David Odenwelder is originally from Haverhill, Massachusetts, where he began studying ballet, tap, and jazz at The Dance Works and New England Civic Ballet. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Performance from the University of Cincinnati, where he danced the role of Principal Male in George Balanchine’s Pas de Dix, set by Frederic Franklin. Prior to joining Alabama Ballet, he performed and toured with Cincinnati Ballet and Neos Dance Theatre, dancing in works by Victoria Morgan, Penny Saunders, Devon Carney, Alexander Cerrudo, and Heinz Poll.
With Alabama Ballet, David has appeared in principal roles such as the Champion Roper in Agnes De Mille’s Rodeo, Cavalier in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Strangers in the Night from Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs, Gurn in La Sylphide, Painted Black in Christopher Bruce’s Rooster, Buck Barrow in Roger Van Fleteren’s Bonnie and Clyde, and Von Rothbart in Swan Lake. He has also performed in Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room, Jiří Kylián’s Sechs Tänze, Frederick Ashton’s Les Patineurs, George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle, and as Bossa Nova in Dennis Nahat’s Blue Suede Shoes.
David is the Director of the Alabama Ballet Tappers and a faculty member of the Alabama Ballet School and Samford University.
