David Hallberg


David Hallberg is an American classical ballet dancer. He is a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre and resident guest artist at The Australian Ballet, and formerly a principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet. In 2021 he will take over as artistic director of The Australian Ballet.

Early life

Hallberg was born in Rapid City, South Dakota, and grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He was inspired to dance when he saw a Fred Astaire film in the family living room. With his family's support, he trained at the Ballet Arizona School under the direction of Kee Juan Han. In 1999 he studied for one year at the Paris Opera Ballet School, then joined American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company in 2000.

Career

Hallberg joined ABT's corps de ballet in 2001, was promoted to Soloist in 2004, then Principal in 2006. He has been a guest artist with many different companies around the world, including the Mariinsky Ballet, the Paris Opera Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Kiev Ballet in Ukraine, Ballet Estable del Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and many others. He has also performed at galas around the world from Japan to the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. In 2010, Hallberg won the Prix Benois de la Danse for his portrayal of Count Albrecht in Giselle.
In 2011 Hallberg became the first American to become a principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet. Hallberg was invited by Sergei Filin, Bolshoi Ballet's artistic director to join as either a guest artist or principal. Part of his decision to join was made, in part, to dance with ballerina Natalia Osipova with whom he had danced previously. However, owing to a severe ankle injury, he did not perform with the Bolshoi after July 2014, and the association ended formally in 2017.
During two years off stage due to complications recovering from surgery on his left foot, Hallberg spent 15 months working with The Australian Ballet's physiotherapy and rehabilitation team, building a relationship with the company that resulted in his being named Resident Guest Artist. He finally returned to the stage in a role début, that of Franz in Coppélia, with The Australian Ballet and partnered with Amber Scott in December 2016.
Hallberg starred in the 2017 Nike campaign, "I, David", directed by Niclas Gillis with set design by James Casebere.
Hallberg published a memoir, A Body of Work: Dancing to the Edge and Back, with the Touchstone imprint of Simon and Schuster in November 2017.
Hallberg established the David Hallberg Scholarship to mentor aspiring male dancers at American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company and Ballet Arizona. Mr. Hallberg has directed ABT Incubator, a two-week choreographic program at Ballet Theater, since 2018.
In March 2020 Hallberg was announced as the new artistic director of The Australian Ballet. He will take up this position in January 2021. He is set to have a “a proper farewell performance” during ABT’s 2021 Metropolitan Opera House season.

Selected Repertoire

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