Principal Teacher, Ballet Master, and Choreographer
Anna McDowell is the Principal Teacher and Ballet Master of Juneau Dance Theatre (JDT), where her journey in dance first began. Born and raised in Juneau, she trained in a variety of dance styles from the age of 3, ultimately developing a passion for ballet. Under the direction of Zachary Hench and Julie Diana, Anna performed principal mainstage roles, such as Dew Drop Fairy and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, and Myrtha in Giselle.
Anna pursued additional training at prestigious summer programs including Carolina Ballet, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Atlanta Ballet, Indiana University, and Cincinnati Ballet. In 2018, she joined the American Repertory Ballet/Princeton Ballet School (ARB/PBS) as a trainee. She performed several corps de ballet roles with the professional company, including Snow, Flowers, and Spanish, in The Nutcracker. Anna also performed Don Quixote in Seguidillas and Dryad corps, with Princeton Ballet School.
From 2020 to 2025, Ms. McDowell served on faculty at Princeton Ballet School, where she taught all levels of ballet and contributed to the school’s choreography, children’s programming, and stage management. Her choreographic work includes original pieces for Harvard Ballet Company and Princeton Ballet School trainees, and multiple commissions for Juneau Dance Theatre.
Anna’s gift for choreography was recognized and nurtured, early on. While a JDT student, she was invited by the director to choreograph two new works for JDT’s Spring Showcases: Breathe, and Then, the Rain Turned Purple. Anna subsequently returned to JDT to create and set three more ballets. Her work, Blurred Visions, created in collaboration with composer and conductor William Todd Hunt in 2020/2021, exemplifies her thoughtful approach to narrative and musicality. In 2023, Anna created an ensemble piece for 25 dancers, Walk on a Bridge, to music by Sergio Assad. Most recently, Portrait of Alaska, debuted in 2025, highlighting the life and art of Alaskan artist, Rie Munoz.
Anna brings to JDT not only her rich foundation as a former student, but also a broad range of teaching, performance, and creative experiences cultivated during her years on the East Coast. Her return to Juneau marks a full-circle moment—offering a new generation of dancers the benefit of her dedication, artistry, and deep understanding of the school’s mission. Anna teaches intermediate and advanced levels of ballet, pointe, and variations. She is responsible for setting and rehearsing mainstage productions, including The Nutcracker, and Spring Showcase.
