joined The Joffrey Ballet in September 1993, after four
months (January – May 1993) with The Joffrey II Dancers. He was also a scholarship student
at The Joffrey Ballet School in the summer of 1992.
Prior to
joining The Joffrey, Anderson danced with Tulsa (Ok.) Ballet Theatre (1992), Michigan
Ballet Theatre (1989-92) and The American Folk Ballet (1987-91) in Utah. While at American
Folk Ballet, he appeared in “Distant Dance,” a public television documentary
about the company’s 1990 tour in the Soviet Union. Anderson has performed as a guest
artist with numerous companies throughout his tenure with The Joffrey, including Noriko
Haras Ballet Company in Hiroshma, Japan, The Metropolitan Ballet of Caracus,
Venezuela (1995), Nevada Dance Theatre (1995), and Mobile (Ala.) Ballet (1997, 1993). His
guest roles have included Prince Desiree in THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, the Moor in PETROUCHKA,
Franz in COPPELIA and the Cavalier and Snow King in THE NUTCRACKER.
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Anderson received his early ballet
training, starting at age eight, from Gaye Thurston Ekker, Burch Mann and San Christopher
in Cedar City, Utah. He went on to train in Los Angeles (1986-87) at the Stanley Holden
Dance Center and Dupree Dance Studio, in Rochester, Mich., at the Rochester School of
Ballet (1989-92) with Cornelia Sampson, and in Seattle at Pacific Northwest Ballet School
(1990-91) with Francia Russell and Flemming Halby. He attended Southern Utah University
and went on to receive a Masters degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Anderson
currently serves on the faculty of the Chicago National Academy of Dance Masters.
Among an extensive list of repertory danced with The Joffrey Ballet,
Anderson’s roles have included the Mouse King in Robert Joffrey’s THE NUTCRACKER, the
Caller in Agnes de Milles’ RODEO, and the Manager in Leonide Massine’s PARADE. Tony
Award-winning choreographer Ann Reinking created a role on Anderson in her tribute to
Barbra Streisand, featured in Gerald Arpino’s groundbreaking LEGENDS, and Joffrey
associate director Ann Marie DeAngelo created the Monkey role in her KALI MA, which had
its world premiere in Chicago in January 1997, on Anderson.
In 1996, Anderson was recognized by the state of Utah as a Utahn who
has made significant contributions to the well-being and perpetuation of the arts in the
State.
Anderson’s first choreographic work, a collaboration with Daniel
Baudendistel entitled ALCHEMY, was premiered by Russian Ballet Theatre in November 1997 in
Wilmington, Del.
Interests: Horseback riding (western), snow and
water skiing
Born: Salt Lake City, Utah
Raised: Juneau, Alaska, and Cedar City, Utah
Parents: Keith and Emily Anderson