New York City, NY — Mar 18, 2026 – The Joffrey Ballet School continues to evolve its Pre-Professional Trainee Program with an expanded leadership structure designed to further align artistic training, performance experience, and professional career development. Rooted in the legacy of Robert Joffrey and guided by The Joffrey Way, the School’s educational philosophy emphasizes a whole-artist approach where classical technique and contemporary expression coexist. This expansion reflects a continued commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and preparing dancers to enter the professional world as versatile, thoughtful, and career ready whole-artists.
As part of this evolution, the Joffrey Ballet School announces the appointment of Bradley Shelver as Artistic Director of Contemporary Ballet Studies and Director of Professional Career Development within the School’s Pre-Professional Trainee Program. These appointments mark a strategic expansion of the School’s leadership structure and further strengthen its commitment to preparing dancers for the evolving demands of the professional dance world.
Shelver will continue to serve as Artistic Director of the Joffrey Concert Group. As the resident dance company of the Joffrey Ballet School, this pre-professional performing ensemble provides young artists from the School’s year-round Trainee Program the opportunity to experience life as a professional dancer. Through the end of the current academic season, Shelver will also continue serving as Acting Artistic Director of the Jazz & Contemporary Trainee Concentration, ensuring continuity of leadership until Angelica Stiskin returns as Artistic Director in Fall 2026.
The School also extends its gratitude to Bradley Shelver for his leadership of the Jazz & Contemporary Trainee Concentration over the past two years while serving as Acting Artistic Director. During this time, Shelver provided artistic continuity and guidance for the program while supporting students and faculty through an important period of development. His dedication to the growth of the concentration has helped strengthen the program and prepare for its next chapter.
The Trainee Program and its artistic leadership operate under the direction of Dean Meg Paul, who oversees the School’s year round Pre-Professional training and educational vision.
Photo by Layla Shoobridge | From L-R: Stacy Caddell, Era Jouravlev, Bradley Shelver, Angelica Stiskin, Meg Paul
“The expansion within our leadership structure builds on Robert Joffrey’s legacy of innovation,” said Meg Paul, Dean of the Joffrey Ballet School. “By aligning artistic direction, training, and student support under a unified vision, we can respond with greater impact to the evolving needs of today’s dance landscape while providing our students the consistency, mentorship, and performance-ready preparation they need to thrive in their careers.”
Photo by Layla Shoobridge | Bradley Shelver
Artistic Director of Contemporary Ballet Studies
As Artistic Director of Contemporary Ballet Studies, Shelver will help shape curriculum and performance studies programming within the Trainee Program, integrating classical ballet with contemporary movement practices and the stylistic versatility required of today’s professional artists. He will collaborate with the Trainee Artistic Team on repertory development, faculty engagement, and student mentorship. Shelver’s continued leadership of the Joffrey Concert Group further strengthens the connection between conservatory training and professional performance experience.
Director of Professional Career Development
Shelver has also been appointed Director of Professional Career Development, leading a new initiative designed to support Trainees as they transition into professional careers. Working closely with the Dean, Artistic Directors and Associate Artistic Director of the Trainee Program, the program will provide individualized career advising, audition preparation, portfolio and resume development, and industry workshops for Trainees, with particular focus on students in their final years of training, while offering guidance on navigating the global dance landscape.
“Supporting dancers as they transition from training into professional life is incredibly meaningful work,” said Bradley Shelver. “Through the Trainee Program and the Joffrey Concert Group, we are able to create real bridges between the studio and the professional stage, helping young artists discover where they belong within the industry.”
Photo by Layla Shoobridge | Angelica Stiskin
Welcoming Back Angelica Stiskin
Following the completion of her graduate studies at Harvard University, Angelica Stiskin will return in Fall 2026 as Artistic Director of the Jazz & Contemporary Trainee Concentration. Over the past two years, Stiskin served as Artistic Director At-Large while pursuing her master’s degree.
“Angelica has been an integral part of shaping the Jazz & Contemporary concentration and we are thrilled to welcome her back at full capacity,” said Frank Lee Merwin, Executive Director of the Joffrey Ballet School. “Her leadership and dedication to the development of young artists continues to strengthen the program and the broader Joffrey community.”
Stiskin shared her excitement about returning to the School.
“Completing my graduate studies at Harvard has deepened my commitment to shaping not only what happens inside a training program, but what becomes possible across the broader landscape of dance education. I am thrilled to return to my role as Artistic Director to continue building the Jazz & Contemporary Trainee Concentration as a space where rigor, individuality, versatility, and humanity can coexist. My work has only sharpened my belief that if we want to strengthen the future of the art form, we must also strengthen the educational pipeline leading dancers to our doors. I return ready to expand what the Jazz & Contemporary Trainee Concentration can offer, while pushing the boundaries of how we prepare dancers for meaningful, sustainable careers. I am excited for what’s next and proud to step back into this work with renewed vision and conviction.”
Trainee Program Artistic Leadership
The announcement also confirms the full artistic leadership structure of the Joffrey Ballet School’s Trainee Program. The Joffrey Ballet School Pre-Professional Trainee Program will be led by the following artistic team beginning Fall 2026:
Dean
Meg Paul
Artistic Director, Ballet Trainee Concentration
Era Jouravlev
Artistic Director, Jazz & Contemporary Trainee Concentration
Angelica Stiskin
Associate Artistic Director, Ballet Trainee Concentration
Stacy Caddell
Artistic Director of the Joffrey Concert Group
Artistic Director of Contemporary Ballet Studies
Director of Professional Career Development
Bradley Shelver
Learn more about our Trainee Program: https://www.joffreyballetschool.com/trainee-program
Media Contact
For media inquiries, please contact:
Joffrey Ballet School, Maria Zamri, marketing@joffreyballetschool.com
