Alexandrous Ballard was born in Oakland, California and began his ballet studies with Val Deakin while his family lived in New Plymouth, New Zealand. He went on to study classical ballet with master teacher Margaret Craske in New York until her death at 97. He also studied with Loren Hightower, Sallie Wilson, and Christopher Lyall and during his summers attended the Joffrey Ballet School, Steps on Broadway, SAB and participated in Paul Taylor workshops.
His performing career includes stints with New York Theater Ballet, Joyce Trisler Danscompany (Horton: Modern) Delta Festival Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Ballet Royale de Wallonie (Belgium), Cleveland/San Jose Ballet where he performed soloist and principal roles, and finally, Oregon Ballet Theater, where he was a leading dancer for 8 years.
He has performed in Ireland, England, Scotland, Japan, Spain, and Portugal and across the United States as a guest or featured performer.
Upon retiring from active performing he studied the F.M.Alexander Technique, graduating from the Oregon Center for Alexander Technique in 2003, attained a Nidan (second degree black belt) in Aikikai-style Aikido and founded the professional men’s program at The Portland Ballet, graduating students into the Houston Ballet, Ballet Austin, Pacific Northwest Ballet and others.
In 2005 he founded his own Contemporary ballet company; the Bouand DanceCompany which features works by young European and American choreographers, which has been critically acclaimed in the “Oregonian” and “Dancemagazine”
As a teacher he has been named “a master teacher of that finely detailed art” (ballet) by Martha Ullman West (Dancemagazine) and is known for his detailed understanding, clarity and humor.
Currently he is Adjunct Faculty at University of Oregon, Guest Artistic Director at Vancouver Dance Theater, guest choreographer at University of Oregon and continues his Mens Ballet program at the Portland Ballet with 12 boys ages 6-17.