Open Company Class - Ballet Masterclass with Timothy O'Donnell

Event Type
Class
Event Description

Ballet Masterclass with Timothy O’Donnell – Advanced/Professional Level

Timothy O’Donnell is a dancer, choreographer, graphic artist, art director, and photographer who hails from Wauchope, Australia. He is currently a Leading Character Artist and resident choreographer at Milwaukee Ballet, and the Rehearsal Director for Milwaukee Ballet II. His choreographic style is physically explosive; equal parts intricate and intelligent; impressive and interesting. His works ruminate on issues that affect us all. He holds up a mirror to the audience and invites them to think about their own idiosyncrasies.

O’Donnell commenced his dance training with his mother, Francessca O’Donnell, at her ballet school at age seven. He eventually joined The Australian Ballet School in where he won several awards, including the Jacob Bloch Memorial Award and first place in The Australian Institute of Classical Dance’s national choreographic competition.

As a dancer, O’Donnell performed multiple principal and soloist roles for West Australian Ballet in works including Coppèlia, Cinderella, The Red Shoes, The Nutcracker, and Romeo & Juliet. O’Donnell was also fortunate enough to work with celebrated national and international artists such as Paul Lightfoot, Petr Zuska, Simon Dow, Matjash Morzewski, and Ivan Cavallari. In 2007, he won Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer at the West Australian Dance Awards.

O’Donnell continued to explore choreography during his years dancing at West Australian Ballet. In 2009, he entered Milwaukee Ballet’s international choreographic competition, Genesis, where he was awarded first place and the Audience Choice Award for his work, The Games We Play. As part of his grand prize, he returned in 2010 to create another new work, Boléro–Let There Be Light.

As co-director of Ludwig, he worked for major dance events such as the Australian Dance Awards and appeared as a choreographer on “So You Think You Can Dance Australia.”

O’Donnell made Milwaukee Ballet his home in 2012. Joining Michael Pink’s Company was a full-circle moment for him as Pink’s Dracula, which he saw at age 15, was a major influence on his path to becoming a choreographer.

Since joining the company, he has danced as Marcello in La Bohème, Verdigris (the green stepsister) in Cinderella, Harker in Dracula, Hilarion in Giselle, and the title character in Dorian Gray, as well as an assortment of beloved character roles including Dr. Coppelius in Coppèlia, Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker, and the title character in Don Quixote.

As resident choreographer, he has staged five world premieres in Milwaukee: Children of the Wall, Talk to Me, The Sixth Sin, Sans Pleurer (Without Crying), more truth than poetry, and Sacre, in addition to various works for Milwaukee Ballet II and Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy.

O’Donnell is also active behind the scenes. He serves as an artistic adviser to the Milwaukee Ballet marketing department, managing a variety of projects including art directing photo shoots, creating promotional videos, and graphic design.

O’Donnell is well-respected a faculty member at Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy. He also teaches private lessons and choreographs pieces for competition.


New this year - join us at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts for Open Company class with rotating guest artists, every Friday at 9am.

The class will feature rotating guest artists and combines with the Ruth Page Civic Ballet Training Company*. Method and technique will vary by teacher.

Invited Artists:

Rigo Saura
Olivia Gonzalez
Nelson Reyes
Lucas Segovia
Jamy Meek
Elysia C. Banks
Jackson Liee
Joshua L. Ishmon
Timothy O'Donnell
Michel Rodriguez Cintra
Cesar G. Salinas

Please click the registration link for the most up to date information on who is teaching each week.

*The Ruth Page Civic Ballet Training Company is an elite group of pre-professional dancers, ages 17-25 who train daily, 9am-3:30pm, August – June at the Ruth Page School of Dance. The program provides continued comprehensive technique training, unique performance experiences, focused study with guest artists and choreographers, and travel to our International Sister Schools in Cuba, Italy and Spain.


As of January 3, 2022, students ages 5+ must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to take class in person.

The City of Chicago has issued a Public Health Order (2021-2) mandating businesses (including Ruth Page Center for the Arts and School of Dance) verify the vaccination status of all patrons age 5 and older. Please be prepared with a Government Issued ID (ages 16+) and proof of vaccination upon entering the lobby, unless you've been previously verified by Ruth Page Center staff. Even with previous verification, you must still check in with Front Desk staff.

(Patrons and/or students with a medical or religious exemption must show proof of exemption, a government issued ID, and negative (PCR) test within 72 hours of entry to the building.)

Running Time
1 hour 30 minutes
Dance Styles
Ballet

Location

Ruth Page Center for the Arts

1016 N. Dearborn Parkway
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 337-6543