Kirk Peterson was born in New Orleans and trained from the age of three by Lelia Haller, a distinguished
pedagogue formerly of the Paris Opera Ballet; Kirk Peterson has had an extensive career as a principal dancer with
American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, London Festival Ballet, Harkness Ballet and National Ballet of Washington.
Peterson has danced all the classics and a wide range of works by the world's leading choreographers. Peterson
worked with Antony Tudor throughout his tenure with ABT and had a particularly strong association with Glen Tetley.
Peterson began choreographing while a dancer with ABT, continued at the invitation of Michael Smuin for San Francisco
Ballet and has to date choreographed over 50 ballets. For five years Peterson was the innovative Artistic Director
of Hartford Ballet where he created new versions of THE RITE OF SPRING, FIREBIRD and AFTERNOON OF A FAUN, and for
five years has been the Resident Choreographer for Cincinnati Ballet. Peterson returned to ABT in 1999 as ballet
master. Most recently, Peterson was Artistic Director of ABT II and a Master Teaching Associate for ABT. On Oct.
25th, 2007 Alberta Ballet premiered Peterson's new full-length OTHELLO to rave reviews and recently appointed him
as an Associate Artistic Director for Alberta Ballet's 2009-2010 season.
