Dusty Button


Dusty Button is an American ballet dancer. She was born in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. At age sixteen she moved to New York to train at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at the American Ballet Theatre. After that, she was invited to the ABT II company where she performed major roles. In 2006 she was awarded the Bronze Finalist Medal at the Youth America Grand Prix. She later joined the Royal Ballet School, in 2008 where she also performed professional roles at the Royal Opera House. She joined the Boston Ballet corps de ballet in 2012, was promoted to soloist in 2013 and principal in 2014.

Early life

Dusty Button was born in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on June 6, 1989. Button began dancing at age 7, taking classes in tap, jazz, hip hop and ballet. Button competed in dance competitions across the United States and, at the age of 13, spent a week at The Royal Ballet School in London, cultivating her love for ballet. At the age of 16, she started attending the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT. Upon graduating from the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT, Button was invited to join the ABT studio company, ABT 2. To the surprise of many, she turned it down, and decided to enroll full-time at The Royal Ballet School to finish her training.

Career

Button's professional career began at age 10, when she was cast in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. In 2008, she joined The Royal Ballet School. She joined Boston Ballet's corps de ballet in 2012 under the direction of Mikko Nissinen. She was promoted to soloist in 2013, and principal in 2014. Dusty has performed with Broadway Underground, David Bintley’s Cinderella, and with the English National Ballet School on the BBC in England. Button now serves as a faculty member for Showstoppers dance convention; teaching classes for young, aspiring dancers. Button has been featured in Glamour Magazine, Pointe Magazine, Dance Europe, Dance Spirit Magazine, Dance Magazine, Dance Informa and many others. Button was featured on the 2015 Pointe Magazine cover where she was labeled as "A New Brand of Ballerina". Pointe also remarks, "onstage, Dusty defies categorization."
Button was not named to the Boston Ballet's 2017 roster.