Jacob's Pillow Dance

since 1992. His career in dance includes work as a professional dancer, choreographer and master teacher. He received his training at the United States International University under the direction of John Hart, CBE and most notably Erling Sunde and Elaine Thomas, who still inspire him to excel. In 1991, he collaborated with Brenda Way and KT Nelson of ODC to create Krazy Kat for the San Francisco Ballet. In 1993, he began creating his own work with a pickup company and received critical notice for his craftsmanship and sense of humor. Fernandez has since choreographed for Alonzo King's LINES Ballet, Inland Pacific Ballet, James Sewell Ballet, Los Angeles Dance Theater, LINES Ballet School, San Francisco 's School of the Arts and Alabama School of Fine Arts. Most recently, he choreographed Dracula in two acts for Inland Pacific Ballet to critical acclaim. He has set ballets by Alonzo King on companies and universities throughout the U.S., including NYU Tisch School, Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Florida, and he works side by side with Mr. King in the creation of new work. Most notably, in August of 2006, he set Handel on the Royal Swedish Ballet with choreography by Alonzo King. He has been an integral part of the San Francisco dance scene for over 25 years. As a teacher, Fernandez has traveled extensively teaching master classes, workshops and intensives around the country. He has been a guest teacher for Lyon Opera Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Company, Inland Pacific Ballet, Robert Moses'Kin, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Moving People Dance Theater, as well as many other companies. He is a former member of the faculty of Cal State Long Beach, San Francisco State University, San Francisco School of the Arts, Orange County Performing Arts High School and Marin Dance Theater. At the Pillow, Fernandez performed with Zaccho Dance Theater in 1998. He also accompanied LINES Ballet as ballet master in 2002, 2005 and 2008. This will be his first season teaching with the Contemporary Traditions Program.