Billy Blanken

Billy Blanken serves as a Lecturer of Dance at the Conservatory of Dance, Purchase College, State University of New York, and is the founder and Artistic Director of Sheep Meadow Dance Theatre (established 2016). His career bridges professional performance, choreography, and dance education across international platforms.

Education:

• BS, Ball State University

Research and Artistic Focus:

Blanken's practice centers on contemporary dance performance and narrative-driven choreography, exemplified by his original creation "the intimacies project"—an interdisciplinary collaboration merging dance, film, and music to explore human connections. His work extends to cross-cultural dance pedagogy through teaching engagements in Albania and Indonesia.

Professional Profile:

• Principal dancer: Amy Marshall Dance Company
• Company member: Les Ballets Grandiva
• Principal guest artist: Mobile Ballet, CoDa 21, Catherine Gallant Dance, Atlantic City Ballet, Northwest Florida Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre, East Village Dance Project, Northeastern Ballet Theatre, isadoraNOW, Project in Motion, Ballet Mink Colbert
• Teaching appointments: Peridance, Rioult Dance Center, Jakarta Intercultural School, National School in Tirana (Albania), Ball State University, Wright State University, Gibney Dance, Northwest Florida Ballet, Logrea Dance Academy