Graciela Kozak

Ballet Teacher AND Choreographer

Graciela Kozak has been teaching ballet in New York City for more than 35 years. She currently teaches at Peridance Center, where she has taught since 1985, and at the Alvin Ailey School, where she has been on faculty since 2002. She has taught company classes for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II, Complexions, Ballet Hispánico, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and many other organizations. She has also been a guest instructor at Duke University and UCLA.Ms. Kozak was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina and trained at the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón. From 1973 to 1985, she danced with the Bat-Dor and Bat-Sheva companies of Israel, performing works by and working with renowned artists such as: Alvin Ailey, Jiří Kylián, Lar Lubovich, Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, Igal Perry, Donald McKayle, Robert Cohen, Gene Hill Sagan, and others. She also danced with the Peridance Ensemble in New York City.Ms. Kozak's classes are for dancers of all backgrounds and accentuate the prevention of injuries through correct alignment. She stresses placement, breathing, dynamics, musicality, vocabulary, use of space, and most importantly, the joy of dancing. Ms. Kozak speaks several languages and her classes are attended by students from all over the world.

About

Graciela Kozak was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She trained at the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón, and received her diploma of Professor of Classical Dance at the Conservatorio Albistur. From 1973 to 1985, Graciela danced with the Bat-Dor and Bat-Sheva companies of Israel and toured the country giving lecture-demonstrations in dance, sponsored by the Ministry of Education ("Art for the People"). Ms. Kozak moved to the United States in 1985.TEACHING EXPERIENCEMs. Kozak has been a faculty member of the Peridance Center in New York City since 1985, teaching ballet in the adult program, pointe work and variations, and choreographing workshops. In 2002, Graciela joined the faculty of The Ailey School, where she also teaches company classes for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II. She has been a guest instructor at Duke University and UCLA.Graciela has taught classes for the Jacob’s Pillow Festival, Ballet Tech, Complexions (including tours), Donald Byrd/The Group, Balletakademien International Summer Course in Stockholm, Sweden, the School of Ballet Hispanico, Dance Space, Steps and has given special courses for students of the Fiorello H. La Guardia Arts High School and the Art connection for the New York City Board of Education.PERFORMING EXPERIENCEWhile receiving her Ballet training at the Teatro Colón of Buenos Aires, Ms. Kozak performed in operas and ballets. She also performed with the Classical Company Ballet de Buenos Aires and the Contemporary Company of Paulina Ossona, one of Argentina’s pioneers in modern dance.From 1975 to 1985, she danced as a soloist with the Bat-Dor and Bat-Sheva dance companies in Israel, performing works by and working with great artists such as: Alvin Ailey, Jiří Kylián, Lar Lubovich, Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, John Butler, Rudy Van Dantzig, Igal Perry, Donald McKayle, Robert Cohen, Gene Hill Sagan, Domy Ritter-Soffer and many others. With these companies, she toured Europe, Africa and the United States. She performed with the Peridance Ensemble between 1985-1987 at the Joyce Theater and Riverside Church in New York City.CHOREOGRAPHING EXPERIENCEMs. Kozak has choreographed for the Peridance Ensemble, workshops for Peridance Center, Les Ballets Trocaderos de Monte Carlo, the Djoniba Mufflet Dance Company and solos and ensemble pieces for freelance dancers, singers and actors.

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