Kathleen Waltz, nee Kathleen Nolen, began ballet when she was eight years old. Her first ballet studio was Jane Powell Studio, owned by the actress of the same name. Kathleen continued her training under Norma Hamilton, Lila Zali, Michael Pannieff, Andre Tremaine and Anthony Sellars.
At the age of 12 years old she worked with Mr. George Balanchine for his west coast debut of the children's ballet "Circus Polka". She performed locally in civic companies such as Orange County Ballet and Ballet Pacifica.
She received a scholarship from San Francisco Ballet School at 14 and two years later she received a scholarship with Joffrey Ballet School. She continued her pre-professional training under Sulamith Messerer and Vladimir Luppov.
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