Founding Director

Jacqueline Colledge began her early training with Utah native Bill Evans. Upon his recommendation, she attended the University of Utah to continue her studies, working with Willam Christensen, Gordon Paxman, Bene Arnold, and Mattlyn Gavers.  Ms. Colledge became a member of Ballet West, under the Artistic Direction of Willam Christensen in 1968, where she danced various solo roles and working with Lew Christensen, Jacques d’Amboise, Michael Smuin, Dimitri Romano, and Francia Russell.

In 1976 she opened the Jacqueline Colledge School of Classical Ballet.  Desiring to give her students more education and performance opportunity, she organized Utah Youth Ballet in 1981 which later became Utah Regional Ballet.  The professional wing of the company was established in 1999.  This created a need for Utah Regional Ballet II providing for talented young dancers to develop into seasoned professionals. The reputation and impact of the company continued growing well beyond the Utah Valley region.  In 2017-18 Utah Regional Ballet became Utah Metropolitan Ballet with UMB II as the training company.

Ms. Colledge developed the curriculum for the ballet program at Utah Valley University.  The university now offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Ballet Performance. As a Master teacher, she has taught throughout the United States and Europe.  Colledge has choreographed many full length ballets such as Romeo & Juliet, Nutcracker, Cinderella, Hansel & Gretel, Peter Pan, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Snow White and Utah Metropolitan Ballet’s signature work, Legend of Timpanogos.