Mr. Ballard brings a profound sense of history to his teaching from his early training with Margaret Craske, a direct student of Enrico Cecchetti and also a long-time collaborator with Anthony Tudor. In addition to Ms Craske, Mr. Ballard's training included studies with teachers from the Royal Ballet (Christopher Lyall), American Ballet Theater (Sallie Wilson and Tex Hightower), Ballet Russe (Vladimir Doukodovsky and Nina Stroganova), and the Joffrey Ballet (John Magnus and Trinette Singleton). Mr. Ballard has also trained with members of the Paul Taylor Dance Company and numerous well known New York City teachers such as Maggie Black, David Howard, Janet Panetta and Willem Buhrman. Mr. Ballard was a professional dancer for over 25 years, performing in a variety of companies large and small, in Europe as well as in the United States. During his professional performing career he worked directly with many well known choreographers and teachers and his extensive exposure to Ideokinesiology and post-career studies in the Alexander Technique (Graduate OCAT 2003) give him the ability to bring creative and contemporary ideas about learning, somatics, neuropsychology and postural analysis to bear in his classes, coaching and choreography.

Mr Ballard has taught children from age 7 up, advanced students 10-18 with a particular focus on young men as well as young dancers and professionals at every age and level. His morning technique classes in Portland are frequently attended by visiting professionals, other local teachers and ballet enthusiasts of all kinds. Mr. Ballards classes are considered clear, intense and engaging with a profound focus on the quality of approach and execution and the subsequent effects on technical execution and expertise. He is able to step outside the usual list of mechanisms and verbal cues and apply a meta-thought process to the act of learning, dancing and performing. His classes are humorous and compassionate without sacrificing the intensity of attention necessary for fully professional quality dancing.