Amy Kozol, Executive Director & Company Dancing Artist
Amy Kozol developed her passion for ballet at a young age and began her serious ballet training at City Center School of the Arts in Rock Island, Illinois. She later had the privilege of spending three years dancing as a trainee with Ballet Quad Cities, a ten-member classical company under the direction of Johanne Jakhelln. During this time, she had the privilege of performing original choreography by Johanne Jakhelln, Margaret-Mead Finizio, Dan Stark, and Deanna Carter and danced such roles as Clara in The Nutcracker, the Spring Fairy in Cinderella, and Miep in Jakhelln’s original story ballet, From the Pages of a Young Girls Life, based on the story of Ann Frank.
Motivated by a growing desire to more directly combine her Christian faith and her occupation as a dancer, Amy left Ballet Quad Cities to seek training at Ballet Magnificat, a Christian professional ballet company in Jackson, Mississippi. She studied there under Juri Vorborsky, Resident Choreographer and Artistic Director of the Omega Company, Cassandra Voborsky, and Sol Nazario. During her time at Ballet Magnificat, Amy was able to perform repertoire from ballets such as Rinah and Shane & Shane. She later toured throughout the Jackson vicinity performing Ballet Magnificat’s famous God Gets the Glory, and the original story ballet Narrow Road, based on The Pilgrims Progress, choreographed by Hannah Beaver and Reagan Gresli Marquez.
After moving to Chicago in 2009, Amy took a break from dancing full time in order to pursue the conclusion of her Bachelor’s degree in Professional Writing and Business Administration. During this time, Amy worked at the front desk at the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Chicago, as well as with Turning Pointe School of Dance from time to time as an administrative assistant and rehearsal director. Amid her respite from dancing, Amy developed an increasing passion to use the art of dance performance for God’s glory, specifically in Chicago and the surrounding areas
In January 2012, Amy became the co-founding Executive Director of Ballet 5:8 and has had a significant role in developing the administrative structure of the Ballet 5:8 professional company and School of the Arts. Not to be left out of the thick of the excitement, however, she also decided to return to ballet and is enjoying her first performing season as a company dancing artist. She currently lives on Chicago’s south side and is thankful for the great privilege of being involved with Ballet 5:8 as a director, dancer and artist.
