Julie began dancing at the young age of 3. She began her formal ballet training at the age of 11 under Liz Legget, training in the prestigious pre-professional division at the Milwaukee Ballet. While at the Milwuakee Ballet, she went on to study under Taras Kalba, Jeanette Makaroff, and Nicole Sowinski and performed various roles in the Nutcracker, Giselle, and Swan Lake. She also enjoyed training under notable teachers throughout the Chicagoland area including the late Larry Long of the Ruth Page Center for Dance, Regina and Ricardo Moyano of Dance West Ballet, and Preston Miller to name a few. In 2000, Julie graduated from Hope College with a BA in Psychology and Dance. After graduation, she began teaching at Turning Pointe School of Dance in Holland, MI. Upon moving to Chicago in 2006, Julie founded the former Turning Pointe School of Dance, Chicago (now Ballet 5:8) where she served as Artistic Director, faculty member, resident choreographer, and school administrator for over 10 years. She set numerous full length original ballets including Creation to Revelation, Noah and the Ark, Created to Worship, and various works for For Such a Time as This, and the annual Christmas ballet The Promise.

Julie is currently an instructor at Ballet Kalamazoo. She teaches ages 3-adult, primarily Levels I-IV ballet technique, pre-pointe and pointe. She has choreographed for various ballet productions with Ballet Kalamazoo, and is also a private coach.

Julie loves sharing her passion for dance through providing excellent classical ballet training to her students. She resides in Kalamazoo and has three children, Alexis-21, Olivia-19, and Ethan-17.