Faculty

 Master Teacher 

Paul received the major part of his ballet training while he was on full scholarship at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. He performed professionally with Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Bejart’s Ballet of the XXth Century, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Radio City Music Hall. After joining Pittsburgh Ballet Theater in 1986, he choreographed two short ballets, and was asked by Artistic Director, Patricia Wilde to create a new work for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. That request made Mr. Abrahamson the first Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancer ever commissioned for its subscription series.

Mr. Abrahamson’s choreographic talents first gained international attention after winning first place at international choreographic competitions in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1994, Mr. Abrahamson choreographed a three-act version of Robin Hood that premiered at the National Opera House in La Havana, Cuba. The following year, he was the first American ballet teacher to go through the teacher training program and has become an advocate for the Cuban syllabus. Mr. Abrahamson has taught and had his works performed in Spain, Finland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and throughout the United States.

Mr. Abrahamson founded the Chicago Ballet in 2001. In 2005, he opened the school of Chicago Ballet in Logan Square.  In 2014, the Chicago Ballet Center moved to Portage Park.