Downtown Dance: A Dance Studio And Rehearsal Space
Jesse Hammel
Ballet Director / Teacher
Jesse Hammel's 20 year professional ballet career began in 1990 under the intensive tutelage of Marie Hale and Claudia Cravey of Ballet Florida. After apprenticing, performing and touring with the Company for 4 seasons, he joined Tampa Bay Ballet Theater for a year as a soloist. Seeking an ecclectic diversion, Mr. Hammel then joined with Demetrius Klein Dance to experience the expressive freedom in Modern Dance. Having toured and performed with Demetrius for a season, in 1996 he was witnessed in a random class by Minneapolis based, contemporary ballet choreographer and director James Sewell. Jesse was invited to perform with his dynamic Company and remained for four seasons. With Mr. Sewell's impeccable musicality and ballet technique, Jesse honed the skills necessary to become a principle ballet dancer while frequently performing and touring a variety of pas de deux, solo and ensemble pieces through the United States and Bermuda. In 2000, Mr. Hammel sought to diversify his experience again and joined the Denver based David Taylor Dance Theater. While living in the Rocky Mountains, he enjoyednationaly performing and touring classical and contemporary ballets, teaching Company ballet technique classes and choreographing 2 ballets within Mr. Taylor's Company. In 2003, Jesse relocated to Southern California to perform as a principle dancer with Ballet Pacifica under the artistic direction of Molly Lynch. He performed in some of his favorite world-class ballets such as Anthony Tudor's "Lilac Garden" and Choo San Gogh's "Unknown Territory" as well as Sugar Plum Cavalier in "The Nutcracker". In 2004, Mr. Hammel was invited to perform with the all-male comedy ballet troupe, The Grandivas. There, he performed the exacting intricacies of pointe-technique while touring throughout Japan and Korea. In 2005, Mr. Hammel retired from full-time professional ballet performance to pursue a Master's degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine. However, while studying the ancient healing arts of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbalism, he continued to perform as a guest- artist for San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet and Ballet Pacifica. Having earned his degree and licenses as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine in 2007, he continues to perform as a sought after guest artist as well as compassionately treating his patients. In addition, Mr. Hammel has been a devoted and inspirational teacher of the ballet arts since 1994. He is presently thrilled to accept an invitation to teach ballet with Downtown Dance.
Ballet Director/Teacher