Paunika Jones
Paunika Jones is a native of Miami, Florida. She is an alumna of New World School of the Arts in Miami, Florida, where she studied ballet, modern, tap and jazz dance. She has trained under the direction of Suzanne Laliberté (Clark), Ursino Del Ville, Linda Rodgers Albritton, Yayi Vega, and Beatrice Laverne to name a few. She also studied at the Ailey School and the Dance Theatre of Harlem School's Summer Intensive Programs. Ms. Jones was invited to join DTH's Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble in 1996 where she remained for two years until she was accepted into the professional company as an apprentice. From there she quickly ascended through the ranks to become a Principal Dancer. Ms. Jones has performed leading roles in John Taras's Firebird, George Balanchine's Serenade and Four Temperments, Geoffrey Holder's Dougla, Arthur Mitchell, Augustus van Heerden and Laveen Naidu's South African Suite, and Robert Garland's Return. She has worked with the legendary Donald McKayle, various representatives from the Balanchine Trust and Michael Smulin.
Ms. Jones' professional company experience include: Dance Theatre of Harlem, Oakland Ballet, Columbia City Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Collage Dance Collective, DeMa Dance Co. and Ballet Noir.
Ms. Jones rejoined the Dance Theatre of Harlem's Ensemble in 2007 as a fellow and featured dancer. Recently she is a Freelance Artist who is in the process of beginning her own dance and performance art company in New York City. She'd like to thank Ms. Suzanne Laliberté Clark for instilling within her the fundamental basics of classical ballet training, grace, patience and strength to begin and continue with her professional career as a ballerina and elegance of a woman. "I love you and am honored to come and teach as a guest teacher at Cary Conservatory!!"
Ms. Jones' professional company experience include: Dance Theatre of Harlem, Oakland Ballet, Columbia City Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Collage Dance Collective, DeMa Dance Co. and Ballet Noir.
Ms. Jones rejoined the Dance Theatre of Harlem's Ensemble in 2007 as a fellow and featured dancer. Recently she is a Freelance Artist who is in the process of beginning her own dance and performance art company in New York City. She'd like to thank Ms. Suzanne Laliberté Clark for instilling within her the fundamental basics of classical ballet training, grace, patience and strength to begin and continue with her professional career as a ballerina and elegance of a woman. "I love you and am honored to come and teach as a guest teacher at Cary Conservatory!!"