Performer’s Edge
Nataly North-Lowder
Nataly
Lowder, a native of Indiana, began her dance training at Jordan Academy
of Dance at Butler University. She was under the tutelage of Peggy
Dorsey, Jack Copeland, and Colette Kaufman. Nataly also trained with
San Francisco Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet. At the age of 15 she went
on scholarship to the National Academy of Arts under the Artistic Direction
of Petrus Bosman. Upon graduation Nataly danced 14 years as a professional
ballet dancer, receiving national acclaim in such ballets as Cinderella,
Sleeping Beauty, An American In Paris, Graduation Ball, and many more. She
worked with many wonderful choreographers including, Paul Russell, Basil
Thompson, Christine Hennessey, Tom Pazik, David and Anna Marie Holmes, and
David Hochoy.
Towards the end of her ballet career, Nataly decided to attend Butler University
and receive her B.S. degree in Arts Administration where she graduated with
high honors. She also started singing, dancing, and expanding her
scope of performing into musical theatre. She received many rave reviews
while at the American Cabaret Theatre for shows such as Cole and Nole, Broadway
Now, Voices of a Generation, and Bernstein’s Broadway. Her most
favorite singing moment was portraying Petra in Sondheim’s A Little
Night Music.
Since Nataly’s ballet retirement, she has been Co-Artistic Director
for Festival Ballet of Rhode Island, Director of Admissions for Virginia
School of the Arts, Teacher/Choreographer for Virginia School of the Arts,
and Director of Development for American Cabaret Theatre; all the while
guest teaching and choreographing for students ages 7 – 18.
Life then took her to Taiwan R.O.C. for 2 years where she taught ballet
and choreographed for Jubei High School, a performing arts school.
She also collaborated with local artists for a cultural event at the Hshinchu
Cultural Center where she performed in a modern/classical Chinese piece.
After leaving Taiwan, Nataly returned back to Indianapolis with her now
husband, Jonathan Lowder. She joined the Jordan Academy of Dance in
2003 as a guest choreographer for the Jordan Dance Ensemble. In 2004,
she was offered a full time teacher of ballet and classical jazz position,
as well as choreographer for the Academy.
Since joining Jordan Academy, Nataly started many new programs for the school.
She was the Director of the Summer Intensive bringing in dancers and teachers
from around the nation. She started the Jordan Dance Ensemble 2 geared
for younger students to have a chance to perform sooner and work alongside
the older dancers of JDE 1. She also began the Holiday Extravaganza,
Jordan’s holiday concert performed annually at Zionsville Performing
Arts Center.
Nataly was awarded a Creative Renewal Fellowship in 2007 from the Indianapolis
Arts Council where she traveled to New York to rejuvenate herself in her
art, meeting terrific people such as Fredrick Franklin of the Ballet Russe
and Georgina Parkinson of American Ballet Theatre.
Currently, Nataly has students performing professionally in Houston Ballet, Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet, Joffery Ballet, Bejart, Cincinnati Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Georgia Ballet, and State Street Ballet.
Nataly
is looking forward to bringing her background, knowledge and talent to Ron
Morgan and Performer’s Edge where she will develop and direct a ballet
program and youth performing group. Beyond her resume, you will find she
is passionate about her students and gains self-satisfaction and enjoyment
from watching her students go on to fulfill their dreams as she did. She
not only gets excited about the students who go on in the performing arts,
but also the students who have chosen to go on in other areas they are passionate
about. She believes the arts has the ability to teach children many things
beyond the art form and hopes many people will see she is not only a director,
artist, teacher, and choreographer, but a strong business person who has
the ability to not only develop a top notch program, but maintain and grow
such a program.
