Benjamin Shepard

Annapolis, MD

Benjamin Shepard began dancing in Annapolis, Maryland and trained with Ballet Theater of Maryland, as well as attending summer programs at The Washington School of Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and The Kirov Academy. He then continued his training at Butler University, where he received a Bachelors of Science in Arts Administration and Dance, and met his now wife Emily Dietz. While there he had the privilege of performing as Rothbart in Swan Lake, a soloist in Gerald Arpino’s Viva Vivaldi, and as the Second Movement Soloist in George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments.

Upon graduation, Benjamin went on to dance with Verb “Ohio Contemporary Ballet” in Cleveland, Ohio. At Verb, he performed numerous ballets, but most memorably, Heinz Poll’s Adagio for Two Dancers, Duet, Triptych, and Schubert Waltzes. As well as Romeo at the National Theater of Cuba in ProDanza’s production of Romeo y Julieta, and as a soloist in Gerald Arpino’s Celebration. Benjamin is very excited for his first season with Madison Ballet, and is looking forward to getting to know Madison as a city.