Ballet Teacher Stepping Over to Waldwick

Jeanette Tannan Hoffman, a Wyckoff resident who has taught adult ballet classes in Ridgewood for the past 45 years, is moving to In the Spotlight Dance Studio in Waldwick.

Hoffman, a former soloist with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, has been teaching at the Irine Fokine School of Ballet, which will close Sept. 1, and at the Alvin Ailey Extension in Manhattan, specializing in adult classes at all levels. 

 "It has been a privilege to work with Irine Fokine all these years, and I look forward to the next chapter in my career with the people at In The Spotlight Studio, where I will be able to continue doing what I love to do," Hoffman said.

At In the Spotlight in Waldwick, she will be teaching adult classes at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, beginning Sept. 14. Many of her adult students expressed their thanks that their classes will continue.

After leaving Ballet Russe, Hoffman became the resident prima ballerina with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Company. She also danced in a revival of Victor Herbert's "Sweethearts" on Broadway and was a guest artist at Radio City Music Hall, where she later because assistant choreographer for the Corps de Ballet. Her responsibilities included choreographing new ballets and auditioning dancers.

In the Spotlight opened in 1988 and has been named one of the nation's 50 top dance schools by Dance Spirit Magazine. The school offers ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical and hip hop for students ranging in age from pre-school through their teens.

The school's alumni have appeared on "So You Think You Can Dance," the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, "Wicked," the MTV Music Awards and many commercials.