Jorge Laico

Jorge Laico, born in Manila, Philippines, received his dance training at Manila Metropolis Ballet under Tony Fabella and Eddie Elejar, then joining the professional ranks at Philippine Ballet Theater. He studied under the Royal Academy of Dancing syllabus (RAD) and Atlanta School of Ballet.

Mr. Laico’s 18-year professional dance career led him to join numerous top U.S. ballet companies. He joined Atlanta Ballet under Balanchine dancer Robert Barnett where he performed a broad repertory that included works by Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, Fernand Nault, Tom Pazik, and Toni Pimble. He joined Eugene Ballet-Ballet Idaho as principal dancer, and has danced with Tulsa Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Oakland Ballet, Ballet Pacifica, and Lexington Ballet. He was featured in Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux and Stars & Stripes, Marius Petipa’s Le Corsaire, David Allan Greer’s Capriole Suite, Dennis Nahat’s Quicksilver, Robert Sund’s Carmen, Stephen Mill’s Naughty Ones, August Bournonville’s La Sylphide, and The Nutcracker.

After his performing career, he taught at the Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts, Escuela Municipal del Teatro in Ribarroja del Turia, Spain, Pennsylvania Governor School of the Arts, and Cirque du Soleil. He was appointed Artistic Director of Wilmington Ballet Academy of Dance in May 2009 and Peoria Ballet 2018. He has choreographed and restaged classical and contemporary ballets including Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, 12 Dancing Princesses, Brigadoon, Piazzolla Suite, and Ave Maria.

Mr. Laico has taught beginner, intermediate, advanced, pas de deux, pointe, and male and female solo variations. His students have gone on to professional careers with New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, English National Ballet, and Dutch National Ballet. He has trained and coached dancers who have won medalists and awardees at the prestigious International Ballet Competition and Youth America Grand Prix in New York. To further his teaching knowledge, Mr. Laico has attended teaching and choreographic workshops with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Alonzo King Workshop, and Regional Dance America.