Billy Blanken (Ball State University, Joffrey Ballet School) started his professional career as a principal with the Amy Marshall Dance Company before joining Les Ballets Grandiva. His credits include principal guest artist with Mobile Ballet, CoDa 21 of San Juan, Catherine Gallant Dance, Atlantic City Ballet, Northwest Florida Ballet, the East Village Dance Project, Northeastern Ballet Theatre, isadoraNOW, Ballet Mink Colbert, Project in Motion and many others.

In 2016 he founded Sheep Meadow Dance Theatre for which he is the Artistic Director. Billy has taught at Peridance, Rioult Dance Center, the Jakarta Intercultural School, the National School in Tirana, Albania, Gibney Dance, Northwest Florida Ballet, Logrea Dance Academy, and others. He is currently ballet faculty at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance. He became a GYROTONIC® certified instructor in 2024 working with Master Trainers Carla Rigon, Juergen Bamberger and Justine Bernard.