GREGG SAULNIER began his dance career with Festival Ballet Providence under the direction of co-founder Christine Hennessy during which time he also performed with Island Moving Co of Newport, RI under the direction of Miki Ohlsen. He later joined Ballet Internationale, Indianapolis under the direction of Russian Ballet stars Eldar Aliev and Irina Kolpakova where he danced a variety of classical and contemporary roles. His most recent dance credits are with Cincinnati Ballet where he retired from full time performing in 2004.
Some of Gregg’s favorite roles include Drosselmeyer, Russian & Chinese in Val Caniparoli’s The Nutcracker, King Louis XIV in Andre Prokovsky’s The Three Musketeers, the Rook in Eldar Aliev’s A Thousand and One Nights, Lyla York’s Rapture, Balanchine’s Who Cares? (demi-solo man), Nils Christe’s (Netherlands Dance Theatre) SYNC, Glory, Glory solo from James Truitte’s With Timbrel and Dance, Moorish Pas de Deux in Balancine’s La Sonnombula, Johnny in Paul Taylor’s Company B, Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena, Alberto Alonso’s Carmen, Agnes DeMille’s Rodeo, Adam Houghland’s Beyond, John Butler’s Carmina Burana, Betrothal Pas de Deux in Kirk Peterson’s Coppelia, Paris in Victoria Morgan’s Romeo & Juliet and Harker in Miki Ohlsen’s Dracula at Belcourt Castle.
Mr. Saulnier has had the privilege of working with some great artists including Eldar Aliev, Irina Kolpakova, Tatiana Pali, Victoria Morgan, Kirk Peterson, Raymond Lukens, Irina Chistyakova, Bart Cook, Sir Frederick Franklin, Val Caniparoli and Devon Carney.
Teaching and arts administration work always coincided with Gregg’s performance career. While at Ballet Internationale he was on faculty at its academy and was appointed Co-Vice Principal under the guidance of Vladilen Semyenov (Vaganova School, St. Petersburg) until he joined Cincinnati Ballet. After retiring from full time dancing with Cincinnati Ballet, Gregg was appointed to Director of the Otto M. Budig Academy of Cincinnati Ballet where he served from August, 2004 until October, 2005. From February, 2008 until April, 2011 he served as the General Manager of Island Moving Co. of Newport, RI where he also performed, directed its Junior Company and was on faculty at the Newport Academy of Ballet. Since September, 2013 Gregg has taken on the role of business co-owner and co-director of Dancing Arts Center in Holliston, MA with his partner Patrick Notaro. Under their direction, the school regularly places students at nationally renowned summer programs, annually produces The Nutcracker at The Norwood Theatre to sold out audiences, and has won several awards at YAGP. A recent graduate of Dancing Arts Center is currently in the corps de ballet of American Ballet Theatre. Gregg is proud to be an American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum certified teacher in Pre-Primary through Level 5.