Susan Zadoff

Ms. Zadoff is a graduate of New York's High School of Performing Arts. Upon graduating she received a full scholarship to the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo School of 7 Ballet. Shortly thereafter, she became a member of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo Ballet Company. Her teaching and coaching is inspired by the many incredible, dedicated teacher/artists she studied with, among them are Frederic Franklin, Leon Danielian, Edward Caton, Helene Platova, Robert Joffrey, Nanette Charisse and Richard Thomas. She danced with Mr. Franklin's youth ballet, Louis Johnson & Co. and the Newark State Ballet Co. Ms. Zadoff also performed on the Broadway stage in several musicals. She began teaching for the Newark State Ballet School and in her own New Jersey studio, while she was raising her children. Her family moved to the Northwest where she resumed her performing career once again, with the Eugene Ballet Company. Ms. Zadoff has been associated with the Eugene Ballet Co. since its inception as a performer, choreographer, instructor, coach and briefly as ballet mistress. She has choreographed/staged for Oregon Repertory Theatre, University Theatre, Very Little Theatre and for other young companies in Eugene, San Diego and Ohio. Ms Zadoff joined the faculty of the Department of Dance at the University of Oregon and was responsible for teaching all levels of classical ballet, pointe and ballet staging, ballet vocabulary, dance history and musical theatre. She actively choreographed, as well, for the department's students and faculty. She retired from the University and holds the rank of Professor Emerita and has continued to teach for the department, as an adjunct instructor. Ms. Zadoff is currently a faculty member of the Eugene Ballet Academy. Her teaching career, back east and locally, spans 40 years; she is still endeavoring to "pass it on!".