Allyson Ratliff is an accomplished ballet educator, artistic leader, and arts advocate whose career has been dedicated to excellence in classical ballet training, expanding access to dance education, and fostering greater diversity and inclusion throughout the dance community.

Ms. Ratliff began her dance training at the Lenhoff School of Music and Dance, where she discovered her love of movement and passion for the arts. She continued her training at several of Chicago’s premier dance institutions, including Bryant Ballet, the School of Ballet Chicago under the direction of Daniel Duell and Patricia Blair, Joel Hall Dance Center, and Hyde Park School of Ballet. Her studies also took her to the University of Arizona in Tucson and the Washington Ballet in Washington, D.C.

Throughout her career, Ms. Ratliff has held numerous teaching and artistic leadership positions. She has taught ballet and creative movement at the School of Ballet Chicago, where she also played an integral role in the organization’s inner-city outreach programming. She previously served as Ballet Mistress for Expressions Dance Theatre and Rhythm Street in Washington, D.C.

At Hyde Park School of Dance (HPSD), Ms. Ratliff served as Associate Artistic Director for more than 12 years, helping guide the school’s artistic vision, uphold its commitment to exceptional classical ballet training, and nurture generations of young dancers. She continues to serve as a senior ballet instructor and Director of Community Engagement, overseeing the school’s community partnerships and developing programming that brings high-quality dance education and performance opportunities to students and families throughout Chicago.

Beyond her work in the studio, Ms. Ratliff has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to arts leadership and advocacy through service on several prominent boards. She was a founding board member of Dance in the Parks, served as Vice President of Columbia College Chicago’s Alumni Advisory Board, and served on the Board of Directors of Chicago Dancemakers Forum. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of See Chicago Dance, where she currently serves on the Executive Board.

Ms. Ratliff holds a Master of Arts Management degree with a concentration in performing arts. Her professional work reflects a deep belief that artistic excellence and accessibility are not mutually exclusive, but essential to one another. She is particularly passionate about expanding audiences for classical ballet, promoting greater diversity within ballet classrooms, professional companies, and audiences, and ensuring that students from all backgrounds have opportunities to experience exceptional dance training.

Central to her work is an unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards of classical ballet education at Hyde Park School of Dance while helping cultivate a dance community that is welcoming, representative, and accessible to all.

Contact Ms. Ratliff directly at allyson@hydeparkdance.org.