Elizabeth Piper, PT, DPT, began her training at age nine at Ballet Arts Olympia under the direction of Suzanne Ferko. It was there that she met Stephanie Wood-Ennett, who remained her instructor for many years. At age 15, Elizabeth began training on scholarship at The School of Oregon Ballet Theatre with school director, Damara Bennett, and company director, Christopher Stowell. During her years of training, Elizabeth attended summer programs with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre and The Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Elizabeth joined City Ballet of San Diego in 2009 and completed her professional dance career with them in 2013 when she then decided to pursue a career in Physical Therapy.

During her dance education and career, she was honored to dance in such distinguished works as Balanchine’s Serenade, The Nutcracker, Valse Fantaisie, and Donizetti. She also performed in ballets such as Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, Carmen, Swan Lake, Firebird, Paquita and Lew Christensen’s Il Distratto. Elizabeth graduated from Saint Martin’s University, Summa Cum Laude, in May of 2017 with a B.S. in Biology, and from the University of Puget Sound with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2021. She currently works with Providence Medical Group as a Physical Therapist both in outpatient Orthopedics and Pelvic Health. She enjoys sharing her skills gained as a professional dancer with our students and is excited to bring her skills as a Physical Therapist to SWDA.