ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, JENNIFER Groenke

Jennifer Groenke arrived at the doorsteps of The Manhattan Ballet School at the tender age of seven.  Elfriede Merman and Patricia Savoia (former partner and co-director), trained Jennifer in her early years through her adolescence.  As Jennifer became more passionate for her love of ballet, she auditioned before the board for a scholarship that would ultimately allow her to study the art form everyday.  With the approval of Mrs. Merman and Mrs. Savoia, Jennifer was sponsored by a board member and was granted a full scholarship.

As Jennifer matured, her attention was drawn to the Early Childhood Development Program at The Manhattan Ballet School.  She was eager to learn and closely observed the classes that were developed by Mrs. Merman and Mrs. Savoia.  Their gentle and imaginative approach inspired Jennifer to want to do more than be just a student and subsequently began her transition into teaching.

Under the close guidance of her mentor and longtime friend Elfriede Merman, Jennifer has dedicated her life to encouraging young dancers to find their artistic freedom and express themselves to the best of their ability.

Jennifer has now instructed students for over 25 years, each year perfecting her talents in teaching technique, directing performances and adapting choreography to the students in each age group while remaining deeply rooted in the founders’ vision.

In her every day tutelage at the Manhattan Ballet School, children find an artistic home that feels unique, safe and special.

Predecessor Director: Elfriede Merman (Elfriede Camilla von Busse)

As a child, Elfriede Merman was chosen for classical ballet training at the prestigious gov-ernment-sponsored Staats Oper in Munich. Her renowned teachers were Erna Gerbel, Tatiana Gsovsky and Choreographer Pino Mlakar, then ballet master of the Staats Oper in Munich. At this time the Opera House was under the directorship of Clemence Kraus and H. Hartman. The opera’s conductor, composer Richard Strauss, was so taken by the young Elfriede that he influenced  Mlakar to give her solo roles in the premiers of his Josef Legende and Capriccio and Verklugene Feste and Tyl Eulenspiegel. It was at this time that she met her lifelong coach and friend, Natasha Boskovich.

Later, in Paris, she was coached by the legendary teacher, Olga Preobrajenska and studied with Victor Gsovsky. She danced with choreographer/ballet master Marcel Luipart and in New York joined Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo under the directorship of Serge Denham with Leonide Massine as artistic director.

With the Ballet Russe Company, she toured four continents with its stars Alexandra Danilova, Nina Novak, Frederic Franklin and Andre Eglevsky. Her solo roles were in Scheherazade, the Polovtsian dances from Price Igor, Les Sylphides, Three Cornered Hat, Carnival, Firebird, La Bayadere and the “Bluebird” variation in Aurora’s Wedding.

Through her friendship with Dr. Gertrude Bondi, director of The Windsor Mountain School in Massachusetts, she made the transition from performer to teacher and developed the ballet department of the school. Her students included Liza Minnelli, Jane Fonda and Shari Belafonte. Three years later, former New York City Ballet member Patricia Savoia joined her, and together they opened The Manhattan Ballet School.

The mission of the school, for the past forty years, has been to incorporate traditional ballet technique with music, drama, coaching and performance opportunities, based upon Mrs. Merman’s extensive professional background.