Ted Pollen (he/him) trained at the New Dance Group studio and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center as a scholarship student. He has performed as a company member with the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, Sophie Maslow Dance Company, Marlies Yearby’s “Moving Spirits” and Tyrone Aiken’s Ethos dance company.

Mr. Pollen has served as associate artistic director of the of the Westport Academy of Dance and its resident company, the Children’s Ballet Theater of Connecticut for over 30 years. He has also been the associate artistic director of the Repertory dance company of East Harlem for three years.

Mr. Pollen received his bachelors degree from NYU’s Stern School of Business with a double major in finance and marketing. He returned to the Ailey organization as the business manager and Bursar of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center.

Mr. Pollen has earned three graduate degrees from Bank Street College of Education which include teacher education, advanced literacy degree and educational leadership in the Principal’s Institute.

Ted Pollen has been an elementary school teacher with the NYC Department of Education public school system for over 35 years. He retired in 2019.