COHOSTED AND SPONSORED BY
Join international guest artist and former JMBT guest principal dancer Christina Johnson in March for masterclasses and a Meet & Greet event at JMBT Cambridge Studios!
Christina Johnson’s career began at age seventeen with Boston Ballet. Two years later she joined Dance Theatre of Harlem where she reached the rank of principal dancer within four years and had a 13-year tenure there. Christina is a founding member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet and has been a featured guest artist with various companies worldwide, including the Royal Ballet of London, where she and her dance partner, Ronald Perry, were the first African- American couple in its history to perform leading roles with the company. She danced in Switzerland for seven years, first with Le Ballet du Grand Theatre de Geneve and then Ballett Basel.
Christina held the position of Rehearsal Director for Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Washington Ballet, Armitage Gone! Dance, Trey McIntyre Project and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. She was on faculty at Marin Ballet in San Rafael, CA, and was Adjunct Faculty at Dominican University in the LINES/Dominican BFA in Dance Program. Christina is sought after as a teacher and coach and currently works with dance schools, universities and professional dance companies across the country. She is also a master teacher and judge for dance competitions, such as Universal Ballet Competition, American Dance Competition/International Ballet Competition and Revel Dance Convention.
Christina is featured in two recently released books, the first by Misty Copeland, Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy and also in Dance Theatre of Harlem: A History, A Movement, A Celebration. Christina plays a leading role in Misty Copeland’s film “Flower” which premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival.
Christina holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Hollins University in collaboration with the American Dance Festival, The Forsythe Company and Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts in Germany.
MASTERCLASSES
Open Masterclass
Wednesday, March 6, 10:30am–12:00pm • $25
Intermediate Open Ballet Class, for ages 14 and above
Limited space available (maximum 50 pax), please pre-register below:
YDP Masterclass
Thursday, March 7, 4:00-6:00pm
Intermediate/Advanced Ballet Class, for YDP selected students from Level III and above
All YDP Students Level I and above are invited to watch the class!
Meet & Greet, in partnership with
Thursday, March 7, 6:30-7:30pm
All are invited to meet Christina for a discussion on the importance of diversity in dance and book signing of Misty Copeland’s Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy, and Dance Theatre of Harlem: A History, A Movement, A Celebration.
Food and refreshments generously donated by Simple Fare Catering will be served. Books are available to purchase on site for Christina to sign curtesy of Harvard Book Store, or get your own with the links below.
