An Atlanta native, Sarah Hillmer has dedicated over 19 years to the professional dance world as a dancer, assistant to choreographers, ballet master, stager, educator, and creator.

Her company credits include the Atlanta Ballet, glo-as a founding member, and staibdance. During Sarah’s tenure as Ballet Master at the Atlanta Ballet, she worked alongside world-renowned figures in the ballet world and coached dancers in seminal works by Ohad Naharin, Jiří Kylián, Wayne McGregor, Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, John McFall, Helgi Tomasson, Gemma Bond, Craig Davidson, Ricardo Amarante. and Yuri Possokhov. It was during her time at the Atlanta Ballet that ongoing artistic relationships with Twyla Tharp and Helen Pickett were forged. She was instrumental in the building of their full-length ballets and continues to stage their work globally. Sarah’s work as a stager and assistant have taken her to Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Smuin Ballet, New York Theatre Ballet, UNCSA, UArts, Pennsylvania Ballet, Scottish Ballet, Alberta Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

In 2017 Sarah formed ImmerseATL, a dance training and mentorship program for emerging artists that serves as a gateway to the professional world of contemporary dance in Atlanta and beyond. ImmerseATL provides classes, mentorships, performance opportunities, and professional connections for its artists who join the year-long program.

Sarah is an active member of the Atlanta dance scene, serving as a guest teacher for Kennesaw State University, Brenau University, Spelman College, Emory University, and Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre. As a choreographer, Sarah has been commissioned to create work for Atlanta Ballet’s Wabi Sabi, Backside of the Tent Productions, Emory Dance Company, and Admix Project. In 2019, Sarah was a co-collaborator with George Staib on staibdance’s production of fence, which was funded by a grant from the New England Foundation for the Arts National Dance Project.

As Executive Director for staibdance, Sarah has planned and managed 6 national tours, 2 world premieres, annual workshops, (MC)2, Atlanta’s first multi-cultural dance festival, as well as a docuseries based on (MC)2 and a podcast series, Secret Architecture: the process of process.