Cornell Callender

Photo: Cornell Callender.

Cornell Callender’s career has encompassed the roles of principal dancer, educator, artistic director, and international adjudicator.

Callender was born in Hartford, Connecticut. He began studying at the School of the Hartford Ballet at age ten under the tutelage of Franco De Vita, Alla Osipenko, Maria Youskevitch, Kirk Peterson, Raymond Lukens, Kim Stroud, Rosi Docal Pizzuto, Enid Lynn, Peggy Lyman, Hilda Morales, Alla Nikitina, Ambre Emory-Maier, and Wang Shao Pen.

He continued his education at The Royal Ballet School in London under the tutelage of Gailene Stock CBE AM, Jay Jolley, Gary Norman, Christopher Powney, Lesley Collier, Jacqueline Barrett, Katya Zvelebilova, and David Peden.

He represented The Royal Ballet School at the Prix de Lausanne International Ballet competition in Switzerland, receiving a cash prize and a finalist award. Callender graduated from The Royal Ballet School first in his class with honors.

He then went on to dance for English National Ballet, where he received rave reviews from critics for his performances with the company and was recognized by UK Times Magazine as an exuberant talent. Callender remained with English National Ballet until joining the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, Washington. He then went on to become an international guest artist, teacher, and adjudicator for schools, companies and competitions throughout North America, South America, and Asia.

Callender formed the National Ballet Academy Denver, which has generated countless scholarships for young dancers worldwide and has produced graduates that are performing with leading companies throughout the world, including Joffrey Ballet, Leipzig Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, and Pennsylvania Ballet.

He has also directed performances that have included artists from world-renowned dance companies, including American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, English National Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, K-ballet, and Boston Ballet.

Callender is an ABT Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 7 of the ABT National Training Curriculum.