Jennifer Barlow is an accomplished director, choreographer, performer, and educator whose career spans over three decades in dance and theater. She began her professional career performing with Cincinnati Ballet and the Guangzhou Ballet in China, and later appeared in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and at Tuacahn Center for the Arts.

Jennifer attended the University of Utah as a concurrent high school student, earning both a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Performance and a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography. She was honored with the prestigious Willam F. Christensen Scholarship and danced with the Utah Ballet Company under the direction of Attila Ficzere for four years. During her graduate studies, she served as the company’s Ballet Mistress. She was personally cast and coached by Willam F. Christensen for a special tribute production of his ballet Coppélia at Kingsbury Hall, in which she performed the title role of Swanhilda.

She is the founder of Barlow Arts Conservatory, which she led for 16 years before its acquisition by Ballet West. Under her leadership, BAC earned four Grand Prix titles, four Final Round placements at Lincoln Center, five Outstanding School awards, eight Best Choreographer awards, and two Outstanding Teacher awards at the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition.

Currently, Jennifer serves as the Artistic Director of the Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater, where she continues to direct and choreograph. Over the past 16 years, she has directed and choreographed more than 65 full-length musicals for Utah audiences, including An American in Paris (2019, Hale Centre Theatre Sandy) and the U.S. premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom, where she worked closely with Luhrmann’s production team, Global Creatures.

In 2023, Jennifer received the Stars Award for her significant contributions to dance in the State of Utah. She has been awarded the Utah Best of State medal for Choreography eight times. She is also a proud member of 42nd.club, a collective of investors and producers supporting Broadway and West End productions. Her most notable personal involvement includes Hadestown on Broadway, which won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Jennifer is thrilled to return to the University of Utah Ballet Department as a Guest Choreographer.