Judith FLEX Helle

Judith FLEX Helle was born in Boston, MA and began modern dance and ballet at age 4. She graduated  from the San Francisco Art Institute with a BFA in film. While in San Francisco, she performed with the experimental modern dance troupe The Oblong Rondas.

She moved to Berlin, Germany in 1981, and danced with the Deutsche Opera Berlin for 6 years. During that time, she formed her concert dance troupe “FLEX,” which received many grants and awards. The FLEX group was comprised of top modern and ballet dancers from around the world and also had a commercial dance department, which fulfilled many music video, film, TV, and commercial dance jobs.

She performed as a principal dancer in the cabaret show “La Vie En Rose” and toured as a principal dancer for 3 years in the Brazilian dance revue “Brazilian Follies”, a full length Ailey styled/Carnival in Rio extravaganza. In addition, Judith became an accomplished aerialist, notably on trapeze. Her trapeze performances were seen around the world and, pre-Cirque du Soleil, were noted for artistry, emotion, and excitement. The Berlin magazine Tip called her “…the Mata Hari of the air…” for her expressive performance magnetism.

Upon her arrival in Los Angeles she joined the dance agency of Julie McDonald, and performed in music videos, and other freelance dance jobs available at that time, including joining with other modern choreographers performing in LA. She finally settled into a freelance circus career, and with her Cirque du Soleil colleagues began presenting fine aerial and cirque shows for corporate events, rock venues, museum and film openings, and other distinguished venues. Some highlights from this career include working on Madonna’s “ReInvention Tour” in 2004 on the aerial swing number.

Between 2002-2006, Judith began work on a full length aerial ballet, “LedZAerial” to the music of Led Zeppelin with co-aerial choreographers Dreya Weber, Bianca Sapetto, and Russ Stark. The piece was also a collaboration with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin who came to see the piece at the Key Club on Sunset Blvd in 2006.

Judith founded Luminario Ballet of Los Angeles with start up funds from the Charles Evans Foundation in December 2008, and the company debuted at the Avalon Hollywood in June 2009. Since then, Luminario Ballet has performed nationally, opening the 2013 10th Annual Miami Dance Festival with a full evening rep show, 4 successful full length repertory show seasons in LA/Long Beach/ Orange County, as well as numerous guest appearances at CalArts, USC Voices and Visions, Laguna Dance Festival, Dance Bistro, Pasadena Dance Festival, and more. Judith has also choreographed commissioned ballets, which Luminario Ballet performed for the LA Philharmonic, Dana Point Symphony, and New Valley Symphony.

Luminario Ballet received 4 dance awards for 2011’s Season 3 from the Beverly Hills Outlook, and Judith FLEX Helle was nominated for Outstanding Choreographer in Concert/Live Performance for the World Dance Awards 2012.

Judith is also a Master Pedagogue, having taught ballet, modern, jazz , and aerial dance worldwide, specializing in teens (ISOMATA, Orange Coast College). She has coached privately all aerial apparatuses (trapeze, cerceau, silk, hammock) for over 30 years. Her students perform in many circuses including Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Eloize, rock tours, and famous dance companies worldwide.

Luminario Ballet Company Website:  www.luminarioballet.org

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