ALABAMA BALLET ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Roger VanFleteren, Associate Artistic Director, is a native of Michigan where he began his training at the age of twelve with Charmaine Shick. VanFleteren is a former American Ballet Theater soloist and also performed as a principal dancer with the London City Ballet. VanFleteren has performed in repertoire by Kenneth MacMillan, Twyla Tharp, George Balanchine, and Mikhail Baryshnikov and danced the title role in Agnes De Mille’s last ballet, “The Other”.

VanFleteren began his career at Alabama Ballet with Wes Chapman in 1996 as Ballet Master and Resident Choreographer. His original choreography for Alabama Ballet includes “Romeo and Juliet”, “Dracula”, “Swan Lake”, “Cinderella”, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and “Bonnie and Clyde.” VanFleteren’s original world premieres, “Bach Variations” and “Be Major” are two Panoply award winning works. “Concert Fantasy” premiered in March 2006 and was underwritten by the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

Alabama Public Television’s documentary on Alabama Ballet’s “Romeo and Juliet” was nominated for a Regional Emmy Award. VanFleteren’s innovative choreography and passion for the dancer has been instrumental in the world-class performances by the company. VanFleteren was named an official ambassador for Alabama’s 2007 Year of the Arts. VanFleteren worked with John McFall and the Atlanta Ballet in 2007. He was appointed Alabama Ballet Associate Artistic Director in 2008 and served as guest teacher with American Ballet Theatre II. He was commissioned to choreograph for ABT II in the Fall of 2009. Most recently, Roger choreographed the premiere of “Alice in Wonderland” with an original score by Les Filmer performed by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Other recent works for the Alabama Ballet include “Death and the Maiden” with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, “Of One Voice”, “Bonnie and Clyde”, “1 and 5”, “Shoo-Pah!” and “Rosen”, dedicated in memory of Jason VanFleteren.