Robert Mills

Robert Mills is a celebrated dancer, choreographer, artistic director, and educator. Mills was raised inHobart, Indiana. He began his ballet training with Natalie Mayoch- Kolosci before advancing his studies inChicago under renown pedagogue and author Anna Paskevska, Richard Ellis and Christine DuBoulay (former soloists of London’s Sadler’s Wells Ballet), and at the Ruth Page Foundation with Larry Long. His training continued at Milwaukee Ballet School with Basil Thompson, Joffrey Ballet School in New York City and The Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet, where he worked with Christopher D’Amboise, Gloria Govrin, Roy Kaiser, and Bojan Spassoff.

Mills enjoyed a remarkable fifteen-year career performing with some of the finest ballet companies in the United States including Philadelphia Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Ballet Idaho, and Eugene Ballet. He worked closely with industry legends such as Todd Bolender, MoscelyneLarkin, Toni Pimble, Bryan Pitts and William Whitener performing in works by George Balanchine, Agnes de Mille, Lisa de Ribere, Ann Reinking, Margo Sappington, Antony Tudor, and Lila York, in addition to multiple roles within the classical canon.

Transitioning from the stage to leadership, Mills became the artistic director of Ballet Nouveau Colorado, where his visionary direction brought national attention and established a foundation for what would later become Wonderbound and the Colorado Conservatory of Dance.

Mills then took the helm of Oklahoma City Ballet, guiding the company through an era of unprecedented growth and acclaim. He added numerous works by significant choreographers to OKC Ballet’s repertoire including Gerald Arpino, Balanchine, Nacho Duato, Robert Joffrey, Jiri Kylián, Jerome Robbins, and TwylaTharp. He guided the company into its current facility, plus through staggering growth within its school and community engagement programs. For the vast contributions over the course of his tenure, Mills was recognized with the Governor’s Arts Award from the state of Oklahoma.

As a choreographer, Mills has created over 25 original works, ranging from short repertory pieces to full-length productions. His choreography has been staged across the U.S. and in 2017, he was invited to participate in the National Choreographers Initiative in Southern California.

A dedicated educator, Mills has trained dancers who have gone on to perform with leading companies such as American Ballet Theatre, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theatre,Oklahoma City Ballet, and Parsons Dance, among others.