Julie Diana

Julie Diana Hench

In 2008, Diana graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in English. In 2004, she moved to Philadelphia and joined the Pennsylvania Ballet. She has since become a contributing editor of Dance Teacher, and also researches and writes for dance publications such as Pointe and Dance Magazine, as well as Playbill, on topics such as ballet and health.

In 2014, she retired from performing. Her final performance was in Wheeldon's After the Rain. Diana, who had suffered from chronic hip injury since 2007, considered giving her final performance in Swan Lake the following year, but thought she would be physically unable to do so, and believed After the Rain "would be a perfect way to retire." Diana remained at the Pennsylvania Ballet for a year as a ballet master. In addition to administrative tasks, she also taught and worked as a répétiteur for the George Balanchine Trust.

Personal life In 2005, Diana became engaged to Zachary Hench, a fellow Pennsylvania Ballet principal dancer and former San Francisco Ballet colleague. They married the following year, and have two children.

She served as the president of the University of Pennsylvania Alumnae Association.