In Honor of Marny

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Like so many, Linda was inspired by Marny Trounsen and later had the honor of teaching along side her after Linda’s professional performing career. She has been a close friend and inspired by the work of Ehud and Daynee Krauss since she was a child.

Linda is an international ballet, Pilates and P.B.T. teacher, choreographer, judge and coach. She is a former professional dancer with Utah Ballet/Ballet West, Norwegian Andanse Ballet, Zakraz Dance, Norwegian National Ballet, the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, guest of the Royal Danish Ballet, and competed in the 72 country ITI International Ballet Competition in Helsinki, Finland. Linda appeared in the CBS Mini-Series “At Mother’s Request” starring Stefanie Powers. Linda holds a Bachelors in Fine Arts, Cum Laude, with an emphasis in Ballet Performance from the University of Utah, having received a full scholarship at the age of 16. She holds a Masters of Arts in Psychology from Notre Dame de Namur University and Full Certifications in Pilates Mat and Apparatus from Turning Pointe Studios and the Physical Mind Institute, 2001, and a full Certification in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), 2018.

Linda has been teaching youth and adult ballet dancers and Pilates students for 23 years and continues to run the Linda Hurkmans Open Class Program with weekly online and in person classes. She was the Artistic Director of San Jose Dance Theatre for 8 years, helped build their academy starting with zero students, launched its professional ballet company, and choreographed over 20 pieces of choreography and full length ballets including “The Nutcracker”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Firebird”, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “La Bayedere”, “Paquita Grand Pas Classique” “Swan Lake” excerpts and more. Her teaching credits include Stanford University, Santa Clara University, where she helped found the Pilates program for SCU dancers and athletes, Western Ballet, San Jose Dance Theatre, Norwegian Spin-Off Balletskole, Foothill College, Mission College, West Valley College, De Anza College, Jun Lu Dance Academy, Academy of Classical Ballet, Evergreen Dance Academy, Core Connection Dance Company, Ballettwerkstatt in Germany, Den Norske Balletskole & Akademi in Norway, and Leap of Dance Academy in Nigeria. Linda is a founding mentor of the Leap of Dance Academy and her work to bring light to ballet in Nigeria was highlighted by the New York Times.

Linda’s choreography has been performed at the Norwegian State Ballet, Western Ballet, Zohco Dance, Santa Clara University, SjDance Co. Festival, Montalvo Arts Center, World Wide Women’s Festival, San Francisco Movement Arts Festival, San Jose Movement Festival, and San Jose Dance Theatre. 

Linda was a judge for the Korea International Ballet Competition in 2022. She coached Olamide Olawale from the Leap of Dance Academy in Nigeria to earn a Bronze Medal in the World Ballet Grand Prix Norway 2023 and several of her dancers won Gold Medals at the World Ballet Grand Prix Norway, 2024.

Linda is also a judge for the World Ballet Grand Prix Norway and for Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and is known for her detailed instruction, high standards and warmth and supportiveness in helping students of all ages and levels to reach their best. She has trained dancers to win medals at prestigious ballet competitions and to dance in professional companies around the world.