Our School Team
Wilfried Jacobs
In March 1995 his first professional engagement was in Karlsruhe, Germany, where he danced with The Ballet am Badishes Staatstheater under the artistic direction of choreographer Germinal Cassado.
From August 1998 until September 2007 he worked as a freelance dancer, choreographer and teacher in Japan. Together with his wife he also ran and taught at the private ballet school of his mother in law.
While dancing at the IBC 2006 of Jackson, USA, former director Dinna Bjørn invited him to join the Finnish National Ballet in Helsinki, which he did in September 2007.
In 2009 he got promoted to Principal Dancer by Artistic Director Kenneth Greve.
From August 2013 until September 2020 he combines his duties as performing artist with those of coordinating the Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet, where he also taught the daily classes to the middle level and vocational boys.
Since 2013 he is a board member of the Helsinki International Ballet Competition (HIBC).
Wilfried graduated from HAMK (Häme University of Applied Science) as an International Professional Teacher in spring 2017.
Since 2019 he organises the International Summer Intensive in Helsinki, Finland, for the Finnish National Opera and Ballet, and acts as the Artistic Coordinator for this annual event.
He retires in September 2020, after an international career lasting more than 25 years and moves back to Antwerp, from where he shares as a self-employed his knowledge, experience and passion as a teacher, coach and consultant.
He joins the faculty of Dansstudio Arabesque and guest teaches at The Royal Ballet School of Antwerp, The Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp/AP Artesis University, Ballet Flanders, Junior Ballet Antwerp and in workshops in Belgium and abroad.
From 2021 he is the private ballet coach for Dutch Olympic figure skater Lindsay van Zundert. In December 2016 he received the decoration; Knight of the Order of the Lion of Finland.