Mary Celeste Geiger has danced professionally for
over ten years. She performed with three major European Companies, touring three continents and culminating as Principal Dancer
with the Royal Ballet of Flanders. As Principal Dancer, she performed in Balanchine roles, many of the classics and
contemporary roles such as Carmina Burana and La Peri, the latter that was created especially for her by
John Butler.
Under the tutelage of Sandra Severo, she danced extensively with
the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in annual The Nutcracker and the “Kresge Concert Series.” Mrs. Geiger received
the American Ballet Ford Foundation Scholarship at the young age of twelve. At nineteen, she was awarded scholarships to the
American Ballet Theatre School, New York, the Vaganova School, Russia and the John Cranko School, Germany, the latter of which
she attended.
Mary Celeste Geiger has been the director of her own school, the
Geiger Classic Ballet Academy for eighteen years and is the Artistic Director of the Michigan Classic Ballet Company since
its’ inception in 1989. She is currently Vice President on the national board of Regional Dance America
and President of its Midwest Division. Mrs. Geiger has given master classes at Western Michigan University, Interlochen
Dance Academy, Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, Nyon and Vesoul, France. She has been a guest choreographer and master teacher
for regional ballet companies in Louisiana and Georgia. Mrs. Geiger is married, no children, speaks fluent French and
resides in West Bloomfield.
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Mary Celeste Geiger founded the Michigan Classic Ballet
Company in 1989. It is in its 15th year as a Regional Dance America Honor Company. Michigan Classic Ballet Company
has collaborated with the Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony and has invited critically acclaimed choreographers such as Michael
Uthoff to set original works. This year is the 4th year the company participated in the concert, “Three’s Company”,
a shared performance with two seasoned companies in Ohio. The Michigan Classic Ballet has been a three-time grant recipient
from the Oakland County Cultural Council and has received corporate grants from Giffels Association, Michigan Bell, Target
Stores, Enco Systems, Chrysler Fund, Capezio Inc., and Botsford General Hospital. In 1998 MCBC was invited to perform at the
Tanzsommer Arts Festival in Innsbruck, Austria and also in that year the company was adjudicated for the Michigan Arts and
Humanities Touring Directory. In the year 2002, the ballet “Degas Impressions” won the “Spirit of Degas
Award for Excellence” an event sponsored by the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Michigan Opera Theater. Mary Geiger
and the Board of Directors envision the company’s role in metropolitan Detroit as a provider of quality ballet productions,
such as “Coppelia”, “Giselle” and “Cinderella” educating the public in the appreciation
of the history and technique of classical ballet as it continues to reach out to the public through lecture demonstrations,
charity events, “The Nutcracker” production and its “Season of Spring” Concert.
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