Johanna Hilchie graduated with distinction from the Teacher Training Program at Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS). She holds teaching qualifications from the Royal Academy of Dance and the Society of Classical Ballet Vaganova Method (SCBVM). Upon graduation, she joined the teaching staff at NBS where she taught ballet for 8 years, alongside being on faculty at Randolph College for the Performing Arts. Ms. Hilchie is a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts and winner of the 1999 Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association National Ballet Competition. She currently resides in Marseille, France.

Motivated by a profound belief in the transformative power of private coaching, Johanna embarked on a passionate journey as a private coach. She aspired to provide dancers with personalised attention, tailored guidance, and targeted corrections. Fueled by an unwavering commitment to nurturing each individual’s unique potential, she embraced private coaching as the optimal platform to foster her students’ growth, enhance their technical proficiency, and ignite their artistic expression.

Building on the success of her students, Johanna established Johanna Hilchie Ballet, an audition-based conservatory training program for students aged 12-17 in Toronto. This comprehensive program blended small group classes with private and semi-private coaching sessions, enabling students to train up to 20 hours per week. Johanna held the position of Artistic Director until her move to Marseille. 

Throughout her career, Johanna has successfully trained students for exams through the SCBVM and the Royal Academy of Dance, including prestigious achievements such as the Solo Seal Award, 2015 Winner of the Phyllis Bedells Bursary in London, and finalists at the Youth American Grand Prix. Johanna has also been invited as a guest teacher at ballet schools and companies in the United States, Canada, Japan, Bermuda, and Kosovo.

Driven by a continuous desire to expand her teaching knowledge, Johanna actively seeks opportunities for professional development. She has attended the teacher’s course at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and has completed the Bolshoi Ballet Academy’s Teacher Certification Program. Additionally, Johanna’s curiosity about the intricate anatomy underlying ballet movements, stemming from her own hip injury, has fueled her interest in gaining knowledge in this field. She has had the privilege of learning from and collaborating with leading ballet physiotherapists in Toronto, further deepening her understanding of the connection between ballet technique and anatomical principles. Johanna’s commitment to comprehensive teaching extends to attending workshops such as the Dance Teacher Training & Health Professional Workshop led by the internationally renowned Australian physiotherapist, Lisa Howell.

Outside of her career, Johanna enjoys cooking, gardening, furniture refurbishment, and exploring new destinations through travel.