About AJ

AJ GARCIA-RAMEAU is a professional dancer, director of Ventana Ballet, partner of First Street Studio, and a Field Service Engineer for a large tech company.

AJ is a dancer and a choreographer with formal training in classical and contemporary ballet and modern dance. AJ is the founder and director of Ventana Ballet, a professional contemporary ballet dance company based in Austin, TX whose mission is to bring more performance opportunities to local artists and to provide accessible performance opportunities to the community. AJ is also a partner owner of First Street Studio, an accessible performance, rehearsal, and education venue that is home to more than 60 Austin-based performing arts companies and individual professional artists.

AJ was born in Houston, TX where she received her extensive dance training at the Houston Academy of Dance under the direction of Evelyn Ireton and the mentorship of Ginger Herrera, Naomi Glass, Damian Schwiethale, Jose Herrera, Sally Rojas, Joe Celej, Eddy Ocampo, and Troy Powell. AJ performed as a company member and soloist with the Exclamation Dance Company under the artistic direction of Kenneth Epting. She performed works by Ken Epting, Troy Powell, Gina Lewis, and Tyrone Walker.

AJ moved to Austin, TX to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas. She also earned her minor in dance from UT under the coaching of David Justin and Grace Holmes. While in Austin, AJ trained under the coaching of Jennifer Felkner at the Austin School of Classical Ballet. AJ also performed as a company member of BHumn Dance Company under the artistic direction of Cheryl Copeland and as a company member of the Austin Classical Ballet under the artistic direction of Jennifer Felkner.

In between her college semesters and engineering internships, AJ completed additional dance training under scholarship/fellowiship with the Alvin Ailey School, performing works by Cornelius Carter, Troy Powell, and Sonia Dawkins. AJ also trained under scholarship with Joffrey Jazz & Contemporary, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Northwest Dance Project. In 2017 at NW Dance Project's LAUNCH11, AJ performed original works by Anton Rudakov & Luca Signoretti and workshopped several works by Banning Bouldin, Ishan Rustem, and Nacho Duato (led by Lucas Crandall).

After college, AJ spent a half-year in Michigan and three years in Philadelphia working as a semiconductor engineer, a freelance dance artist, and a dance teacher. AJ then returned to Austin, where she currently resides, to continue her work in those fields. She enjoys working as a guest artist with various local companies in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

AJ's recent choreography and solo works have been featured at Dallas DanceFest, Austin Dance Festival, Philadelphia’s Come Together Dance Festival, Waco’s 254 Dance Festival, and Houston’s Barnstorm Dance Festival. AJ's guest work has afforded her the opportunities to perform several roles in the following ballets: Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Paquita, Le Corsaire, Stars & Stripes, Romeo & Juliet, A Christmas Carol Ballet. AJ has also performed as a Resident Artist of the Austin Metamorphosis Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Melanie Kregel. 

In 2018, AJ founded Ventana Ballet, a small contemporary ballet company based in Austin, TX that utilizes local professional talent and brings accessible performances, events, and classes to the community. AJ is grateful for the love and support she receives from her community of family, friends, and colleagues.