Michael Bearden

Born: Searcy, Arkansas

Joined in 1999. Promoted to Soloist in 2004. Promoted to Principal in 2008.

Michael Bearden began his training with Kirt and Linda Hathaway at the Academy of Ballet Arkansas in Little Rock, Arkansas.  He continued his training at the University of Utah Department of Ballet.

Michael’s performance highlights with Ballet West include Oberon in Sir Frederick Ashton’s The Dream; Pinkerton in Stanton Welch’s Madame Butterfly; Whip Boy in Glen Tetley’s The Rite of Spring; Tie Boy and Ghost in Christopher Bruce’s Ghost Dances; a principal role in Ben Stevenson’s Three Preludes; the Prince in Stevenson’s Cinderella; The Lover in Antony Tudor’s Lilac Garden, The Husband in Tudor’s Echoing of Trumpets and The Painter in his Offenbach In the Underworld; and a leading role in George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco.

With a strong interest in project management, Michael led a team of Ballet West dancers in organizing a special performance in May 2005 to benefit Utah Cancer Foundation. The event, “A Dance for Life,” raised more than $20,000. In 2007, he was the project manager for Ballet West’s 2007 calendar, which highlighted the Artists of Ballet West in some of Utah’s most memorable settings.

Michael’s additional interests include golfing and Mountain Climbing. In 2007, he summited Mt. Rainier in Washington, and in 2009 he successfully climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain.