Michael Sheridan
Michael Sheridan is a Philadelphia-based artist, activist, and educator.
Biography
Sheridan's distinguished career spans over two decades, performing with Pennsylvania Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet, among others. He has also served as Assistant to the Artistic Director at Pennsylvania Ballet and works as Assistant to Damian Woetzel on projects like the Vail Dance Festival and performances at New York City Center and the Kennedy Center.
Sheridan’s repertoire includes principal roles in works by George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey, John Cranko, Merce Cunningham, Ben Stevenson, Paul Taylor, Hans van Manen, and Matthew Neenan. His television and film appearances include Dance in America on PBS and a production role in Black Swan. In 1993, he co-founded Shut Up & Dance, an annual AIDS benefit for MANNA, earning the organization’s first Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 and the MANNA Gold Apron in 2022. He is a two-time recipient of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship for Emerging Choreographers, and his additional honors include the Rocky Award for Excellence in the Arts (2005), Outstanding Mentorship (2013), and The University of the Arts President's Award for Community Service (2021).
Sheridan earned his MFA in Dance from The University of the Arts, where he served as associate professor and curricular head of studio practice. A founding member of the Board of Directors of BalletX and guest company teacher, Sheridan has represented The University of the Arts School of Dance at numerous international platforms, including Ballet Why & How in Stockholm, Beyond Ballet Why & How in Holland, Dance UK in London, Montpellier Danse in France, and workshops in Seoul, South Korea.
Sheridan is a visiting faculty member in the BFA Dance Lab at Bennington for the 2024-2025 academic year.