ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
PHIL AMER
Philip Amer was raised in northern California, where he began his dance training at age four. His early inspirations were Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, which prompted him to ask his mother to enroll him in dance. His early training was in Eureka, California with the Redwood Concert Ballet. For several summers he studied at the San Francisco Ballet School, under the direction of Richard Cammack. As a young dancer, he danced with Ballet Celeste International in San Francisco and performed with them in Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe, Japan.
Early in his professional career, Philip joined the Cleveland Ballet, under the direction of Dennis Nahat, where he had the opportunity to be onstage with notable dancers, such as Cynthia Gregory. After spending a season dancing with BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio, Philip was offered a position with the Sacramento Ballet. He spent six years there, where he performed an extensive repertoire of Balanchine ballets, including Rubies, Allegro Brilliante, the Four Temperaments and Prodigal Son, among many others. While with the Sacramento Ballet, he also performed principal and soloist roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, and The Nutcracker. Philip danced in Minneapolis with the James Sewell Ballet, directed by James Sewell. He also danced with the Minnesota Dance Theatre, directed by Lise Houlton, former soloist of the American Ballet Theatre and Stuttgart Ballet. Philip performed with San Francisco Opera Ballet in “Aida,” with choreography by Donald Byrd. He also performed a soloist role in the Russian comic opera “Betrothal in a Monastery.”
Philip moved to Southern California and performed with L.A Classical Ballet. He also performed with Nancy McCaleb and the San Diego Ballet. Philip taught Ballet in many studios in the area as well, including San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, Academy of Performing Arts, Scripps Dance Center, and SCPA in Chula Vista High School. Philip choreographed as well, creating several pieces that have been performed throughout California and Mexico.
After spending a few years in San Diego Philip found his way back up to the San Francisco Bay area where he performed with Company C Contemporary Ballet and taught at several studios around the bay area. During his time up north Philip also completed his degree in Computer Information Systems through DeVry University.
Philip has returned to the San Diego area and is teaching in his new hometown of Escondido. He has also done some performing with other local schools as well as debuting an original work at the Mojalet Dance Collectives Summer Series Collage concert last summer.
Philip is excited to embark on this new journey with Induction Dance and hopes you will join him!