Artists of Spring Utah Ballet
Heather Gray
Heather began her early training with Jacqueline’s School of Ballet, later studying with The San Francisco Ballet School. During her professional career Heather was a soloist with the The Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam, Holland, Ballet West and The Alonzo King Lines Ballet. Heather has had the opportunity to work with many famous world renown choreographers dancing in both classical and contemporary repertoire. Recently Heather has choreographed works for diverse companies across the United States. Her latest accomplishments include being commissioned to choreograph for Ballet West II, The New Dance Partners Project in Kansas City Missouri, The Jackson International Ballet Competition as well several University programs. Heather’s works have won high honors globally and have been selected numerous times for the National Choreographic Plan for Regional Dance America. She has also been awarded the Outstanding Choreographer and Outstanding Teacher awards at the Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competitions for several consecutive years. She has been on Faculty with Utah Valley University and is now currently Co-Directing Utah Metropolitan Ballet II and Ballet Mistress for Utah Metropolitan Ballet.
Christoper Alloways-Ramsey
Christoper Alloways-Ramsey is an Assistant Professor within the School of Dance. He has taught, restaged, and directed internationally. Christopher danced for Boston Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Ballet Met, Ballet West, and Alabama Ballet performing a wide range of works from the classical repertoire to 21st century contemporary ballets.
Melissa Bobick
Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Melissa Bobick graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in ballet and nutrition from Indiana University in Bloomington and received her Master of Fine Arts degree in choreography from Purchase College Conservatory of Dance in New York. Melissa is also an ABT® Certified Teacher and earned the status of Affiliate Teacher while teaching in New York City. As a performer, Melissa danced for six seasons with The Eugene Ballet Company and Ballet Idaho where she was featured in many classical roles and numerous contemporary works. After moving to New York City, Melissa performed for the National Choreographer’s Initiative and was one of four dancers engaged by New York City Opera for their new production of Massenet’s Cendrillon. As a choreographer, Melissa was commissioned to choreograph three new works for Ballet Idaho. She worked as an Assistant Professor of Dance at Mercyhurst University from 2012 to 2016. Melissa is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah and is serving as the Ballet Program Head. There, she has choreographed three original works, Legacy, 135, and Fractured. Recently, Melissa was named a Choreographic Development Resident at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she was mentored by Helen Pickett in the creation of her new work, A Beautiful Disquiet. Additionally, Melissa was named a finalist for the McCallum Theatre Choreography Festival. She took her work 135 to the competition in Palm Desert, CA.
Rick McCullough
Rick McCullough (MFA) danced in the Netherlands Dance Theater and the Harkness Ballet of New York. He was Ballet Master with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and the artistic director of dance for the North Carolina School of the Arts Summer Performance Festival. He has guest taught at Oklahoma University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Mercyhurst University, University of South Florida, Southern Methodist University, University of Alabama, Ohio State University, Western Michigan University, University of California at Irvine, and the American Dance Festival, among others. He is Professor Emeritus at Florida State University. Rick has received choreographic fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, the National Choreographers’ Initiative, the North Carolina Arts Council, and the Pennsylvania Arts Council. His work has been commissioned by the Washington Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, North Carolina Dance Theater, Pacific Northwest Ballet, School of American Ballet, Chautauqua Institution, and Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp, among others. Rick won a gold medal for his choreography in the Boston Ballet International Choreography Competition. This is his second year as visiting professor in the School of Dance at the University of Utah.