Russell began his dance training with Eric Hyrst of London’s Royal Ballet. His early studies embraced performing with the Jefferson Dancers under the direction of Mary Foleberg, Oregon Festival Ballet, and Directors John Gardner and Michael Falotico.
Intense training developed great respect and deep discipline for the art while working with notable choreographers including Toni Pimble, Dennis Spaight, Charles Bennett, Val Caniparoli, John Clifford, James Canfield, Keith Martin, Carol Armitage, Vasili Sulich, Robert Sund, David Allen, and many others. His influential teachers include Alla Khaniashvili, Rebecca Wright, Elena Carter, Joe Wyatt, Patti Jones, George De La Pena, Sylvester Dolinar, and Meg Potter.
Russell enjoyed a dance career for more than 30 years with several notable ballet companies including Oregon Ballet Theatre, Nevada Dance Theatre, Los Angeles Classical Ballet, Ballet Oregon, Eugene Ballet, and Pacific Ballet Theatre. He performed many principal and soloist roles in the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Romeo & Juliet, Cinderella, and Coppelia, to name a few.
Russell’s choreographic achievements include the Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and neo-classical and modern ballets, including Tijustme (Just In Time), Eye II Eye, One Second, Glass House, and Velveteen Rabbit. His choreographic collaborations highlighted Bravo! Vancouver “St. Paullus Oratorio” and “An American in Paris” performed to live orchestra and choir and broadcast on public television. Long Beach Ballet and Dance West of Beaverton Arts and Communication are among other collaborative efforts.
Evergreen Dance Academy, located in Vancouver, WA, offers dance classes in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Creative Dance and Arts Enrichment.