Founder
Born and raised in Holland, Elly Charlotte van Dijk received her dance education and state accreditation at the State Academy of Dance in Amsterdam.
In 1964, she founded a dance school in Nymegen, which has since become the largest private dance institution in Holland. A recipient of Dutch State Fellowships in Modern Jazz, Miss van Dijk studied with Luigi in New York City in 1965 and 1966, subsequently introducing the Luigi Jazz technique to Holland. A representative of the Dutch Ministry of Culture on several European study tours, including visits to the Bolshoi and Kirov Academies in Russia, Miss van Dijk has acquired a comprehensive knowledge of a variety of dance disciplines, which are used in her school and dance workshops, and in choreo-graphing dance recitals and children's television programs.
In 1973, Miss van Dijk moved to Pasadena and, in 1974, opened the "European School for Ballet and Jazz." Through acquisitions and mergers the school has evolved into the Civic Ballet Center, which also serves as the home of the Pasadena Civic Ballet, Inc., a not-for-profit ballet Company for pre-professional dancers.
Miss van Dijk is married to John Housemand, Ph.D., a scientist at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. They have one daughter, Charmaine.