Artistic Director

Ali Pourfarrokh began his training as a scholarship student with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre School in New York. As a leading dancer and soloist, he performed with the Joffrey Ballet, the Harkness Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Metropolitan Opera Ballet and Frankfurt Opera Ballet. He also made numerous appearances with various ballet companies and concert groups nationally and internationally. Mr. Pourfarrokh continued his career as associate director and ballet master for Alvin Ailey's American Dance Theatre, artistic director of the Iranian National Ballet, and co-director and resident choreographer for Germany's Essen Opera Ballet. Mr. Pourfarrokh was the founder of the Dance Theater of Long Island in New York for four years. In 1988, he joined Alberta Ballet in Canada as artistic director and choreographer and remained in that position for a period of ten years. Currently on the teaching staff of Adelphi University, he also serves as artistic director of Eglevsky Ballet and teaches at the company's affiliated school, American Theater Dance Workshop. As a choreographer, he has staged many standard classical works for companies he has been associated with and he is also at home choreographing contemporary idioms ranging from neo-classical to modern and jazz. He continues to be in great demand as a choreographer and master teacher both in the U.S. and abroad.