Janel Amsallem
Artistic Director
Janel Amsallem is a native Galvestonian, the Artistic Director and founding alumnus of Galveston Ballet. She has dedicated herself to the art of ballet in our community through instructing, choreographing and staging productions for over 25 years. Janel received her early dance training under the direction of Jillian Pinsker, Mary Fullen, Carl Siberon, Richard Munro, Sherry Hiott, Cathy H. Girvin, Ian Lufler, Gladysue Hovis and Susan Carpenter-Porter. As a company dancer, Janel Amsallem performed in many productions at The Grand 1894 Opera House, which included Les Sylphides, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, La Bayadere, La Boutique Fantastique, Raymonda, Cinderella, La Fille Mal Gardee, Romeo and Juliet and several other classical ballets and pieces. Through the years, Janel recreated many of the productions once performed and has enjoyed choreographing and directing her own renditions of full length ballets including Giselle, Peter and the Wolf, Carnival of the Animals, Don Quixote, The Magic Toyshop, Sleeping Beauty, La Fille Mal Gardee, Cinderella, Coppelia and most recently, her originals Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan as well as other classical and contemporary variations for repertoires like The Nutcracker Suites, Collage, Kaleidiscope, Soulstice, and Remix. Since 2008, Janel represented Galveston Ballet as a leader in the youth cultural exchange program along with the committee of the Houston Galveston Stavanger Sister City Society (HGSSCS) and has thrice traveled to Norway with her company students, where they participated in Norwegian dance festivals, "Texas Days in Stavanger" and "Summer Dance Fest". She is honored and passionate about working with such young, talented and inspiring students.
Judith Grywalski
Ballet Mistress
Judith Grywalski received her early training at the Houston Ballet Academy under the direction of renowned teachers Ben Stevenson, Nicholas Polachenko, Ann St. Paul and Nathalie Krassovska, former Ballerina with Ballets Russes, and scholarship studies with Michel Panieff. Judith joined Dallas Ballet in 1973 as an apprentice under the direction of George Skibine (Ballets Russe de Monte Carlo) and Marjorie Tall Chief (New York City Ballet) performing in many productions including The Firebird, Carmina Burana, The Nutcracker, and productions of original choreography. Ms. Grywalski began teaching young students while still performing in Columbus, Ohio. She started a family and joined the faculty of BalletMet Dance Academy, official School of BalletMet Columbus. She taught ballet technique to students in the Lower School as well as Professional Track students, while concurrently teaching at Columbus Youth Ballet and Columbus Dance Theatre. Judith continued performing as a Guest Artist in original choreography by the respective Artistic Directors, Shir Li Wu and Tim Veach. She has been a Guest Teacher at summer workshops and Master classes in Ohio and Houston, Texas.