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PRINCIPAL DANCER

Derek Dunn

Glen Burnie, Maryland

Joined Boston Ballet in 2017

Derek Dunn in Jorma Elo’s Bach Cello Suites.
Photo by Rosalie O’Connor

Biography

Derek Dunn began dancing at the Edna Lee Dance Studio in Maryland. He continued his training at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia from 2009 to 2012. Dunn joined Houston Ballet in 2012.

With Houston Ballet, Dunn performed in ballets including David Bintley’s Aladdin, Christopher Bruce’s Intimate Pages, William Forsythe’s In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated, Ronald Hyne’s Merry Widow, Edwaard Liang’s Murmuration, Hans van Manen’s Solo, Trey McIntyre’s Peter Pan, Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker, and multiple ballets by Stanton Welch, including Clear, La Bayadère, and Sons de l’âme.

His Boston Ballet repertoire includes Mikko Nissinen’s Swan Lake (Prince Siegfried), Jean Coralli and Jule’s Perrot’s (adapted by Larissa Ponomarenko) Giselle (Albrecht), George Balanchine’s Coppélia (Frantz) and Prodigal Son (The Son), and Leonid Yakobson’s Vestris. He has also expanded his contemporary and neo-classical repertoire with works such as William Forsythe’s Blake Works I and Blake Works III, Jiří Kylián’s Bella Figura, Jorma Elo’s Bach Cello Suites, Wayne McGregor’s Obsidian Tear, and Justin Peck’s In Creases.

Dunn earned the Youth Grand Prix Award in 2008, the Junior Gold Medal in 2010, and the Senior Gold Medal in 2012 at Youth America Grand Prix. He was also awarded the Junior Bronze Medal at the USA International Ballet Competition in 2010. Dunn has been featured on the October/November 2016 cover of Pointe magazine and in Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2014.

Dunn joined Boston Ballet as a soloist in 2017 and was promoted to principal dancer in 2018.