Christine McMillan portrait
  • Ballet Program Head, School Of Dance
  • Associate Professor (Lecturer), School Of Dance
801-587-3742

Education

  • BS, Ballet & Psychology, Indiana University
  • MFA , Dance, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Biography

Christine McMillan has danced professionally for 27 years including 6 years with Richmond Ballet in Virginia and 19 years with The Metropolitan Opera in New York.  In addition to originating roles in contemporary ballets by William Soleau, Val Caniparoli, Colin Connor, and Chris Burnside, her favorite soloist roles with Richmond Ballet include Jose Limon’s The Moor’s Pavane, John Butler’s Carmina Burana, and Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo. Performing in over 45 productions at the Metropolitan Opera, she has worked with renowned choreographers and directors including Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, Mark Morris, Benjamin Millipied, Doug Varone, Graciella Daniele, Mark Dendy, Julie Taymor, and Mary Zimmerman.  With the Met, Christine has appeared on PBS and in live international HD broadcasts.  Her soloist roles included the operas Aida, La Traviata, Les Troyens, Sly, and the ballet Parade.  In New York, Christine has also performed with Ben Munisteri Dance Projects, Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance, Trebien Pollard, Poppo & the GoGo Boys, Rebecca Kelly Ballet, White Wave Dance, and as a guest artist in many Nutcracker productions.

 

Recognized for her versatility in both ballet and modern dance, Christine was awarded a Bessie (New York Dance and Performance Award) in 2004 noting her “soaring musicality… and the ability to illuminate abstract work with incandescent muscular intelligence.”  Her performance of Lavagnino’s work was singled out by the NY critic Eva Yaa Asantewaa in her list of “most memorable arts experiences of 2014.”  Christine’s choreography has been presented at the Center for  Performance Research in Brooklyn, Dancemakers, American College Dance Association, and the International Conference on Teaching Somatics-Based Dance.

 

Christine received a Bachelor in Science from Indiana University in Ballet & Psychology and a Masters in Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  Recent teaching includes New York University, Illinois Wesleyan University, The Joffrey Ballet School, Gibney Dance, and company class for Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance.  A certified yoga teacher at the 500 hr level, Christine continues to research somatic practices focusing on their application to dance technique and as a means to promote longevity in a dance career.