Stephen Pier

CHOREOGRAPHER

Stephen Pier has performed throughout the world with the Royal Danish Ballet, the Hamburg Ballet, the José Limón Company and as a guest artist. His repertoire spanned a vast range including the works of Petipa, Bournonville, Balanchine, Cranko, Kylian, Limón, and Neumeier. He created roles in original works for choreographers John Neumeier, Maurice Béjart, Kim Brandstrup,and Laura Dean. Critically acclaimed as “highly defined, a tour de force”, “ a dancer of tremendous taste and insight.”, “one of the most gifted dancers on the modern dance scene today.” Mr Pier went on to became internationally known as a teacher and coach for both Limón work and Ballet. He taught for the Royal Danish Ballet’s company and school while serving as ballet master from 1990 -1996. He served on the faculty of the Juilliard School from 1996-2010, Alvin Ailey School, Martha Graham Center, Regional Dance America, New York International Ballet Competition and for many notable companies in Europe, America and Asia including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Atlanta Ballet, Bat Dor, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Introdans, Scapino Ballet, New National Theater Tokyo, and Wayne McGregor’s Random Dance. His students have danced in companies around the world including, The Royal Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Forsythe Company, Netherlands Dance Theater, Martha Graham Company, Lar Lubovitch, José Limón Dance Co., Mark Morris Dance Group, Doug Varone Dancers, Cullberg Ballet, Cedar Lake Ensemble, Alvin Ailey and Bat Sheva. In 2004 Mr. Pier began PierGroupDance to explore and collaborate with dancers and artists in various art forms. He has created over 40 works for the concert stage, opera, theater, and film. His work has been presented by The Hamburg Ballet (Ger.), Royal Danish Ballet, Royal Danish Theater, Royal Danish Opera, Bat Dor (Israel), The New National Theater (Japan), the Juilliard Dance Ensemble, The Di Capo Opera Company (NYC), Nilas Martins Dance Company, and the Dance on Film Festival at Lincoln Center. In 1998 he was selected to be part of Jacob’s Pillow Choreographer’s Project. He co-founded and directed the emerging choreographer’s workshop, “Danses”, at the Royal Danish Ballet 1990-1996 Stephen was the Artistic Director of Juilliard’s innovative Mentoring Program from 2007 - 2010 and in September 2008 he began a 3-year tenure as director of Visions and Voices: Altria/ABT Women’s Choreography Project at American Ballet Theater. In October of 2009, Mr. Pier was appointed Director of the Dance Division at The Hartt School, University of Hartford