Phyllis Rothwell

Phyllis Rothwell began her training at Chapel Hill Ballet School in North Carolina and continued at the Academy of the Maryland Youth Ballet under the direction of Hortensia Fonseca and Michelle Lees. As one of 20 dancers picked from across the country, she spent three summers at the Chautauqua Institute studying with Jean Piere Bonnefoux, Patricia McBride, and Violette Verdy. At 17, Phyllis was accepted on a full scholarship to the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet and performed with Pennsylvania Ballet in company roles.

She has danced for Southern Ballet Theatre and as a principal dancer with Charleston Ballet Theatre, Eugene Ballet, Company C Contemporary Ballet, and Ballet Idaho. Her most noted classical roles include Giselle, Cinderella, Carmen, Juliet, Kitri, Odette, Aurora, Esmerelda, Titania, Alice, and Sugar Plum. Her contemporary works include a collaboration with Eugene Ballet and “Pink Martini”, “That’s Life” in Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs, David Parson's "The Envelope" and principal roles in Balanchine’s Serenade, Tarantella, Who Cares?, and Allegro Brilliante. Some of her favorite roles were Lucy in Jill Bahr's Dracula and The Mother in Kiesha Lalama's "The Bench" with Titus Bergess and Tobin Del Cuore.

Her love for teaching has made her sought after for masterclasses and private coaching throughout the Northwest. She has taught in summer intensives throughout the nation including Pennsylvania, Alaska, Idaho, Utah, and Washington. She has also been a company guest teacher for Paul Taylor and at the University of Georgia. Currently, she is an adjudicator for Whitman College’s Summer Dance Lab. She continues to teach privates to students so that they may understand their own personal growths and goals.

A budding choreographer, Phyllis has created many works for professional companies: Ballet Idaho, Idaho Dance Theatre’s "DanceFest", Boise Dance Co-op, Ballet Idaho Academy, Allegro Dance, The Dance Center of Walla Walla and Danza Classica Ballet Company. Recently, she was the director of the apprentice program for the Summer Dance Lab at Whitman College in Walla Walla and created an original work for the students.

Phyllis is the founder and director of Washington State Youth Ballet School and Washington Regional Ballet in Walla Walla. Her students both past and present have gone on to become professional dancers with companies such as Netherlands Dans Theater, Ballet Idaho, LED, Nevada Ballet Theatre, Whim Whim, and Ballet Fantastique.

Ms. Rothwell has coached both for Youth American Grand Prix and contestants for Miss America. She has been a master teacher and judges for the Spotlight Convention and a judicator for Tashco Young Artists Festival and Idaho DanceSport.