Meet Judith FLEX Helle | Ballet company director, choreographer, artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Judith FLEX Helle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Judith, why did you pursue a creative career?
I knew already as child that I wanted to be an artist- for me it was actually a part of my “being”. My earliest memories are of drawing, painting, sculpting, creating, even when I played outside in the yard I was building and creating worlds and designs with sticks, leaves, and dirt for my dolls and toys to have as an environment. I had art lessons, dance lesson, music lessons, and unlike many other kids practiced constantly and rewarded myself with satisfaction when I felt a good painting was done, that I’d danced well at recital, or my music was coming along adequately- I switched from violin to guitar at age 12 as I felt “screechy”, only later to discover I was my violin teacher’s best student- I had high standards for myself.

I had a series of small teen jobs and then at art school where I majored in printmaking and film, I auditioned and landed a job in a show that ran nights so had my first paychecking dance job at 20!

After a stop and start year in London, I moved to Berlin, auditioned for the Deutsche Opera Berlin, was hired as a ballet/modern dancer and threw myself into the world of professional dance- I worked at the Opera but also formed my own modern dance company, auditioned and got commercial jobs such as movies, TV, commercials, music videos; and once in a while modeled as a dancer or trapeze artist.

In my case, there simply wasn’t another option.

After my years in Europe, I moved to Las Vegas where I danced and worked side jobs to save up enough money to move to Los Angeles- where I got a dance agent, joined a couple dance companies, had a baby, and eventually, formed Luminario Ballet.

During the pandemic I had a total crisis- the performing arts shut down and after an entire life of being employed in the industry, concert and commercial, I thought my life was over and had no more meaning.

During that time, I wrote a book (my memoir, “Wild Animals I Have Known”; and with funding from the US Cares Act via LA County Arts and Culture, made an autobiographical dance film, “L’Invalide”, which will be screened at the iHollywood Film Fest September 28-30, 2023, at the Chinese Theater.

It turns out that pursuing my artistic creative career is literally the only thing I am most passionate about, work hardest at, and best at.

If you like, come and see what this ol’ gal is up to on Sunday, October 22nd at the Avalon Hollywood, where I’m presenting “Zarathustra!”, Luminario Ballet’s annual Gala and Show performance. Tix $35-$550 at luminarioballet.org

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I had a wildly varied career, unlike most- as a professional dancer, I performed ballet, jazz, and modern dance on stage around the world; I also taught all three at a high level. Additionally, I became a trapeze artist at age 23 and performed doubles trapeze across Europe as my first job; which I parlayed into starring in a film and becoming wildly known and popular in my then hometown of Berlin, Germany.

No this job is not easy. The training is long, sweaty hours, achy muscles, injuries, insecure finances, and often times the work environment is inhospitable. The competition is ferocious and one is always a moment away from a career-ending injury- it’s hard to get a steady job, hard to get medical insurance, hard to have a “life”.

I have worked on my personality to be able to “shut up and dance” and “stand up for myself” which is a precarious balance as well- people get fired in my world for speaking out.

But, my creativity, strength, and kindness also goes a long way- I’ve constantly brought others along with me on my journey- presenting them, producing them, helping them share their dreams onstage in front of the audience.

I’d like the world to know that my entire career has been built on not just pushing myself forward, which I have in spite of tremedous stress and adversity, but that I have given many friends and colleagues opportunities as well- to dance for money, to choreograh for money, to perform as a professional in a hard, cruel world, made a little bit nicer by my kindness, geerosity, and belief in sharing my stages with the talent of others.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live ins Los Angeles, so we’d go to the beach! I’d take them to a dance or music concert- maybe the Music Center or a smaller venue for dance, and perhaps a rock club or Hollywood Bowl or Disney Hall for music.

I cook, so I’d throw them a dinner party at my condo and invite fun friends to join!
Los Angeles has fun night life so we’d probably go out to a gallery opening, or a party, or visit a museum, my favorite being the Hammer.

We might take a little 2 day trip to another place such as Joshua Tree to visit other friends.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to shoutout to Allen Walls, executive director of the World Choreography Awards who is my co-producer, “Judith whisperer” and board member at Luminario Ballet;

and,
Charles Evans Jr for believing in me and founding Luminario Ballet with me.

Without these two supporting men, I would not have been able to start or sustain Luminario Ballet.

Website: https://luminarioballet.org

Instagram: https://instagram.com/luminarioballet

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luminarioballetjudithflexhelle/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luminario.ballet

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LuminarioBallet

Image Credits
Photos for Luminario Ballet: Paul Antico Scott Belding Ted Soqui Emerson Chen Stephen Sherrill Olivia Hemaratamatorn