Anna Swenson

Ballet Instructor

Anna Swenson is a former Principal dancer with American Midwest Ballet, with more than a decade of experience performing, teaching, and mentoring young dancers. She brings a deep understanding of classical technique, artistry, and performance to her teaching, shaped by an extensive professional career with several respected ballet companies across the United States.

Anna danced with American Midwest Ballet from 2013–2025, performing a wide range of featured roles in both classical and contemporary repertoire. She performed soloist roles in productions such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Giselle, and Paquita. During her time with the company she danced featured roles including Big Swan in Swan Lake, Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Glinda and the Emerald Queen in The Wizard of Oz, and the Snow Queen and Arabian Soloist in The Nutcracker. Her performance career has also included engagements with Ballet Vero Beach, working with the Balanchine Trust Foundation, Omaha Opera, and Alberta Ballet. She has toured nationally with performances in cities including San Antonio, Des Moines, Cleveland, and Spirit Lake.

In addition to her performance career, Anna is a dedicated educator who has been teaching ballet since 2013. She served as the Lead Ballet Program Director and Pointe Program Director for over a decade, developing ballet curricula and mentoring dancers from beginner through pre-professional levels. In 2022 she created her own Youth of America Grand Prix (YAPG) Program and was the sole administrator and coach. Her work includes coaching students in the area outside of her own program for Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and the Universal Ballet Competition (UBC), where she selects and stages classical variations and trains dancers one-on-one. Anna has also choreographed full-length ballets and original works for studio performances and showcases.

Anna regularly teaches classical ballet technique, pointe, variations, and conditioning classes for dancers ages 8–18 and has served on faculty for summer intensives with American Midwest Ballet. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes building a strong classical foundation while encouraging dancers to develop confidence, musicality, and individuality through movement. She believes ballet should provide both disciplined technical training and a creative outlet where students feel empowered to express themselves artistically.

Committed to making dance accessible to the broader community, Anna has participated in numerous outreach programs throughout the Midwest, including teaching classes for underserved youth, presenting educational programs in public schools, and performing for community organizations and children’s hospitals. Through these initiatives, she strives to share the joy of ballet and inspire the next generation of dancers.

Outside the studio, Anna enjoys outdoor adventure and creative pursuits including mountaineering, scuba diving, hiking, theater, and Lagree fitness.