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 Julia Adam’s Ketubah, David Bintley’s Aladdin (the Djinn), Christopher Bruce’s Intimate Pages, William Forsythe’s In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated, Melissa Hough’s …the third kind [is] useless, Ronald Hyne’s Merry Widow, Edwaard Liang’s Murmuration, Hans van Manen’s Solo, Jiří Kylián’s Sechs Tanze, Trey McIntyre’s Peter Pan, Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker (Gopak), Stanton Welch’s Clear, La Bayadère (Dream God), Madame Butterfly, Maninyas, Marie, Of Blessed Memory, Paquita, The Rite of Spring, Swan Lake, Sons de l'âme (Sounds of the Soul), and The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.
 
His Boston Ballet repertoire includes George Balanchine’s Chaconne and Prodigal Son (The Son), August Bournonville’s pas de deux from Flower Festival in Genzano and La Sylphide (Gurn), John Cranko’s Romeo & Juliet (Mercutio), Jorma Elo’s Fifth Symphony of Jean Sibelius, William Forsythe’s Pas/Parts 2018, Wayne McGregor’s Obsidian Tear, Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker (Harlequin, Pastorale, and Russian), and Justin Peck’s In Creases.
 
Dunn earned the Youth America 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.