Finis Jhung

In 2018, Jhung wrote a lavishly-illustrated autobiography, Ballet for Life: A Pictorial Memoir.

Since then, he has produced more than 50 instructional dance videos and 18 music CDs to accompany them, which he distributes through his business Ballet Dynamics Inc. In 2014, Jhung published The Finis Jhung Ballet Technique: A Guide for Teachers & Students. The book also "concentrates on the essentials for absolute and advanced beginners - of any age and body type - with an eye toward organic movement logic."

In 2008, the children’s casting director for "Billy Elliot: The Musical" asked Jhung to teach the call-back classes for the original Broadway production. In addition to teaching at the call-backs, he taught regular classes for "Billys" of the original Broadway production and both national touring companies. At "Billy Camp," Jhung instructed boys who were under serious consideration for the role but were too young or required additional training. Working with these boys had special meaning for Jhung. In a Dance Magazine interview, he recalled, "when I was 11 years old growing up in pre-TV Hawaii, I used to dance around the house for hours to the same music from "Swan Lake" that is used for Billy’s dream ballet."

When Chamber Ballet USA collapsed, Jhung returned to teaching full-time. Unable to resume classes at his former studio, he accepted guest teaching jobs at the Bartholin International Seminar in Copenhagen, before going to work at Richard Ellner's Broadway Dance Center. He would remain there until 1994.

In the spring of 1986, Antony Tudor (who would die the following year) re-staged his ballet "Sunflowers" for the company's final season. The reviews were universally positive. One critic hailed the performance as "glowing and spirited...The dancers are young and vigorous, and communicate to the audience their love of dance."

In June 1981, Jhung was approached by Stephen Belth, director of the Arts and Science Development Service, Inc. with the idea of forming an eight-member touring company, four men and four women, performing the works of world-class choreographers. The founding group of Chamber Ballet USA included Jhung as Artistic Director, Belth as Executive Director, and a four-member board that included Gwen Verdon. The first four ballets in the repertory were John Butler's "Othello," Vicente Nebrada's "Lento, a Tempo e Appassionato," Toer Van Shayk's "Jeux" and Lois Bewley's "Russian Blue." The company debuted on March 6, 1982, with a performance honoring Verdon. The public premiere took place December 14 through 19 in The Space at City Center.

He operated his own studio from 1974 until 1987. During this period, Finis founded his own company, Chamber Ballet USA. He has also taught classes at The Broadway Dance Center, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Peridance, Ballet Arts, The New Dance Group Arts Center, and Steps. Throughout the year, Jhung presents workshops for dance teachers and adult students. Jhung has rarely taught young children. When he first started dance instruction in his own studio, he only taught professionals. Over time, he transitioned away from professionals to teaching only amateur adult dancers, including beginners.

In 1972, on the advice of his Buddhist leader, Jhung began teaching ballet. Since then, he has been a mainstay of the New York dance scene. He has taught members of New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, the Robert Joffrey, Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor, Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham companies, as well as Broadway performers, aspiring professionals and amateur adult beginners.

In March 1969, following the New York season, Jhung decided to give up dancing to devote himself to Buddhism and world peace. To mark a break between his old and new lives, he burned his ballet memorabilia, books, photos, and films he had made of favorite dancers such as Erik Bruhn. Jhung found a nine to five job as office manager for an investment firm. He spent his evenings leading Buddhist group meetings, conducting lessons for new converts and providing one-on-one guidance. In January 1972, the office closed leaving Jhung unemployed.

The Joffrey group was heavily dependent on funding from heiress and arts patron Rebekah Harkness. As her investment increased, she reportedly demanded a greater say in the company's operation. In 1964, this culminated in a split that led Harkness to establish her own ballet troupe. Eleven Joffrey dancers, including Jhung, joined the Harkness Ballet.

By 1962, Jhung was ready to move on from SFB. He auditioned for and was accepted into the New York-based Joffrey Ballet, then known as the Robert Joffrey Theatre Ballet. He was immediately cast in Alvin Ailey's "Feast of Ashes" and Brian McDonald's "Time Out of Mind."

Finis began studying ballet in earnest at the University of Utah, where he trained with Willam Christensen. While in college, he performed in musicals, The King and I, Carousel and Damn Yankees, as well as ballets, Coppelia and The Nutcracker. He graduated in 1959 with high honors. In 1960, he spent six months in the National Guard. While stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, Jhung received a telegram from Rodgers and Hammerstein telling him they needed an Asian dancer who could perform double tours en l'air for Flower Drum Song on Broadway. Jhung successfully passed the audition, completed his military service and joined the troupe in New York.

Finis Jhung was born on May 27, 1937 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.