Kristin Dimmer

Kristin Dimmer has led Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy (MBSA) since August 2020 following a long history with the organization, performing in the Milwaukee Ballet II (MBII) second company and serving as a faculty member. She was named Director of the school in July 2023.

A native of DeForest, Wisconsin, Dimmer began her dance training at the Monona Academy of Dance under the direction of JoJean Retrum. Additionally, she participated in summer training programs at Virginia School of the Arts, Joffrey Midwest Workshop, and Houston Ballet. Dimmer continued her training on full scholarship with Houston Ballet Academy working with Stanton Welch, Claudio Muñoz, and Lazaro Carreño, and performing alongside Houston Opera and Houston Ballet. Accolades include being named a top ten finalist in the Youth America Grand Prix Competition in 2003 and being selected to represent Wisconsin for Regional Dance America’s gala performance at the International Ballet Competition where Sergei Kozadeyev created Divertisement on her.

Dimmer joined Colorado Ballet Studio Company in 2007 performing in Le Corsaire, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, Dracula, and as a soloist in Sandra Brown’s Synchronicity. She returned to Wisconsin to join MBII dancing with the company for two seasons, from 2008-2010. During that time, she notably performed The Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy in Michael Pink’s The Nutcracker, solos from La Bayadere, Raymonda, Napoli, and Sylvia, and alongside the Company in Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Peter Pan.

In addition to her dance career, Dimmer earned a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Business Administration from Lakeland University and a Master of Science in Education – Teaching and Learning from Concordia University. In 2010 she began her career in education at Pius XI Catholic High School in Milwaukee in the dance department. During a decade of working for the school, which included a swift appointment to Artistic Director, Dimmer was able to establish a fully scoped and sequenced dance program with a comprehensive curriculum. She accomplished this while also serving as the Chair of the Performing Arts Department. Throughout this time, she continued to teach at Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy. In 2020 she joined the MBSA administration full-time as General Manager, helping to lead the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms. Dimmer previously served on the Wisconsin Dance Council Board of Directors and currently leads the consortium of schools for the National Summer Intensive Audition (NSIA). Additionally, she judges for competitions around the U.S. including Youth America Grand Prix and American Dance Competition – Youth International Ballet Competition and serves on the Committee on Ethics for the National Association of Schools of Dance. She resides in Port Washington with her husband and children.