Arlene Minkhorst

Arlene Minkhorst is a graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. She performed with the RWB Company before deciding to redirect her energies to teaching and joined the RWB School faculty in 1979. In 2004, Ms. Minkhorst took over the Directorship of the RWB School, a position she held until joining Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education in August 2018. She retired in 2023 with the title of Tulsa Ballet, School Director Emeritus. She continues to support Tulsa Ballet in the recruitment of talented dancers at competitions. 

Throughout her career, Ms. Minkhorst has taught all levels of ballet and pointe technique, repertoire classes, conducted rehearsals for performances and taught teacher-training workshops. She oversaw the successful creation and implementation of several outreach programs in Winnipeg and Tulsa and built national and international partnerships to provide the best in dance education for her students. 

Ms. Minkhorst currently volunteers as Chair of the Steering Committee of the International Alliance of Professional Dance Schools. She continues to accept engagements as a guest teacher and adjudicator for dance festivals and competitions across Canada and the United States. She has been a member of the jury for the Youth America Grand Prix, the Prix de Lausanne, the Japan Grand Prix, the Tanzolymp, ADC/IBC and UBC competitions.