Jill Oliver- Insightful Motion
A versatile and creative teacher who is experienced in injury prevention and rehabilitation for dancers, Jill began studying Pilates in 1986 and has been teaching Pilates since 1993. Her initial certification (Institute for the Pilates Method) training was with Rael Isacowitz in Costa Mesa, CA. She also studied with Ann Barbour (pilates and Alexander Technique) and completed certification training through Stott Pilates as well. Jill has studied body rolling (Yamuna Body Rolling and small ball myofascial release), kinesiology, functional anatomy, human anatomy and physiology, and is currently studying the Franklin Method, the Schroth Method of scoliosis treatment and Scolio-Pilates. She is certified in Pilates for Neurological Conditions and Progressing Ballet Technique as well.
Jill is in her 9th season as Artistic Director of Thrive Ballet. Each year the company presents her original Nutcracker and an early summer performance of original choreography and classical variations. Jill studied ballet throughout the United States, beginning when she was six years old. Her training included all of the major ballet techniques. She studied with Ann Etgen and Bill Atkinson, Janne Jackson Dean, Raya Lee and at the Contra Costa Ballet Centre School, among others. She studied Vaganova technique with Victor and Tatiana Kasatsky, Lucimary Montiero-Bly and under Erki Tann.
Jill performed with Danse Allegresse (Annandale, NJ) as a company member. For five years she was a member of Today's Generation Dance Company (San Ramon, CA), performing as a soloist for two years. Jill was also employed as rehearsal director and repetiteur for Today's Generation's junior company. Jill danced professionally with Ballet Unlimited (Orange, CA) for three years, performing as an apprentice, soloist and guest artist. Her roles included Chinese, Reeds, Spanish, Mouse and Sugarplum from the Nutcracker, and she performed variations from Les Sylphides, Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote and Le Corsaire in company repertory. With Ballet Unlimited Jill performed soloist roles in Hansel and Gretel, La Boutique Fantasque, The Seasons, Bird Dances, Confrontations, Souvenirs, and Stars and Stripes. Most recently, Jill appeared in Colorado Ballet's 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 productions of the Nutcracker and in Angular Momentum Ballet Ensemble's Dance and Dessert 2004 and 2005.
Jill has studied body rolling (Yamuna Body Rolling and small ball myofascial release), kinesiology, functional anatomy, human anatomy and physiology, and is currently studying the Franklin Method, the Schroth Method of scoliosis treatment and Scolio-Pilates.
Jill has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pomona College, is a Certified Pilates Instructor, is certified in Pilates for Neurological Conditions, is a certified Progressing Ballet Technique teacher, and is a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science and the IDEA Health and Fitness Association.