Michele Wiles
Encyclopedia
Michele Wiles is an American ballet
dancer and a principal dancer
with American Ballet Theatre
(ABT).
. She studied at the Kirov from 1991 to 1997, during which time she also participated in summer programs at the Joffrey Ballet
and The Royal Ballet. Michele joined American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company
in 1997.
In 1996, Michele was a Gold Medal winner at the 18th International Ballet Competition in Varna
, a Bronze Medal winner in Nagoya, Japan
and a finalist at the Paris International Dance Competition. She was a Princess Grace Foundation – U.S.A.
Dance Fellowship recipient for 1999–2000 and won the Erik Bruhn Prize in 2002. (Also see: Erik Bruhn
)
Michele joined American Ballet Theatre in 1998. She became a Soloist
in 2000 and was promoted to Principal Dancer
in 2005. She created leading roles in Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Orchestra, Gong and Within You Without You: A Tribute to George Harrison
.
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
dancer and a principal dancer
Principal dancer
A principal dancer is a dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company....
with American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
(ABT).
Biography
Ms. Wiles began studying ballet in Washington, D.C. where, at the age of ten, she received a full scholarship to the Kirov Academy of BalletKirov Academy of Ballet
The Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, D.C. is a ballet school that serves students in grades 7 through 12 and offers a high school diploma in addition to its dance instruction...
. She studied at the Kirov from 1991 to 1997, during which time she also participated in summer programs at the Joffrey Ballet
Joffrey Ballet
The Joffrey Ballet is a dance company in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1956. From 1995 to 2004, the company was known as The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. The company regularly performs classical ballets including Romeo & Juliet and The Nutcracker, while balancing those classics with pioneering modern...
and The Royal Ballet. Michele joined American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
in 1997.
In 1996, Michele was a Gold Medal winner at the 18th International Ballet Competition in Varna
Varna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
, a Bronze Medal winner in Nagoya, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and a finalist at the Paris International Dance Competition. She was a Princess Grace Foundation – U.S.A.
Princess Grace Foundation-USA
The Princess Grace Foundation-USA is a national foundation in the United States which is dedicated to identifying and assisting emerging talent in theater, dance, and film by awarding grants in the form of scholarships, apprenticeships, and fellowships. It was named after Princess Grace of Monaco....
Dance Fellowship recipient for 1999–2000 and won the Erik Bruhn Prize in 2002. (Also see: Erik Bruhn
Erik Bruhn
Erik Belton Evers Bruhn was a Danish ballet dancer, choreographer, company director, actor, and author.- Biography :...
)
Michele joined American Ballet Theatre in 1998. She became a Soloist
Soloist (ballet)
In ballet, a soloist is a dancer in a ballet company above the corps de ballet but below principal dancer....
in 2000 and was promoted to Principal Dancer
Principal dancer
A principal dancer is a dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company....
in 2005. She created leading roles in Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Orchestra, Gong and Within You Without You: A Tribute to George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
.