What to Look for in a Dancer
Make it Sparkle Video with Michael Pappalardo
Ballet Artistic Director
6:09 (runtime)
Director’s Notes
Ballet Artistic Director Michael Pappalardo prioritizes personality in dancers, looking for individuals that actively contribute to the creative process rather than simply following instructions.
The diversity of Michael’s work requires a variety of talents, not always hinged on perfect technique, making him choose dancers that may seem "peculiar" to others.
His selections often revolve around the specific needs of a production, including unusual requirements like the ability to fall, command a crowd, or even scream.
When replacing a dancer, Michael often seeks individuals with similar qualities to those who've departed, aiming to maintain the balance and dynamic of his productions.
Michael values emotional maturity in his dancers, as he believes the challenging nature of his productions require a strong emotional core.
He appreciates dancers who are tough, able to withstand not just strenuous work, but also emotionally taxing performances—enabling them to fully ‘digest’ and deliver the material.
About Michael Pappalardo
Michael began his dance training at the age of 6 and was accepted into the New Zealand School of Dance. He worked with the Royal New Zealand Ballet during his time in New Zealand and was privileged to perform in works by Val Caniparoli, Jiri Kylian, Frederick Ashton, Stanton Welch, and George Balanchine. After returning to Australia, Michael worked with Queensland Ballet before launching himself into a very successful independent Dancer career working with Leigh Warren and Dancers, Melbourne Ballet Company, Victoria State Ballet, Opera Victoria, and various independent projects. Michael’s love for creating ballets came to the forefront when he was appointed Artistic Director of Melbourne City Ballet in 2013. There he guided the organization to become Australia’s largest classical touring company, performing over 100 shows across Australia, New Zealand, and Japan annually. In 2016, Michael was also invited to work as co-director with Niconomiel dance company in Osaka, Japan. In 2020 Michael joined San Jose Dance Theatre as Artistic Associate and choreographed Dido and Aeneus for Opera San Jose in 2021. In 2022 Michael was appointed Artistic Director of Canyon Concert Ballet in Fort Collins, Colorado.