Julia Heggernes-Morrison
Julia started dancing at the age of 7 at Classical Ballet Academy in St. Paul, Minnesota. While dancing at Classical Ballet Academy, she was trained specifically under Andrew and Cheryl Rist who were professional dancers themselves. As a student Julia danced some of the professional roles in the Nutcracker such as Snow Queen, Rose and Harlequin, and Columbine.
Julia received many scholarships to summer programs over the years, but felt a strong pull toward Boston Ballet. She went to Boston Ballet’s summer program from 2002-2004. She was asked to stay for the pre-professional year program each year and finally went in 2004. While Julia was furthering her training, she was asked to perform with the company. Julia performed in Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, La Fille Mal Garde, and many Balanchine works: Serenade, Allegra Brilliante, Who Cares, La Valse, Divertimento 15, and Valse Fantastique.
Julia returned to Minnesota to dance with Ballet Minnesota from 2006-2012. Ballet Minnesota performed many classic ballets that Julia performed in including: Snow Queen, Rose and Harlequin and Columbine in the Nutcracker, Gamzatti in La Bayadere, Pas de Trios in Swan Lake, Friend in Coppelia, Amour in Don Quixote, Blue Bird in Sleeping Beauty, and Soloist in Giselle. While dancing with Ballet Minnesota, the director Andrew Rist choreographed many neo-classical works that Julia performed in. Including: Italian Symphony, Black Dog Café, River Songs, Rite of Spring, Beethoven’s 6th and 9th Symphony, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s 40th Symphony, and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.
In addition to being a professional dancer with Ballet Minnesota, she was also a teacher with Classical Ballet Academy. She taught skill levels ranging from level 1 through adult classes over her 4 year tenure. Julia also had the privilege of performing the lead role as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Rochester Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker. Julia has been teaching at several competitive dance studios including Revolution Dance, DelMonico Dance, Dance Arts Centre, and now Larkin Dance Studio.