Michael Pink

(choreographer) 

Michael Pink is a British choreographer, director, dancer, and theatre producer whose works and style have been referred to as “classical ballet for the 21st century.” His trademark narrative works have been presented throughout North America, New Zealand and Australia, Norway, and Japan.

Pink began his professional career as a dancer with the London Festival Ballet (now the English National Ballet). After retiring from the stage, Pink went on to choreograph, direct, and teach internationally. He was the Associate Artistic Director of the UK’s Northern Ballet (1993–1998), working closely with friend and mentor Christopher Gable. Pink states, “Christopher gave me the confidence to be true to myself as a creative artist.” Together they formed a close collaborative team with composer Philip Feeney and designer Lez Brotherston, creating landmark original ballets. Pink was also co-founder of Ballet Central, the graduate performing company of the Central School of Ballet, where both he and composer Philip Feeney created 16 original works. He is currently the Artistic Director of Milwaukee Ballet, USA. The longest serving director in the company’s history. 

Pink trained at the Royal Ballet School in London. His passion for dance, and choreography in particular, earned him accolades, including winning the first Ursula Moreton Choreographic Competition. Whilst still a student at RBS he was invited by Sir Frederick Ashton to assist in choreographing the Anacat Fashion Show for HRH Princess Margaret. Upon graduation he attended the inaugural Gulbenkian Choreographic Summer Program, led by Glen Tetley, Mary Hicks, and Dame Peggy van Praagh. He joined the London Festival Ballet in 1975, dancing leading roles in works by Massine, Tetley, Hynd, Tudor, Ashton, Bruce and Beriosova. Pink spent a decade working with Rudolf Nureyev, serving as repetiteur for his production of “Romeo and Juliet” at both the Paris Opera, and La Scala Milan.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
•    Royal Society of Arts Choreographic Award (1978)
•    Wisconsin Dance Council Choreography/Performance Award (2008)
•     Milwaukee Press Club Headliner Award-Lifetime Achievement (2014)
•    Civic Music Milwaukee Distinguished Citizen – Professional in the Arts Award (2015)
•    Sharon Lynne Wilson Center Educational Excellence Award (2019)

CHOREOGRAPHY
For London Festival Ballet
“1914” (1980)
“Ibertissment” (1981)

For Northern Ballet Theatre
“Attractions” (1982)
“Memoire Imaginaire” (1987)
“The Amazing Adventures of Don Quixote” (1988)
“Strange Meeting” (1989)
“Swan Lake” (1994)
“Dracula” (1996)
“Giselle” (1997) 
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1998)

For Atlanta Ballet
“Romeo & Juliet” (2000)
 
For Milwaukee Ballet
“The Nutcracker” (2003)
“Solstice” (2004)
“Swan Lake” (2006)
“Aubade” (2008)
“Sleeping Beauty” (2008)
“Cinderella” (2009)
“Peter Pan” (2010) 
“La bohème” (2012) 
“Mirror Mirror” (2014)
“Dorian Gray” (2016) 
“Beauty and the Beast” (2018)

For the Milwaukee Repertory Theater
“Cabaret”
“Assassins”
“Next to Normal”
“A Christmas Carol”