Women's Culture Jill

22 J I L L A U S T R A L I A Dusty Button was born in South Carolina and began her dance training at the age of 7. At age 16, she moved to New York City to train at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre. In 2007, Button joined American Ballet Theatre's second company, ABT II, where she performed the lead role in Adam Hougland's Vanished. B A L L E T D A N C E R D usty completed her training with London's Royal Ballet School on scholarship, graduating with honors and was presented with the Dame Ninette de Valois bursary. While at The Royal Ballet School she performed lead roles in David Bintley's Gallantries and Natalie Weir's Unwritten at the Royal Opera House. She also performed with The Royal Ballet in Sylvia and The Sleeping Beauty. Button was awarded the bronze medal at the Youth American Grand Prix in 2006. In 2008, Button was invited to join Birmingham Royal Ballet where she performed principal roles in many ballets including David Bintley's Cinderella (Skinny, the evil stepsister) and Gallantries; Sir Peter Wright's The Sleeping Beauty  (Temperament Fairy); Twyla Tharp's In the Upper Room  (Stomper); Kenneth MacMillan's Concerto (3rd Movement); Hans Button