Jennifer Potts

DURHAM - Jennifer Potts was a vibrant and beloved dancer, educator, and animal lover. Her caring nature, joyful curiosity for life, and hard-working creative spirit filled those around her with inspiration. At the age of 4 she began training with the Brodie School of Dance in Columbia, South Carolina. She went on to receive a Ford Foundation Scholarship at 15 which brought her to New York City to train with the American Ballet Theatre under the legendary George Balanchine. She later became a principal with Houston Ballet with whom she performed for 4 years and performed with the Atlanta Contemporary Dance Company before moving to Durham, North Carolina in 1979.

Jennifer became a founding partner of the Ballet School of Chapel Hill in 1979 while pregnant with her son John, who was born in 1980, and was married to husband Bill Russ in 1986. She found deep purpose as an educator with the Ballet School, helping guide and inspire thousands of young dancers over nearly 4 decades of teaching. She furthered her life as an educator by joining the faculty at Durham Academy in 1987 where she taught until 2010. During her time at DA she became Chair of the Fine Arts department, enriching the school's commitment to the arts and creating the Upper School's Durham Academy Dancers program.

She is beloved by her students, from dancers to athletes, for her encouragement, honesty, and supportive teaching style. She found a love of animals throughout her life in Durham, taking in rescues and nurturing them back to health, as well as overcoming her fear of horses to become an accomplished rider.

She is survived by her husband, Bill Russ; son, John Felix Arnold; and the many students she has inspired who will carry on her memory of care, connection, and love.

In Jennifer's honor the family requests a donation to a local animal shelter.

Arrangements by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com