• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Search

Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington IU Bloomington

Open Search
  • About
    • Centennial
      • Timeline
    • Student Life
    • Diversity
      • Diversity Strategic Plan
      • Best Practices
      • Contact Us
      • Definitions & Resources
      • Diversity Events
    • Cook Music Library
      • Policy on Rights of Ownership and Use of Recordings
      • Recording Access Request Form
    • Accreditation
    • Hire a Musician
    • Work at Jacobs
    • Facilities
      • Performance Halls
      • Learning Facilities
    • COVID-19 Resources
      • FAQ for COVID-19
      • Practice Room Guidelines
      • Social Distancing Space Capacities
      • Large Ensemble Task Force Report
  • Admissions
    • How to Apply
    • Auditions/Interviews & Prescreening
    • Financial Aid & Costs
      • Policies
    • Visit IU & Bloomington
    • Admissions Inquiry
    • College Fairs
    • After Admission
  • Degrees & Programs
    • Areas of Study
    • Ensembles
    • Non-Major Offerings
      • Music Minor Application
    • Advising
      • Keyboard Proficiency Requirements
      • Graduate & Diploma Policies
    • Centers & Institutes
    • Entrepreneurship & Careers
      • Certificate in Entrepreneurship
        • Certificate Application
      • Project Jumpstart
  • Faculty
  • Alumni
    • Get Involved
    • Membership
    • Alumni Events
  • News & Events
    • Events & Performances
    • Directions & Parking
    • News
    • IUMusicLive!
    • Summer Music
    • Past Events
  • Giving
    • Giving Opportunities
    • Ways to Give
      • Areas to Support
    • Your Impact
    • Contact Us
  • Opera & Ballet
  • Jacobs Academy
  • Contact

Jacobs School of Music

  • Home
  • About
    • Centennial
    • Student Life
    • Diversity
    • Cook Music Library
    • Accreditation
    • Hire a Musician
    • Work at Jacobs
    • Facilities
    • COVID-19 Resources
  • Admissions
    • How to Apply
    • Auditions/Interviews & Prescreening
    • Financial Aid & Costs
    • Visit IU & Bloomington
    • Admissions Inquiry
    • College Fairs
    • After Admission
  • Degrees & Programs
    • Areas of Study
    • Ensembles
    • Non-Major Offerings
    • Advising
    • Centers & Institutes
    • Entrepreneurship & Careers
  • Faculty
  • Alumni
    • Get Involved
    • Membership
    • Alumni Events
  • News & Events
    • Events & Performances
    • Directions & Parking
    • News
    • IUMusicLive!
    • Summer Music
    • Past Events
  • Giving
    • Giving Opportunities
    • Ways to Give
    • Your Impact
    • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Opera & Ballet
  • Jacobs Academy
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Faculty

Christian Claessens

Lecturer in Music (Ballet)

View full resolution
Phone:
812-855-1230
Email:
cclaesse@indiana.edu
Department:
Ballet
Campus:
IU Bloomington
Theatre, Drama, and Dance, Lee Norvelle, A300

Biography

Christian Claessens, born in Brussels, Belgium, began his ballet training at the Conservatoire de la Monaie. In 1978, he came to New York as a scholarship student at The School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre School simultaneously. After graduating, he performed with the Kansas City Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. In 1984, he returned to Europe as a member of the Dutch National Ballet.

As a soloist, Claessens toured internationally in ballet troupes such as Stars of the American Ballet, Stars of the New York City Ballet, Stars of the Hong Kong Ballet, and Kozlov and Friends. In 1991, he cofounded the Scarsdale Ballet Studio with Diana White. In 1999, he codirected the International Ballet Project with Valentina Kozlova and White, both of the New York City Ballet. In 1998, he was asked to take over the directorship of the Purchase Youth Ballet, a division of the Conservatory of Dance at The State University of New York. He was the director of La Lecon: Christian Claessens School of Ballet in Westchester, N.Y.

Jacobs School of Music resources and social media channels

  • Resources for Students, Faculty, and Staff
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Indiana University

Accessibility | Privacy Notice | Copyright © 2021 The Trustees of Indiana University