Biography

Daniel R. Durrett began his early dance training at Dr. Lyrica Joy Ministries Ballet School, then trained at UpTown Arts for two years. Cincinnati Ballet’s Artistic Director Victoria Morgan offered Durrett a full scholarship to continue his training at the Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy. While attending the Houston Ballet summer intensive, he was invited to join Houston Ballet’s Second Company (HBII).

While in Houston Ballet II, Durrett performed in George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, Ma Cong’s Calling, Garrett Smith’s Mortal Form, Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty, and Stanton Welch’s Brigade, The Long and Winding Road, Swan Lake, La Bayadère, and Blue. He was promoted in July 2016 to corps de ballet, and performed more works by Ben Stevenson, Stanton Welch, Justin Peck and Alexander Ekman.

His Boston Ballet repertoire includes Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella (Jester); George Balanchine’s Agon (Bransele Simple), Chaconne (Little Pas de Deux), Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 (Pas de Trois);  John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet (Benvolio); Lia Cirio’s Chaptered In Fragments; Jorma Elo’s Bach Cello Suites and Carmen; William Forsythe’s Approximate Sonata, Artifact Suite, Blake Works I, Blake Works III, DéFilé, Playlist (EP), Pas/Parts 2018, and In the Middle Somewhat Elevated;  Jiří Kylián’s Bella Figura; Mikko Nissinen’s Raymonda (Bernard), Swan Lake (Pas De Trois, Lead Neapolitan), The Nutcracker (Nutcracker Prince, Snow King) and Swan Lake (Pas de Trois); Rudolf Nureyev’s Don Quixote (Lead Traveler); Justin Peck’s Everywhere We Go and In Creases; Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty (Pas de Trois, Blue Bird); Helen Pickett’s TO BE ONE and Petal; Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free (1st Sailor);  and Ken Ossola’s The Space Between.

In June 2015, Durrett received the gold medal in the Pre-Professional Division of the Indianapolis International Ballet Competition. He also won first and second place awards at Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) in Indianapolis and was a final round competitor at the YAGP finals in New York in 2013.

Durrett joined Boston Ballet as an artist of the Company in 2017. He was promoted to second soloist in 2022 and soloist in 2024.