Jennifer Jaffe

Jennifer Jaffe received her dance training in Santa Rosa California under Deborah Palesch (Royal Winnipeg Ballet) and Alexandra Sawicka (Anglo-Polish Ballet and Metropolitan Opera House), later studying under Maria Vegh.  Jennifer is grateful that she was able to go on to have a professional career in ballet. In 1994, she became a founding member of Smuin Ballets/ S.F. where she danced lead roles in Michael Smuin’s ballets. While a member of Smuin Ballets, Jennifer performed at Carnegie Hall in the live telecast of Ira Gershwin at 100 as well as dancing in the films The Fantasticks, A Walk in the Clouds, and Return of the Jedi Special Edition.  In addition to Smuin Ballets/SF, Jennifer has also danced with the San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Sacramento Ballet, and The Ohio Ballet. 

Jennifer enjoys teaching dance to students of all ages and levels.  For over twenty years, she has taught ballet extensively throughout the Bay Area. Some of the schools she has taught at include, San Francisco Dance Center, Berkeley Ballet Theater, California Academy of Performing Arts, Marin Ballet, and Marin Dance Theater. Jennifer is currently on staff at the Sebastopol Ballet, Marin Ballet, and Petaluma School of Ballet. She has also been a faculty member at Sonoma State University for 15 years, where she has taught ballet, dance history, and courses within the Freshman Learning Community Program.  In addition to her dance experience, Jennifer also holds a Master’s degree in history from Sonoma State University.