Biography

Daniel R. Durrett started dancing at age 5 at Dr. Lyrica Joy Ministries Ballet School, then trained at UpTown Arts for two years. Cincinnati Ballet’s Artistic Director Victoria Morgan offered Durrett a full scholarship to continue his training at the Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy. While attending the Houston Ballet summer intensive, he was invited to join Houston Ballet’s Second Company (HBII).

While in Houston Ballet II, Durrett performed in George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, Ma Cong’s Calling, Garrett Smith’s Mortal Form, Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty, and Stanton Welch’s Brigade, The Long and Winding Road, Swan Lake, La Bayadère, and Blue. He was promoted in July 2016 to corps de ballet, and performed more works by Ben Stevenson, Stanton Welch, Justin Peck and Alexander Ekman.

His Boston Ballet repertoire includes George Balanchine’s Agon (Bransele Simple), Chaconne (little pas de deux), Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 (Pas de Trois), John Cranko’s Romeo & Juliet (Benvolio), William Forsythe’s Blake Works I, Blake Works III, Playlist (EP), Pas/Parts 2018, and In the Middle Somewhat Elevated,  Jiří Kylián’s Bella Figura, Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker (Lead Russian) and Swan Lake (pas de trois), Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free (1st Sailor), and Justin Peck’s In Creases.

In June 2015, Durrett received the gold medal in the Pre-Professional Division of the Indianapolis International Ballet Competition. He also won first and second place awards at Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) in Indianapolis and was a final round competitor at the YAGP finals in New York in 2013.

Durrett joined Boston Ballet as an artist of the Company in 2017. He was promoted to second soloist in 2022.