Support America’s National Ballet Company® DONATE NOW
The Company
Max Barker
New York, New York
Biography
Photo: Max Barker.
Max Barker began dancing at age five at the American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School Children’s Division and appeared with ABT during many seasons at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. He trained at the ABT JKO School for nine years and was a finalist at the 2020 Prix de Lausanne. Barker went on to train at the Fabrice Herrault Studio for two years, after which he joined The Royal Ballet School in London. In 2023, he performed on The Royal Opera House stage with The Royal Ballet School and in Yondering for John Neumierer’s 50th Anniversary with the Hamburg Ballet.
Barker joined ABT Studio Company in September 2023, where he created roles in ballets by Amy Hall Garner and Houston Thomas and performed in new works by Jamar Roberts, Lauren Lovette, James Whiteside, and Brady Farrar. His repertoire with ABT Studio Company also included the principal role “Country Gardens” from Twyla Tharp’s Brief Fling, pas de deux from Diana and Acteon and Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations, the Black Swan pas de deux and Neapolitan Dance from Swan Lake, Jerome Robbins’s Interplay, and George Balanchine’s Tarantella.
Barker joined American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in 2025.
ABT is grateful to Krystn Hammond, CFA, CPA for supporting the Dancer Fund in honor of Max Barker.