Helene began training in her hometown, La Cañada Flintridge, at age five under the direction of Joyce Johnson. She furthered her training with Stanley Holden, Royal Ballet, Patrick Frantz, Paris Opera Ballet, and Glen White, Joffrey Ballet. Helene was awarded scholarships and trained at the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre (ABT) School, San Francisco Ballet School, Pennsylvania Ballet School, and the Joffrey School. At age 14, Loyce Houlton, Artistic Director of Minnesota Dance Theatre, invited her to join the company as an Apprentice. Later, she was chosen to be a part of a special winter session at the ABT New York School, under the direction of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Patricia Wilde, which led to a position in ABT II.
 
In 1981, Helene made the move back to the west coast to join Los Angeles Ballet and then Nevada Dance Theatre in 1985. She feels incredibly honored to have danced principal roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Coppelia, The Sleeping Beauty and Carmen; as well as original works by Val Caniparoli, Peter Anastos, Vassili Sulich and masterworks by George Balanchine and Antony Tudor. In addition to her dancing, Helene has been featured in movies, commercials and television shows including being handpicked by Mikhail Baryshnikov to be in his 1982 television special “Baryshnikov in Hollywood”.
 
Helene has been teaching, coaching and nurturing students for 37 years. Some of her credentials include coaching Principal Artist Yen Han, Zurich Ballet, Guest Ballet Master Civic Ballet (MS) and Guest Master Instructor Franklin (TN) School of Performing Arts. Making the move to teaching after retirement has brought tremendous satisfaction for Ms. Williamson, knowing that the gifts she’s been given are being passed down with integrity and appreciation, just as they were taught to her. Helene was certified in Pilates by Romana Kryzanowski in 1997. This training has expanded her understanding of how body mechanics work and added additional expertise to her signature teaching technique.

‍