Daniel R. Durrett

Daniel R. Durrett began his early dance training at Dr. Lyrica Joy Ministries Ballet School, then trained at UpTown Arts for two years. Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy Artistic Director Victoria Morgan offered Durrett a full scholarship to continue his training at the Academy. While attending the Houston Ballet summer intensive, he was invited to join Houston Ballet’s Second Company (HBII).

While in HBII, Durrett performed in Allegro Brillante by George Balanchine, Calling by Ma Cong, Mortal Form by Garrett Smith, The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty by Ben Stevenson, and Brigade, The Long and Winding Road, Swan Lake, La Bayadère, and Blue by Stanton Welch. He was promoted in July 2016 to corps de ballet, and performed additional works by Ben Stevenson, Stanton Welch, Justin Peck, and Alexander Ekman.

His Boston Ballet repertoire includes Cinderella (Jester) and The Dream (Puck, Bottom) by Frederick Ashton; Agon (Bransle Simple), Chaconne (Little Pas de Deux), Mozartiana (Gigue), Symphony in Three Movements (Jumping Man), Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 (Pas de Trois), Rubies (Principal Man), Emeralds (Pas de Trois), and Diamonds (Demi-Soloist) by George Balanchine; Romeo and Juliet (Benvolio) by John Cranko; After and Chaptered in Fragments by Lia Cirio; Bach Cello Suites, Carmen, Plan to B, and Le Sacre du Printemps by Jorma Elo; Approximate Sonata, Artifact Suite, Blake Works I, Blake Works III, Défilé, Herman Schmerman, Playlist (EP), Pas/Parts 2018, and In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated by William Forsythe; Bella Figura, 27’52”, and Petite Mort by Jiří Kylián; La Mer by Nanine Linning; Roméo et Juliette (Mercutio, Benvolio) by Jean-Christophe Maillot; Raymonda (Bernard), Swan Lake (Pas de Trois, Lead Neapolitan, Pas de Cinq), and The Nutcracker (Nutcracker Prince, Snow King) by Mikko Nissinen; Don Quixote (Lead Traveler) by Rudolf Nureyev; The Space Between by Ken Ossola; Everywhere We Go and In Creases by Justin Peck; The Sleeping Beauty (Pas de Trois, Blue Bird) by Marius Petipa; To Be One and Petal by Helen Pickett; The Seasons’ Canon by Crystal Pite; Dances at a Gathering (Brick) and Fancy Free by Jerome Robbins; and Vestris by Leonid Yakobson.

In June 2015, Durrett received the gold medal in the Pre-Professional Division of the Indianapolis International Ballet Competition. He also won first and second place awards at the Youth America Grand Prix in Indianapolis and was a final round competitor at the YAGP Finals in New York in 2013.

Durrett joined Boston Ballet as an artist of the Company in 2017. He was promoted to second soloist in 2022 and soloist in 2024.

Photo by: Maximillian Tortoriello