Hepner-Thurston keeping the arts alive

Jacqueline Hepner-Thurston’s career as a lead ballerina is a dream that so many dancers in this world hope to aspire to one day. Her unbridled talent, passion, beauty and grace sprinkled the stages both nationally and internationally.

Hepner-Thurston was one of the original dancers in the New York City Ballet from 1948 to 1952. Her genius in the art of ballet appointed her principal ballerina with the Washington Ballet and National Ballet for a decade.

It was hard work and determination that made Hepner-Thurston the dancer that she was, and still is today.

At the mere age of 7, Hepner-Thurston knew she wanted to be a professional ballerina after her mother took her to see the ballet. “In that performance was ‘Swan Lake,’ and after the performance, I told my mother that’s what I wanted to do,” said Hepner-Thurston.

Her first professional ballet instructor immediately spotted Hepner-Thurston’s budding talent. “I knew right away that ballet was my passion; it was my dream,” shared Hepner-Thurston.

Because her father was an Army officer, she had the opportunity to train with different instructors when the family was transferred. The well-known Jorg Fasting, a Danish ballet dancer, instructed Hepner-Thurston.

Another transfer to Washington, DC, placed her in the very artistic hands of Lisa Gardiner and Mary Day, the founder of the Washington School of Ballet, otherwise known as the “Grand Dame of Ballet” of Washington, DC. “My talent was recognized and I was nourished by all these famous people.”

When Hepner-Thurston graduated from high school, her next destination was New York, where attended the School of American Ballet. There, she was trained by the great George Balanchine.

Following her astounding career as a professional dancer, Hepner-Thurston became a highly respected director and instructor at institutions such as Maryland University, Jacqueline Hepner School of Ballet, San Diego Ballet, UCSD and now, the Ballet Society of North County in Fallbrook.

She considers herself truly lucky in life to have had the gift of studying and dancing with famous people from all over the world. “I have a great deal to give to the next generation, as it was given to me,” said Hepner-Thurston.

She yearns to teach the arts to people of all ages, especially children. “I don’t just teach students steps; I’m teaching the students the history of an art form.”

She prides herself in carrying on a classical venue and strives to perpetuate it. “The arts should not be lost,” said Hepner-Thurston. For her, the arts enrich the lives of many, and this is why she wills herself to teach such an important part of history.

Hepner-Thurston teaches classical ballet with techniques and standards that she expects her students to adhere to. She promotes the elegance of dance, coupled with rich, artistic ability.

“I have trained professional dancers who have been stars of the biggest ballet companies. They started with me.” Hepner-Thurston remains ever humble when stating that the credit of her students’ successes does not come from her, but rather, from her students. “They did the work, not me,” she announces.

To this day, Hepner-Thurston adores teaching ballet and compares it to planting a seed and watering it: “Pretty soon you’ve got that beautiful flower, and that is what teaching is to me.”