre. This Spring “The Firebird” will be performed again with an excerpt from “The Sleeping Beauty”