Assistant Professor and Artistic Director, Utah Ballet
Professor Kim’s career as a professional dancer includes having been awarded a total of 9 medals in international dance competitions, including 2 Grand Prix and 7 Gold Medals earning the top placing medals in Ballet, Contemporary Dance, and Korean National Dance categories from 1989-1998.
His professional dancing career spans across 12 years dancing as a Soloist with Universal Ballet Company of Seoul, Korea for 8 years across 13 countries on major the stages of the world including America, Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain, and Switzerland. He also danced as a Principal dancer with Korean Ballet Theatre for 4 years, had Principal Guest Artist engagements throughout Korea and America, and also danced with Korean National Ballet Theatre and Dayton Ballet Theatre in the states.
Throughout his career Jay has performed a repertoire of over 40 ballets including 15 full lengths, 20 ballets, and 8 Balanchine ballets. He was featured in over 12 media works which highlights include a dance review in the New York Times, a book feature in Dance in Korea, featured articles in Dance and People, Dance Forum, Madame Figaro, and Debebe magazines, and was featured in a live 30-minute television talk show appearance on ‘Arirang International’ television stations program ‘Heart to Heart’.
He currently serves as Assistant Professor and Artistic Director of Utah Ballet at the University of Utah Department of Ballet. He has previously served as Director of the Metropolitan Ballet Academy and Theatre, Adjunct Faculty at the Sejong University, Director of the Art Ballet Center of Seoul, and as Ballet Faculty at the Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre.
In November 2012, Jay Co-Directed and staged the full-length classical ballet Swan Lake featuring Acts II, III, and IV on Utah Ballet for 10 performances. The performances were received with glowing reviews to a house filled to capacity. ‘The Daily Utah Chronicle’ featured an article stating “…The Department of Ballet created a world of believable serenity and beauty through set scenery and stunning costumes… the dance company put on a fabulous show, one that is sure to leave you mesmerized and fully invested in the love story of Odette and Siegfried.” by Lynette Randall
In 2012 he was invited to serve as faculty for the Korea International Ballet Competition, a UNESCO-registered event in its 5th year. He taught ballet technique classes and presented lectures to both competitors and workshop participants. In addition, he lectured on the subject of ‘The New Millennium Approach to Ballet’ at Sejong University in Seoul, South Korea. The organizers wrote to Professor Kim: “Your gracious presence, experience and knowledge in the field of classical ballet have been an invaluable contribution to the success of the Korea International Ballet Competition.”
He has staged over thirty ballets of the classical and contemporary repertoire. His choreographic works include ‘Etudes’, ‘Elegy’, ‘Metamorphosis’, and ‘The Human Experience’ which incorporate the use of multimedia and art installations. In 2011 Oakland University’s Great Lakes Dance Festival commissioned his choreographic work ‘Elegy’ where he also served as Guest Teacher and instructed Technique and Choreography.
He earned his MFA with an emphasis in Teaching and Choreography from the University of Utah as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. He earned his BFA on full scholarship from the Sejong University, in Seoul, Korea, with an emphasis in Ballet, Contemporary, Modern, and Korean National Dance. Jay received his fundamental training from the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C. and the Dance Arts Institute in Kwang-Ju, South Korea.
Jay is thrilled to serve as an Assistant Professor and Artistic Director of Utah Ballet at the University of Utah Department of Ballet where he instructs Utah Ballet Technique, Technique for Upper Divisions and Lower Divisions, Men’s Class, Partner Adagio, and Graduate Pas Methodology.
801.581.6323