Charmaine Hunter began her formal dance training at the Hartford Ballet School under the
leadership of then Artistic Director Michael Uthoff and teacher Truman Finney. Through the support of Michael Uthoff, Charmaine moved to New York City to study with Arthur Mitchell Artistic
Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem while continuing her formal education at the Professional
Children’s School. Dance Theatre of Harlem attracted some of the world’s finest dance educators.
She had the opportunity to study under teachers such as Karel Shook co-founder of the Dance
Theatre of Harlem, Frederick Franklin, Suzanne Farrell, Tanaquil LeClerque, Carmen DeLavellade,
Mary Hinkson, Alvin Ailey, and William Griffith just to name a few.

She rose through the ranks quickly from corps-de-ballet eventually becoming one of the company’s
leading ballerinas and finally as the company’s Ballet Mistress.

She electrified audiences with her performances in a broad spectrum of roles. She is best known for
her role as The Firebird choreographed by John Taras (Ballet Master with American Ballet Theater)
and Medea, choreographed by Michael Smuin (former Artistic Director of San Francisco Ballet.)
Additional ballets include Fall River Legend by Agnes De Mille, Billie The Kid, Le Biche, Voluntaries
by Glen Tetley, and a long list of Balanchine ballets just to name a few.

During her 27-year career with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, she had opportunities to affect the
arts in the U.S. and abroad launching programs specifically for young people with little to no access
to the arts. The now famous Dancing Through Barriers, DTH’s outreach program had its start in
Johannesburg South Africa.

In 1988, Dance Theatre of Harlem was invited to perform in the former Soviet Union as part of the
United States Cultural Exchange Initiative in which Ms. Hunter played a major role as principal
dancer.

In November 2000, Charmaine traveled to China conducting extensive outreach and educational
activities as teaching artist and principal dancer in addition to teaching master classes at various
schools in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

During her tenure at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Miss Hunter was invited to serve as Ballet
Mistress and principal teacher at the Jones-Haywood School of Dance in Washington D.C. the
country’s first ballet school founded by two African American women, Doris Jones and Claire
Haywood. Although the school was founded to bridge the gap and open doors for young African
Americans to learn the artform of classical ballet, it was open to everyone. These two women were
the pioneers in creating a platform for people of color to train and compete on an international
level.

In January 2001, Ms. Hunter was invited to Canada by Mirvish Productions the Toronto based
Production Company to direct the resident show Disney’s The Lion King at the Princess of Wales
Theater. She held this position for 3.5 years until the production moved to Amsterdam Holland.
Ms. Hunter then moved to Macau China to oversee the implementation of the Sands Corporation
entertainment at the new Venetian Macau, one of the Sands Corp largest properties in the world
with 20 performance venues.

Ms. Hunter relocated to Las Vegas Nevada after being offered the position of Casting director and
talent scout with the Cirque du Soleil. She served as the company’s talent scout for dance as well as
Dance Master for the artists in the productions on the Las Vegas Strip. She was also overseeing the
classes and training of dance artists on the production of ‘A New Day’ at the Coliseum in Caesars
Palace which featured Celine Dion.

Charmaine then Co- founded the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater with fellow dancer
Bernard Gaddis formerly of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. LVCDT is a multi-cultural
institution that attracts professional dancers and students from around the world.

After the launch of Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater (LVCDT), Ms. Hunter was appointed the
position as teaching artist with Disney Musicals in Schools with Disney Theatricals and Wolf-trap
Early Childhood Education through the arts with The Smith Center of Performing Arts. She traveled
nationally training classroom teachers on various methods used to incorporate dance in early
childhood curriculum and expanding on the STEAM programs. Her position as teaching artist, lead
to many other opportunities which carved another path in directing and management.
Charmaine has returned to the professional concert dance world after accepting a full-time faculty
position as Upper School Principal and co-director with Texas Ballet Theater under the guidance
and leadership of Ben Stevenson O.B.E. Director Emeritus of Houston Ballet.

Ms. Hunter then moved home to Orlando, Florida to be with her family. She accepted a position with
the Orlando Ballet as Director of Community Enrichment under the Artistic Direction of Robert Hill.
She will serve as the organization’s Director of Community Enrichment where she will coordinate
and oversee all arts in education initiatives and community programs. Additional, Charmaine will
be working with various levels in the academy of Orlando Ballet School training and preparing the
dancers of tomorrow. She is thrilled to be home in Orlando and looks forward to an amazing future
with the Orlando Ballet.