Faculty - The Joffrey Workshop

PRIMARY FACULTY

MAURO VILLANUEVA

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / EDUCATOR

Mauro Villanueva (he/him) began his dance training with Shawn Knife and continued his studies at the University of the Incarnate Word Ballet School and The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory. His extensive career includes a 13-year tenure with The Joffrey Ballet, where he performed in numerous ballets by world-renowned choreographers. Villanueva's work extended beyond the stage - he served as a union representative for the dancers and was one of two artists selected to participate in the search for a new artistic director.

Mauro's versatility as a performer led him to work with companies such as Barak Ballet (now Los Angeles Ballet), Ballet San Antonio, Intermezzo Dance Company, and The Jacksonville Symphony among others.

His passion for teaching has led him to complete the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet Teacher Training and the School of American Ballet National Visiting Fellow program. Mauro has taught at institutions like the Colburn School, Edge Performing Arts Center, North Carolina School of the Arts, The New Jersey Ballet, and Regional Dance America, as well as Ballet San Antonio, The Ballet Alliance, The New Orleans Ballet Association, and The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory.

An advocate for preserving and advancing the art of concert dance, Villanueva is a répétiteur and board member of The Gerald Arpino Foundation, and is co-director of The Joffrey Workshop.

KENNY BORCHARD

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / EDUCATOR

Kenny Borchard (he/him) is an alumnus of Idyllwild Arts Academy and the University of Arizona. Since graduating, Kenny had an extensive performance career, appearing in television and commercial projects on TLC: What Not to Wear, Fox: Mobbed, TruTV, Toyota, and Lifetime’s Petals on the Wind.

He has also performed with Odyssey Dance Theatre, Solevita Dance Company, Pacific Festival Ballet, Pasadena Dance Theatre, and many others. A highlight of his career was joining the cast of Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular at Disney's California Adventure, a Broadway-quality production that ran for nearly 13 years at the Hyperion Theater.

In addition to performing, Kenny co-produced two seasons of the Los Angeles Dance Festival, and built and implemented a Jazz technique curriculum for The School of Ballet San Antonio. He has taught on the faculty of Broadway Dance Center’s Children and Teen Program, Regional Dance America, The Ballet Alliance and has been a guest educator and choreographer across the country.

Since retiring from performing, Kenny has focused on creating inclusive and welcoming dance spaces where students feel honored and valued for who they are and how they express themselves in dance.