Max Barker began dancing at age five at the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and has performed for many seasons with American Ballet Theatre at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. He trained at the ABT JKO School for nine years and participated in the Prix de Lausanne in 2020, placing as a Finalist. Continuing his training, Barker privately worked at the Fabrice Herrault Studio for two years, after which he joined The Royal Ballet School in London. In 2023, he performed on The Royal Opera House stage with The Royal Ballet School and in Yondering for John Neumierer’s 50th Anniversary with the Hamburg Ballet. Barker joined ABT Studio Company in September 2023 under the artistic direction of Sascha Radetsky. In ABT Studio Company, he has created a role in Within the Sunset by Amy Hall Garner and performed in new ballets by Jamar Roberts, Houston Thomas, Lauren Lovette, and James Whiteside. Barker’s ABT Studio Company repertoire also includes the principal role “Country Gardens” from Twyla Tharp’s Brief Fling, the Diana and Acteon pas de deux, the Neapolitan Dance from Swan Lake, and a Don Quixote suite. He has performed in Alexei Ratmansky’s The Nutcracker with the main Company of American Ballet Theatre.