Mihailo " Misha" Djuric Artistic Director, Faculty Chairman, Resident Choreographer Mr. Djuric is a former first soloist with the National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. His training and experience encompass ballet, jazz, modern, folk dance and musical theater. During his ballet career he has worked with Ana Roje, Natalia Dudinskaya, Constantin Sergeyev, Svetlana Afanasieva, Maryon Lane and Norman Dixon.

As a choreographer, he has been recognized with numerous awards including gold and bronze medals at the Yugoslavian choreographers' competition. Besides Yugoslavia (and its former six republics) and the United States, his work has been performed in Russia, Switzerland, Malta, Romania, and Italy.

In 1991, Mr. Djuric was appointed Artistic Director at Ballet New England. Under his direction, Ballet New England's Company and School dramatically increased its programs and visibility, becoming the leader of New Hampshire's dance community. In 1993 and again in 1998, Mr. Djuric was awarded an Individual Artist Fellowship from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA). He was commissioned as a choreographer by the Council to create an original ballet for the 1997 Governor's Awards in the Arts Ceremony. In January 1998, he co-founded Ballet Theatre Workshop and the Children's Repertory Ballet in Portsmouth, NH. In 1999, as part of a collaboration with digital installation artist Harry Umen and the North Country Chamber Players, he received one of two Millennium Grants from the NHSCA to choreograph to Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time.

In July, 1998, Mr. Djuric joined Festival Ballet Providence as Artistic Director, where he is responsible for managing the Company, Junior Company and the Festival Ballet Center for Dance Education. During his tenure, the organization grew into one of the most exciting and accomplished cultural organizations in Rhode Island. Festival Ballet Providence was named the 2002 Outstanding Arts Organization by the Arts and Business Council of Rhode Island. This award is presented to an organization that demonstrates “unwavering commitment to excellence, significant impact on the community, and strong organizational development”. In 2004, he received WaterFire’s Aphrodite Award recognizing beauty and seduction, on behalf of Festival Ballet Providence, for “reaching new heights in bringing brilliant ballet to Rhode Island and in reaching out to introduce new audiences to dance.” During his tenure, the organization’s budget has more than quintupled in growth and gained renewed stature in the arts community.

In the United States, Mr. Djuric has created over 32 original works and has introduced the art and joy of dance to thousands of school children with performances, lecture demonstrations, workshops, master classes, and school residency programs.