Michael King

Indianapolis Ballet Theatre (1986-ca. 1992)
Ballet Austin
Butler Ballet: Guest (1989)
Lafayette Ballet: Guest (1989, 1993)

Panama-native Michael King was born ca. 1968 and didn’t start dancing until he was in high school; a friend persuaded him to attend an audition for a school play, and King discovered his love for dance. He is an alumnus of Southern California Ballet and went to United States International University in San Diego.

King only trained for four years before joining a company, Indianapolis Ballet Theatre in 1986.

King danced many lead roles including Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream; the Nutcracker Prince, Arabian, and Russian in The Nutcracker; Romeo in Dace Dindonis’ Romeo and Juliet; the Prince and Bluebird in Sleeping Beauty; the Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle; and the Prince in Swan Lake. He also was featured in Asaf Messerer’s Melody and Spring Waters; David Brown’s Spartacus; Dace Dindonis’ Variations Brilliantes, Romanza, and Metamorphose; José Limón’s The Moor’s Pavane; and Aesop’s Fables.

As a guest artist, King appeared with Edmonton Opera in Verdi’s Aida in 1989, with Butler Ballet in 1989, and with Lafayette Ballet as the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cavalier in The Nutcracker.

He was also a member of Ballet Austin.

The dancer was often praised in the press: the Battle Creek Enquirer said he was “the clear stand-out, delivering a performance of incredible precision and warmth” in The Nutcracker, The Indianapolis News said that King “danced with a sweetness and quiet rapture” in 1990 as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and that he performed Bluebird in Sleeping Beauty “with an appealing grace that brought down the house” in 1991, and The Indianapolis Star stated that his Prince in Sleeping Beauty was “admirably danced” in 1991.

Hailed as a hard worker, King was recognized as a “tall, elegant” dancer with “natural talent.” IBT’s Artistic Director Dace Dindonis called King an asset, “not just as a dancer, but as a person too.”

Dancing With Michael King, Indianapolis Recorder
Alumni Dancers, Southern California Ballet
Powerful ‘Pavane’ keys IBT program, The Indianapolis Star
Indianapolis Ballet Theatre charms during debut on different stage, The Indianapolis Star
It’s more than 10 cents a dance, The Indianapolis Star
Shakespeare’s genius produced ballet theme before birth of ballet, The Indianapolis News
Who they are and where they’re from, The Indianapolis News
‘Nutcracker’ full of flawless magic, Battle Creek Enquirer
Birth of ballet a big step forward, Journal and Courier
Romance reigns in ‘Romeo and Juliet’, The Indianapolis News
IBT’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’ performance is no snoozer, The Indianapolis Star
Betrayed lover’s spirit not strongly portrayed in ‘Giselle’, The Indianapolis Star
Elaine Bauer featured dancer in ballet excerpt, The Indianapolis News
Decidedly American flavor highlights ballet recital, The Indianapolis Star
‘Beauty’ blooms at the ballet, The Indianapolis News
Dance, The Indianapolis News
Mozart in a somber mood inspired Dindonis work, The Indianapolis News
IBT’s worldwide dance affair done with flair, The Indianapolis Star
Professional ballet companies in region have few blacks among their members, The Courier-Journal
‘Othello’ becomes ‘Moor’s Pavane’ for IBT, The Indianapolis Star
New dancers in Indy troupe, The Indianapolis News
Good choreographers find sensitive dancer’s treasures, Edmonton Journal
Aida to include ‘steamy’ dancing, Edmonton Journal
The freedom to dance, The Indianapolis Star