Alexander Dutko

Artistic Director

Alexander Dutko received his pre-professional training on scholarship at the Nutmeg Conservatory, School of American Ballet, and the Universal Ballet Academy (formerly the Kirov Academy). In 2000 he was named an ABT National training Scholar. Mr. Dutko was the first male dancer to win the Regional Youth Grand Prix Title and in 2003 placed top 6 in the senior division and was awarded a scholarship at the Youth America Grand Prix Finals in NYC. In 2004 Alexander was the first of 10 dancers invited to join the inaugural class of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre. There he trained with Gelsey Kirkland, Julie Kent, Ethan Stiefal, Leslie Browne, Olga Dvorvenko to name a few. Alexander had the opportunity to dance in the 10th Anniversary ABT Studio Company Gala at Lincoln Center, in the premiere of Jessica Lang's Veiled Calling. Upon graduating from the school Alexander accepted a position in Miami City Ballet, under the direction of Edward Villella, performing and touring in such ballets as Balanchine's Prodigal Son, Symphony in C, Serenade, Western Symphony, and the Nutcracker, Twyla Tharp's In the Upper Room, Paul Taylor's Funny Papers, and Villella's Don Quixote and Giselle. In the spring of 2007, Alexander choreographed his first ballet Venia for Miami City Ballet's "Our Show" Performance. In the fall of 2007 he became a member of Ballet Gamonet- Maximum Dance Company, performing principal roles in Carmen and Grand Pas Classique. That same year he was featured in Pointe Magazine's "YAGP:Where are they now?". Alexander danced with American Repertory Ballet where he performed numerous soloist and principal roles in The Nutcracker, Kirk Peterson’s The Eyes That Gently Touch and Tears of the Moon, Patrick Corbin’s Follia, Gerald Arpino's Viva Vivaldi and Confetti, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the title role in the world premiere of "Firebird". In 2011 he performed in the Career Transitions Gala at City Center in NYC, hosted by Chita Rivera. Alexander has choreographed for the Lynch School of Ballet in Long Island and for the ODance Festival in West Palm Beach, FL. He was faculty at Rutger's Mason Gross School of the Arts teaching BFA students. Alexander has trained BalletCNJ dancers for Miami International Ballet Competition, Youth America Grand Prix, among other renown International Ballet Competitions. His students have been awarded top places , both the Youth Grand Prix and Grand Prix Awards, and have received invitations the YAGP NYC Finals, where they have placed and were awarded prestigious scholarships.  In both 2020 and 2021, Alexander was awarded "Outstanding Teacher" at Youth America Grand Prix and in 2020 the "Outstanding Teacher" and "Outstanding Choreographer" awards at the Miami International Ballet Competition.  Mr. Dutko is proud to be the Founding Artistic Director of BalletCNJ.