Aaron Anker

Corps de Ballet

Meet Aaron

Hometown: Fredericksburg, VA
Aaron Anker began his training in Fredericksburg, VA at age 10. He later studied with Violette Verdy, Patricia McBride, Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, and Suzanne Farrell during summer programs at Boston Ballet, Carolina Ballet, the Chautauqua Institution, Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell, and the Rock School for Dance Education. Aaron joined Philadelphia Ballet as an apprentice for our 2015/2016 season and was promoted to corps de ballet for the 2016/2017 season. He has performed featured roles in ballets that include Le Corsaire (Conrad), Don Quixote (Basilio), The Four Temperaments (Second Theme), and Trisha Brown’s O zlozony / O composite. Prior to Philadelphia Ballet, Aaron pursued his Bachelor of Arts in ballet and Bachelor of Science in biology at Indiana University. During that time, he danced with Indiana University Ballet Theater, performing featured roles in works by George Balanchine, Merce Cunningham, Anthony Tudor, Violette Verdy, and Nicolo Fonte. As well, Aaron created the role of Amore for Tom Diamond’s production of Xerxes for Indiana University Opera.

PERSONAL QUOTE

“Someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability. And to help repair tears in her society, to make things a little better through the use of whatever ability she has. To do something… outside myself. ‘Cause I’ve gotten much more satisfaction for the things that I’ve done for which I was not paid.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg

FUN FACT

Aaron has two bachelor’s degrees from Indiana University, one in Ballet and one in Biology – he specialized in ecology and spent summers studying birds, flowering plants, and freshwater invertebrates.

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Performance Highlights

With Philadelphia Ballet:

  • George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® (Cavalier, Hot Chocolate)
  • Le Corsaire (Conrad)
  • Don Quixote (Basilio)
  • Ghost Stories (world premiere)
  • Chicken Bone Brain (world premiere)
  • Episode 31 (company premiere)
  • Rush (company premiere)

 

  • O zlozony/O composite (company premiere)
  • DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse (company premiere)
  • N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz
  • Cinderella
  • Square Dance
  • Western Symphony
  • Serenade

With Indiana University Ballet Theater:

  • Jewels (Rubies, Emeralds)
  • Donizetti Variations
  • The Four Temperaments
  • Dark Elegies
  • Variations for Eight
  • Left Unsaid
  • Duets
  • Michael Vernon’s The Nutcracker

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