Justin Leaf
Teaching Artist

Justin Leaf (They/Them) is an award-winning performance artist and ballet teacher based in Minneapolis. “A lean, soulful dancer, with a wicked sense of humor and movement style of grace and generosity” (MinnPost.com), Leaf graduated from the Juilliard School with a BFA in Dance Performance in 2001 and was a leading dancer with James Sewell Ballet (2002 – 2008) and Minnesota Dance Theatre (2008 – 2014). As a freelance artist, they have danced original works by John Kelly, George Stamos, and Morgan Thorson, among others. Justin studied ballet pedagogy with master teachers Andra and Ernesta Corvino and has more than twenty years of teaching experience. Since 2012, they have been on faculty at Minnesota Dance Theatre & School, teaching for intermediate, advanced, and professional levels. They have taught company class for Minnesota Dance Theatre, James Sewell Ballet, Minnesota Ballet, Ballet Hispánico, and Ballet Co.Laboratory. Justin's choreography has been presented by Minnesota Dance Theatre, James Sewell Ballet, Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Conservatory for the Performing Arts, and Collective Unconscious Performance, among others. They have received the 2001 Zaraspe Prize for Outstanding Choreography, a 2007 Minnesota SAGE Award for Best Performance, a 2009 McKnight Fellowship for Dancers, and a 2014 Next Step Fund Grant. For more information about Justin's work, visit justinleaf.com.