MICHAEL FOTHERGILL

BIOGRAPHY​

MICHAEL FOTHERGILL, EXECUTIVE AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

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Michael was introduced to dance as a student of the Betty Hill Dance Studios in Des Moines, Iowa, furthering his training under the guidance of Robert Thomas and Miyoko Kato at the Robert Thomas Dancenter. His studies continued on full scholarship at the Milwaukee Ballet School, Boston Ballet School, and ultimately at the School of American Ballet.

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Graduating from high school ahead of schedule, Michael went on to complete his training at American Ballet Theatre before launching a professional dance career that spanned nearly two decades. His artistry and versatility led him to perform across Asia, Europe, and the United States, where he danced leading roles in the classical canon and in works by a wide array of iconic choreographers, including Ashton, Bournonville, Balanchine, Bahr, Baryshnikov, Christensen, De Mille, Dow, Duato, Fokine, Fosse, Gamonet, King, Kylián, Massine, MacMillan, Nureyev, Prokovsky, Robbins, Tharp, Tudor, Van Fleteren, and others. 

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Michael performed extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan as a principal guest artist, and held positions on the bookends of his career with the Milwaukee Ballet, Charleston Ballet Theatre, City Ballet of San Diego and, ultimately, Alabama Ballet under the direction of Tracey Alvey. During his time in Japan, he was honored with the prestigious title of Artist of Extraordinary Merit—a distinction rarely awarded, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the art of ballet.

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Upon retirement, Michael was appointed Executive and Artistic Director of Ballet Arkansas. Under his leadership, Ballet Arkansas has transformed into a vibrant and forward-thinking institution, curating a diverse repertoire that encompasses classical ballets, American masterworks, and original creations by esteemed choreographers including George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Gerald Arpino, David Bintley, Tsai Hsi Hung, Agnes de Mille, Ma Cong, Madison Hicks, Simon Kuban, Alia Kache, FLOCK, Yuka Oba-Muschiana, Maddie Falconer, Yury Yanowsky, Yoshito Sakuraba, Ashley Green, Mariana Oliveira, Lorenzo Di Loreto, and Thang Dao, among others.

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As Executive and Artistic Director, Michael oversees all aspects of Ballet Arkansas's professional company and its affiliated school, the Ballet Arkansas School for Dance, which he co-founded with his wife, Catherine, in August 2022.  In fewer than 5 years, Michael transformed the organization's vision and programming, eliminated its debt, and doubled its gross operating budget to $1.7M with a $1M endowment. Today, the organization is ranked among the Largest 75 Ballet Companies in America by the Dance Data Project and has been twice named Best Performing Arts Organization in Arkansas by the Arkansas Times. ​The organization's innovative pandemic-era holiday programming garnered national attention from CBS, and its steady growth has been profiled by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Pointe Magazine and Broadway world in recent years.    

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In addition to his work at Ballet Arkansas, Michael is a sought-after choreographer whose work has been performed professionally and academically across the United States and internationally in Iceland, Australia, France, Romania, Dubai, Spain, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Japan. His choreography for film was featured in Dance the Dream at 50, an international documentary produced by acclaimed filmmaker Richard Karz. Over seven seasons, Michael has created several full-length productions for Arkansas audiences, including Dracula, Sleepy Hollow, The Great Gatsby, The Nutcracker, Wonderland: Alice's Epic Adventure, Cinderella, and Carmen, all of which received rave reviews. 

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Michael is a dedicated educator and the founding director of the Cecchetti Council of America's Enhanced Men's Training Program. He frequently serves on the faculty of CCA's International Summer School and Teacher Training Seminars. His teaching experience spans numerous professional companies and schools both in the USA and internationally. Notable institutions include the Japan Ballet Association, STEPS on Broadway, Peridance Capezio Center, Ballets des France, Ballet Austin, Ballet des Etoiles, Noriko Koizumi Ballet, Kuniyuki/Sahara Dance, Ballet Des Moines, Ballet Theater of Maryland, Alabama Ballet, Arova Contemporary Ballet, California Ballet, City Ballet of San Diego, Milwaukee Ballet, Scripps Performing Arts Academy, Southold Dance Theater, Takako Classical Ballet, Chida Toshiko Ballet, Hiroko Masuya Classic Ballet, Midorigoaka Ballet, Samford University, and Belhaven University, where he was recently a guest artist in residence. Michael has lectured for the Cecchetti Council of America, UA-Little Rock, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, the Walton Arts Center, and UA-Pulaski Technical College's Center for Humanities and Arts. Michael has adjudicated for the CCA Classical Ballet Competition and representing the United States, he has served on multiple juries of the Hokkaido Ballet Competition in Japan. Michael is an adjunct faculty member of arts and humanities at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). 

 

Recognized for his exceptional business acumen, Michael has earned numerous professional accolades. He was named one of the Top 100 Professionals in Arkansas in 2020 and one of the Top Influencers of 2022 by Arkansas Money & Politics Magazine. That same year, he was inducted into Who’s Who in America, and in 2023, Soirée Magazine honored him as one of just 25 Men on a Mission statewide. Most recently, in 2025, Michael and his wife Catherine were named Visionaries in the Performing Arts by Arkansas At Home Magazine.

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Outside of his professional commitments, Michael is a proud father, an avid runner, and a freelance consultant. He enjoys music, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.