Susan Dabney-Hancock

Susan will be working with our entire MOVE Company team this season as the full-time Master Ballet Mistress and Conditioning Instructor! Susan will play an essential role alongside our other MOVE Company instructors and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to take our MOVE Company students to a whole new level!

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Susan Hancock was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina and began her ballet training at the Calvert-Brodie School of Dance. In 1989, Susan entered the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet, and studied there for three consecutive summers. In 1992, she was invited to stay for the winter term, but instead decided upon The University of North Carolina School of the Arts, then known as North Carolina School of the Arts. From there Ms. Hancock went on to join The Los Angeles Classical Ballet in 1994. Susan performed roles in ballets such as The Nutcracker (Mirlitons) Coppelia (Swanhilda’s friend), A Midsummer Nights Dream (Helena, Hermia) and Paquita (principal role). In 1998, Ms. Hancock joined Francisco Martinez Dance Theater while continuing to dance with Los Angeles Classical Ballet. During her time in L.A., Susan was a featured dancer on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, as well as the VH1 comedy hour featuring Wendy the Snapple Lady. After her time in L.A. was over, Susan moved back home to study at the University of South Carolina under the direction of Dr. Susan Anderson and Stacey Calvert. While dancing with the USC ballet company she danced numerous featured roles including George Balanchine’s Apollo, Western Symphony, Who Cares?, Walpurgisnaught, Allegro Brilliant, Mozartiana and Serenade. Susan performed featured roles alongside members of The New York City Ballet. Those included Dark Angel from Serenade and Polycythemia from Apollo. She was also a principle dancer in Alan Hineline's production of Glennies, as well as Martha Graham's Sketches from Chronicle. Ms. Hancock was featured in SCETV’s documentary following the re-staging of Sketches from Chronicle. While at USC, Susan represented the dance company at the American College Dance Festival and Spoleto Festival, and received the Director's Award for Outstanding Artistic Merit and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance Performance and Choreography.

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