Jana Taylor

Jana Taylor holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance with an emphasis in Ballet from Brigham Young University. She began her dance training at Kravenko Dance Academy in Las Vegas, NV. There, she trained in the Royal Academy of Dancing classical ballet method and Balanchine ballet technique, as well as many other dance styles including modern dance, tap, Broadway jazz, and Fosse jazz. She performed as Principal dancer of Kravenko Youth Ballet. While attending college at BYU she achieved minors in French and Art History, and trained in classical ballet, contemporary ballet, and modern dance methods. Jana performed as a member of Ballet Showcase and Theatre Ballet, the university’s ballet companies, and toured the western U.S. performing Coppelia and other classical and contemporary repertoire. She received an ORCA grant to choreograph her contemporary ballet piece, Facades, for which choreography she received the Phi Eta Sigma Outstanding Performing Arts Award. She also published an article in the BYU Dance Journal on the fusion of styles in contemporary dance. After moving to California, Jana danced with Encore Dance Company and performed at the Disneyland Resort, dancing in Disney’s Electrical Parade, Celebrate! A Street Party, and A Christmas Fantasy Parade, being featured in the role of Music Box Ballerina, as well as performing in many other parades, shows, and special events. Jana taught at CF Dance Academy in Fullerton, CA where she was co-creator and Assistant Director of Fullerton Youth Ballet. Jana’s choreography and direction of Fullerton Youth Ballet’s performance of The Lion King earned the company 3rd Place for Ensembles at Youth America Grand Prix Los Angeles. She has coached and choreographed soloists to place in the Top 3 and Top 12 for Contemporary at YAGP Regionals, as well as awarded at other dance competitions for ensembles and soloists. Jana’s choreography has been performed by Concordia University, Encore Dance Company, The Academy for the Performing Arts at Huntington Beach High School, and Irvine’s Musical Theatre Village. Jana is currently a guest teacher and guest choreographer at The Academy for the Performing Arts. She dances as a company member of AkomiDance under the direction of Marie Hoffman and Anthony Aceves, and a member of Nannette Brodie Dance Theater under the direction of Nannette Brodie, performing in festivals and concerts throughout LA and Orange County.