Bio
Jory Hancock received his early training in New York where he studied as an apprentice to American Ballet Theater. After a season as a member of Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Mr. Hancock joined Houston Ballet and was promoted to Soloist in 1978, prior to being invited to join Seattle's Pacific Northwest Ballet as a Principal Dancer. Mr. Hancock received his M.S. at Indiana University and in 1983 accepted a faculty appointment there in ballet. In 1987 he became a member of the University of Arizona dance faculty.
Mr. Hancock has appeared throughout the United States and has danced in Canada, Mexico, China, Ecuador, Scotland and Taiwan. He has performed a wide range of styles, from classics to moderns, and has been cast as a principal in Swan Lake, Cinderella and other classics, in numerous Balanchine repertoire such as Serenade, Concerto Barocco and Four Temperaments, and in the title role and world premiere of James Clouser's Caliban, this country's first full length rock ballet. Mr. Hancock has worked with various contemporary choreographers such as Hans van Manen, Mark Morris, Loyce Houlton and most recently, Douglas Nielsen. Special engagements have included a tour with Mikhail Baryshnikov and appearances as guest artist with Martine van Hamel. In addition to his stage performances, Mr. Hancock is featured in five documentary specials made for PBS.
His choreography has been performed nationally and internationally as well, in such venues as the Taipei Dance Forum and the International Theatreschool Festival in Amsterdam.
Since 1990 Mr. Hancock has served as Head of the Dance Division, School of Music and Dance, and in May, 2001, began a new term as Chair of the University of Arizona Faculty.
