Alexandrous Ballard was born in Oakland, California in 1963.
  He began Ballet studies in Walnut Creek, California with Contra Costa Ballet and Brynar Mehl.  He moved to New York City at 16 and began intensive training with master teacher Margaret Craske, a direct student of Enrico Cecchetti.  In addition he trained with Sallie Wilson, Loren Hightower and Christopher Lyall at the Manhattan School of Dance and with John Magnus, Trinette Singleton and staff at The Joffrey Ballet School.  In addition to his Classical studies he attended the Paul Taylor workshops and like most New York gypsies, drop in classes with David Howard, Cyndi Green, Janet Panetta and Maggie Black.
  He began performing while still a student with the Joyce Trisler DanceCompany, a modern company dedicated to the technique of Lester Horton, and with Matthew Nash’s “Splinters and Shards” company.  He was a member for much of his training of Balletfore/New York Theater Ballet, a chamber ballet company attached to the school where Margaret Craske and her students taught.  This company toured extensively on the East Coast and in Europe.
  Early in his career he began to work with Delta Festival Ballet in New Orleans, a relationship that continued throughout his career with performances in their productions of “The Nutcracker” “Coppellia” “Sleeping Beauty” “Hansel and Gretel” and “Napoli” in addition to performing as a Guest Artist in their 50th anniversary Gala. 
  While performing in New Orleans with Ballerina Cynthia Gregory he was asked to join Cleveland SanJose Ballet where he had the opportunity to perform for 3 years in Corps, Soloist and Principal roles including Flemming Flindt’s “The Overcoat” choreographed for Rudolph Nureyev during the last years of his life.  “The Overcoat” was taken to Ireland and the Edinburg Festival  in Scotland along with “Coppellia” with Nureyev in the Dr. Coppellius role.  During this tour he met his wife Leslie Braverman, also a dancer with Cleveland SanJose Ballet. 
  Leaving Cleveland Ballet somewhat prematurely to briefly join Ballet Royale de Wallonie in Belgium, Mr. Ballard then lived in New Orleans for a year, performing with Delta Festival Ballet before joining the Richmond Ballet in Richmond Virginia.  While there he had the opportunity to dance the Blue Boy (Green Boy) in Frederick Ashton’s “Les Patineurs” to great acclaim.  
  Mr. Ballard then moved to Portland, Oregon and along with his wife-to-be, joined Oregon Ballet Theater under James Canfield.  He stayed for 8 years dancing leads in the full repertory and many new pieces created both by James Canfield and the many choreographers brought in: Bebe Miller, Donald Byrd, Karole Armitage, Trey McIntyre, Paul Vasterling and others. 
  During his time at Oregon Ballet Theater he was asked to teach the boys technique classes at the School of OBT and also some open adult technique classes.  Enjoying teaching very much, Mr. Ballard trained as an F.M. Alexander Technique teacher after retiring in 2001 and also began training seriously in Aikido, a Japanese martial art. 
  After some time as a itinerant guest teacher around town, he settled down to found a men’s ballet program with Pacific Artists Dance Center and had the opportunity continue to pursue the choreographic interests that had started while at OBT.
  Currently Mr. Ballard continues to work at Pacific Artists Dance Center teaching both boys classes at all levels, Pas de Duex, Open Technique and Advanced Technique classes.  He has choreographed over 25 works so far for Pacific Artists Ballet Theater and other schools/companies around town and has recently formed his own small Contemporary/Classical Ballet company; Bouand DanceCompany and is pursuing performance and touring possibilities for this group.   He owns and operates his own Alexander Technique teaching practice; Alexander TechniqueNW and is an instructor at Portland Aikikai, the Dojo where he began his Aikido studies. 

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