Our episode this week features the truly talented Matthew Donnell! An educator, professional ballet dancer, published author and Dad, we hope you enjoy our conversation.
Matthew C. Donnell is a native of Mt. Airy, North Carolina. He received his formal training from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) and the Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet. He spent his ballet career with the Kansas City Ballet, where he performed soloist and principal roles by the great ballet and contemporary masters. He has instructed, choreographed, set repertoire, and rehearsed professional ballet companies and schools across the country including Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB), UNCSA, Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, The University of Alabama, Kansas City Ballet, Montgomery Ballet, Alabama Dance Theatre, Dance West Virginia, and Dance Teacher Web Live. He has served as the Director of the UNCSA Preparatory Dance Program and as a board member for the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), the union that represents ballet and opera performers. In addition to dance, he enjoys teaching physical comedy to dancers, actors, and anyone willing to learn.
Donnell is also an actor, singer, film maker, and physical comedian (clown), and father. His theater credits include Kansas City Starlight Theatre, Kansas City New Theatre, Houston Theatre Under the Stars, and the New York Musical Festival. With partner Alana Niehoff, he wrote, produced, and performed in his one-man clown/physical comedy show The Chapeau Show in NYC benefitting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. His short film series, The Adventures of Jim has been screened in film festivals on the East and West Coasts.
He is the author of the illustrated children’s book The Boy with the Patch, The Nutcracker Chronicles.
He has received teacher training in the CPYB syllabus, Classical Character Dance training and certification with Inna Stabrova, and is an ABT® Certified Teacher who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Instagram: @matthewdonnell
Facebook Matthew C. Donnell
Twitter: @matthewdonnell
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