26 Jan Charmaine Hunter
Charmaine Hunter began her formal dance training at the Hartford Ballet School under the leadership of Artistic Director, Michael Uthoff and teacher Truman Finney. Her education continued at the Professional Children’s School of Dance Theatre of Harlem. There she studied under teachers such as Karel Shook, Frederick Franklin, Suzanne Farrell, Alvin Ailey, and many more. As one of the company’s leading ballerinas and finally their Ballet Mistress, Ms. Hunter is best known for her roles as The Firebird, by John Taras and Medea, by Michael Smuin. During her career with DTH, she launched programs for young people with no access to the arts. In 1988, she traveled to Russia as part of the United States Cultural Exchange and in 2000, conducted outreach programs in China.
Ms. Hunter also served as Ballet Mistress and teacher at the Jones-Haywood School of Dance in Washington D.C. Charmaine then directed Disney’s “The Lion King” at the Princess of Wales Theater for over 3 years. Then she took the position of casting director and talent scout with the Cirque du Soleil on the Las Vegas Strip. While there, she launched the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater. Charmaine Hunter became the teaching artist with Disney Musicals in Schools, training teachers to incorporate dance in early childhood curriculum and the STEAM programs.
Returning to the concert dance world, Ms. Hunter accepted the position as Upper School Principal and Co-Director with Texas Ballet Theater under leadership of Ben Stevenson O.B.E. Now thrilled to be home with her family in Orlando, Florida, Charmaine looks forward to an amazing future teaching at the Orlando Ballet School and serving as the organization’s Director of Community Engagement.
Headshot photo credit: Michael Cairns
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