ARTS & CULTURE | By Ilona Saari
“From Ballet to Journalism to Academia and Back to Ballet”
Meet journalist/author Jennifer Fisher at the June 11 Ojai Art Center Literary Salon
What does a young girl in Kentucky do when the Cold War stands in the way of her dreams to become a Russian ballerina? (Nevermind the fact that she’s not Russian.)
Of course, we’re talking about Jennifer Fisher, the June guest speaker for the Ojai Art Center Literary Branch Salon. Her persistence to follow her dreams has led her down many roads and on June 11 at 7pm, you’ll get a better understanding of how this dancer, turned journalist, turned professor made her way full-circle back to dance.
More About Jennifer Fisher
As a teenager, Jennifer Fisher danced her way into the Louisville Ballet before moving onto a career in musical theatre. Then she took on journalism; writing news, travel, humor, and home décor.
At first, Jennifer started in Canada as a television specialist. She served as a senior editor and writer at TV Guide in Toronto, while providing commentary on CBC radio (national public radio in Canada). She interviewed actors and stars, most notably Sandra Bullock, Michael J. Fox and Tom Selleck. Later, she moved to California to complete a Ph.D in Dance History and Theory and became a contributing dance critic a,t the LA Times.
This brought her back to her true passion – dance – and eventually segued into a career as an author. Her first book, “Nutcracker Nation: How an Old World Ballet Became A Christmas Tradition in the New World,” won the 2003 de la Torre Bueno special citation for best dance publication in 2003. She also co-edited “When Men Dance: Choreographing Masculinities Across Borders.”
Her extensive studies eventually led her to academia, as an expert on dance and the culture surrounding this unique and dynamic art form. Ms. Fisher has enjoyed 15 years in the dance department at UC Irvine, teaching history, writing, and theory. In an unlikely return to the stage several years ago, she danced with her target company, the Kirov (in the background, but still…) and Mikhail Baryshnikov in his postmodern dance revival, “PastForward.”
Speaking on her journey from ballet to journalism to academia and back to ballet, Ms. Fisher will discuss this adventure that led to her upcoming 2019 book “An Autobiography of Ballet”(McFarland) that combines storytelling, memoir and dance analysis. Please join us on June 11th, 7:00 p.m. in the Ojai Art Center gallery for her talk, followed by a reception and book signing. $5 donation at the door.
For additional information, please contact: Ilona Saari, ilonalonie@gmail.com
ARTS & CULTURE | By Ilona Saari
“From Ballet to Journalism to Academia and Back to Ballet”
Meet journalist/author Jennifer Fisher at the June 11 Ojai Art Center Literary Salon
What does a young girl in Kentucky do when the Cold War stands in the way of her dreams to become a Russian ballerina? (Nevermind the fact that she’s not Russian.)
Of course, we’re talking about Jennifer Fisher, the June guest speaker for the Ojai Art Center Literary Branch Salon. Her persistence to follow her dreams has led her down many roads and on June 11 at 7pm, you’ll get a better understanding of how this dancer, turned journalist, turned professor made her way full-circle back to dance.
More About Jennifer Fisher
As a teenager, Jennifer Fisher danced her way into the Louisville Ballet before moving onto a career in musical theatre. Then she took on journalism; writing news, travel, humor, and home décor.
At first, Jennifer started in Canada as a television specialist. She served as a senior editor and writer at TV Guide in Toronto, while providing commentary on CBC radio (national public radio in Canada). She interviewed actors and stars, most notably Sandra Bullock, Michael J. Fox and Tom Selleck. Later, she moved to California to complete a Ph.D in Dance History and Theory and became a contributing dance critic a,t the LA Times.
This brought her back to her true passion – dance – and eventually segued into a career as an author. Her first book, “Nutcracker Nation: How an Old World Ballet Became A Christmas Tradition in the New World,” won the 2003 de la Torre Bueno special citation for best dance publication in 2003. She also co-edited “When Men Dance: Choreographing Masculinities Across Borders.”
Her extensive studies eventually led her to academia, as an expert on dance and the culture surrounding this unique and dynamic art form. Ms. Fisher has enjoyed 15 years in the dance department at UC Irvine, teaching history, writing, and theory. In an unlikely return to the stage several years ago, she danced with her target company, the Kirov (in the background, but still…) and Mikhail Baryshnikov in his postmodern dance revival, “PastForward.”
Speaking on her journey from ballet to journalism to academia and back to ballet, Ms. Fisher will discuss this adventure that led to her upcoming 2019 book “An Autobiography of Ballet”(McFarland) that combines storytelling, memoir and dance analysis. Please join us on June 11th, 7:00 p.m. in the Ojai Art Center gallery for her talk, followed by a reception and book signing. $5 donation at the door.
For additional information, please contact: Ilona Saari, ilonalonie@gmail.com
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