Alexandra Insigna

Alexandra Insinga received her early training in Melbourne, Australia, where she received a Diploma of Art with Honors, passed her RAD Advanced II exam with Distinction and was a finalist in the City of Sydney McDonald’s Ballet Scholarships. She continued her studies at the New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD), during which time she was invited to compete in the 2003 New York International Ballet Competition and performed in the semi-finals at Lincoln Center. She graduated from NZSD the same year, attaining a National Certificate in Dance Performance.

Following her formal training, she was coached by legendary American ballerina Gelsey Kirkland and was the recipient of the Kingston City Arts Grant, which allowed her to further her training with Ms. Kirkland in New York City.

Alexandra was trained as a teacher in the Vaganova method by Nina Osipyan and Robert Ray. She also studied the Bournonville Enchainments alongside Gelsey Kirkland, and assisted her and Michael Chernov in research for their 2007 production of The Sleeping Beauty for American Ballet Theatre.

Alexandra moved to New York City in 2010, when she began teaching for Joffrey Ballet School and Gelsey Kirkland Academy (GKA). She became Associate Artistic Director of GKA and Gelsey Kirkland Ballet in 2015. In addition to teaching all levels of the Academy as well as the Company, she was Assistant Choreographer for Kirkland and Chernov’s new production of “The Nutcracker”, and she staged and coached repertoire from numerous ballets, including full-length versions of “The Sleeping Beauty”, “Don Quixote”, and “Pas de Quatre”, as well as excerpts from “Swan Lake”, “Paquita”, “Le Corsaire”, and “La Bayadere”, and several rare Bournonville ballets. During her time in New York, Alexandra also conducted extensive audition tours and was a guest teacher throughout the US and Canada.

In 2019 Alexandra returned home to Melbourne where she held the positions of Associate Artistic Director for Melbourne Academy of the Arts, instructor for Melbourne Institute of Dance and guest teacher for Melbourne City Ballet. She became certified in Progressing Ballet Technique in 2020. To complement her artistic and technical knowledge, in 2023 she also commenced her Master of Sports Coaching with University of Queensland.

2024 saw Alexandra and her family move back to the United States, and she is now excited to call Rochester home. Alex is passionate about helping every dancer make the most of their unique abilities and qualities, while pushing them to fulfill their potential and reach their goals. She is eager to share her knowledge with Draper’s students this summer!