Michael Pink

Sponsored by Donna and Donald Baumgartner

Michael Pink is the longest-serving artistic director in Milwaukee Ballet history. Since joining the organization in December of 2002, he has established himself as a prominent member of the Milwaukee arts community, demonstrating his commitment to the future of dance through new work, education, and collaboration.   

Pink has collected several accolades in this role, including the Educational Excellence Award from the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, the Headliner Award from Milwaukee Press Club, the Choreography/Performance Award from Wisconsin Dance Council, the Distinguished Citizen – Professional in the Arts Award from Civic Music Association, and the distinction of Notable Leader in Arts and Entertainment from BizTimes Media. 

His artistic vision for Milwaukee Ballet continues to be exciting and challenging. His long-awaited production of Peter Pan signified a major landmark in the Company’s history and was broadcast nationally by PBS in Spring 2014. His production of Romeo & Juliet has also been broadcast by MPBS.   

Pink is an international choreographer whose theatrical productions of Dracula, Esmeralda, Swan Lake, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Romeo & Juliet, La Bohème, Don Quixote, Mirror Mirror, Dorian Gray, Beauty and the Beast, and The Nutcracker: Drosselmeyer’s Imaginarium have been hailed as “Classical Ballet for the 21st Century.” 

His first professional work, 1914, was nominated for a West End Theatre Award, London.  

His early choreographic work won him first place in the Frederick Ashton and the Royal Society of Arts Choreographic Competitions. He has worked as répétiteur for Rudolf Nureyev at the Paris Opera and La Scala Milan. He trained as a classical dancer at The Royal Ballet School and danced with English National Ballet from 1975 to 1985.  

Pink was the founding director of Ballet Central in London and the associate artistic director of Northern Ballet in England.  

He continues to build strong working relationships with various Milwaukee Arts groups, where his credits include A Christmas Carol, Assassins, Cabaret, and Next to Normal for Milwaukee Repertory Theater, as well as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Matilda for First Stage.  

Pink opened the doors of Milwaukee Ballet’s new home in the Third Ward, the Baumgartner Center for Dance, in September 2019 in conjunction with the organization’s 50th Anniversary Season, which he views as his lasting legacy with the organization.