Linda Reifsnyder Jenkins

Photo: Melinda Garcia.

Linda Reifsnyder Jenkins’ professional career as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer spans over 40 years. She began dancing as a scholarship student with the Joffrey American Ballet Center in New York, Ruth Page Foundation School of Dance and the Ed Parish Dance Foundation in Chicago. She studied with Robert Joffery, Ruth Page, Larry Long, Ed Parish, David Howard, Ben Stevenson, and many others. As a dancer, Reifsnyder Jenkins appeared as a soloist with the Chicago Ballet, Kiel Ballet (Germany) and the National Ballet of Peru dancing a full range of classical repertoire including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, La Sylphide, Romeo and Juliet, Giselle and a full list of modern and contemporary ballets.

Besides her performing career, Reifsnyder Jenkins is an influential leader as a dance educator serving in many capacities. Credits include Director of the Florence (Alabama) School of Ballet, The Academy of Nevada Dance Theatre, Dance with Distinction at Jacksonville University, Pharcyde Dance Center and Principal Ballet Teacher for the School of Ballet Oklahoma. She has conducted workshops and taught Master Classes for Dance Educators of America and the Cecchetti Council of America.

In 1993, Reifsnyder Jenkins settled in Jacksonville, Florida and in 1998 completed her BFA in Dance at Jacksonville University. While in Jacksonville, she has taught at Jacksonville University, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Landon Middle School of the Arts, and Pharcyde Dance Center.

In 2011, Reifsnyder Jenkins joined The Florida Ballet staff as a faculty member and Administrative Director.  Following the passing of Founding Director Laurie Picinich-Byrd in 2014, she became Artistic Director until 2020 when she retired from the position.  Presently, she is the Training Center Director and Curriculum Coordinator at The Florida Ballet at Jacksonville, Inc.

Reifsnyder Jenkins is an ABT Affiliate Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT National Training Curriculum Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 7 and Partnering. She has successfully presented students for examinations achieving the ABT NTC Fellowship status. Reifsnyder Jenkins is honored to be invited to the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum’s Board of Examiners.