Jerel Hilding was a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet for 15 years, performing in works by many of the most influential choreographers of the last 100 years, including George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, Jerome Robbins, Frederic Ashton, John Cranko, Kurt Jooss, Leonide Massine, and Gerald Arpino. Jerel began his dance training in New Orleans while earning a BA in musicology at Louisiana State University in New Orleans (now the University of New Orleans). He recently retired in 2020 from the University of Kansas where he was a professor of dance teaching all levels of ballet, pointe, pas de deux, music for dancers, and choreographing for the University Dance Company. He has appeared as a guest artist in various LAC productions and also has accompanied for ballet classes at KU, the Lawrence Arts Center, and the Lawrence Dance Intensive.