Christopher Anderson creates the conditions for dancers to discover their voice and most elevated artistic expression as part of the Betsy Blackmon Dance Program Faculty at the University of South Carolina.
Combining decades of artistic leadership with mental performance coaching, his teaching philosophy centers on artistic curiosity, self-discovery, and expansiveness—helping dancers develop not just technique, but the assertiveness, resilience, and creative agency that fuel fearless artistry.
Prior to joining the Betsy Blackmon Dance Program at the University of South Carolina, Christopher served as the Artistic Director of Alberta Ballet. Joining Alberta Ballet in 2015, he successfully guided the organization for eight seasons as Ballet Master, Associate Artistic Director, and Artistic Director. Christopher diversified and expanded artistic affiliations, developed and implemented policies to diminish traditional power dynamics and inequalities of ballet companies, and imbued a collaborative and empowered creative culture. His leadership was characterized by a strong focus on artistic growth, inclusivity, and innovation.
Christopher’s commissions, choreographies, and stagings were widely celebrated and set new benchmarks for Alberta Ballet. His staging of The Sleeping Beauty was lauded as “genius” and the “hit of the season” by the Calgary Herald; his production of Cinderella set new records for sales and attendance; and BOTERO, a collaboration with Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and co-production with Ballet Metropolitano de Medellín, was a resounding international achievement. Additionally, his work in the digital space was recognized and supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Calgary Arts Development, and the Alberta Media Production Industries Association.
Christopher Anderson began his formal dance training at the age of 14 in Maryland, under the guidance of Sylvester Campbell and Norma Pera, at the Baltimore School for the Arts. He then went on to attend the Purchase College Conservatory of Dance. Upon graduating in the spring of 1999, Christopher began his professional career with Boston Ballet under the Artistic Direction of Anna-Marie Holmes. Following two seasons with Boston Ballet, he joined Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah. Anderson was a member of Ballet West for fourteen seasons and rose to the rank of Soloist under the Artistic Direction of Jonas Kåge, Pamela Robinson, and Adam Sklute.
With a professional performance career spanning 16 years, he built an extensive repertoire of classical and contemporary work and performed leading roles nationally and internationally. He also had several roles created for him by some of today’s most exciting choreographers. While with Ballet West, he also had the opportunity to create work for the company, having three works commissioned for their Innovations program.
Christopher is a collaborator and innovator who believes in the power of the arts to connect us to the world and ourselves. He is building the future of dance training—one that honors tradition while embracing the risk and innovation art demands.
*Founded in 1958 by Muriel Taylor and Ruth Carse, Alberta Ballet is a cornerstone arts institution in Alberta, Canada. The company maintains an international roster of thirty dancers who perform classical, neo-classical, and contemporary works in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.