Jennifer homans biography

American historian, author, and dance critic

Jennifer A. Homans (born 1960) is an American historian, author, and dance critic. Her book Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in 2010.

Early life and education

Homans was raised in Chicago, Illinois, where she trained as a ballerina from the age of eight.^[1] By the time she was a teenager, Homans had enrolled in dance classes at the University of Chicago and eventually left the state for more serious training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and School of American Ballet.

After dancing professionally with the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Homans decided to enroll in Columbia University at the age of 26.^[2] After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in French literature, she enrolled in New York University (NYU) for her PhD in Modern European History.^[1]

Career

Following her PhD, Homans accepted a pos