08/25/2026
Congratulations David - proud to have been able to start your ballet training all those years ago!
Meet Principal Artist, David Huffmire🩰🖤🤍
David began dance with all things except ballet: Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Ballroom. David began his ballet training around age of 12 with Alexander Van Alstyne at a small Reno conservatory, eventually attending Ballet West and San Francisco Ballet Summer Intensives at the age of 14. He moved to Salt Lake City at 16, joining the Ballet West Academy Trainee program. Promoted to Ballet West II in 2016, main company in 2018, Soloist in 2022, and Principal in 2024. David is critically revered for his stunning technique, stage presence, acting range, and adaptability to multiple dance styles.
Fun facts about David⤵️
✨Favorite TV shows: Breaking Bad, Alone
🎭Favorite books: Tuesdays with Morrie, The Brothers Karamazov
✨Favorite things to do in Salt Lake or Utah: Golf and taking his dog to the park. He also loves being in close proximity to national parks.
🎭What's in his dance bag: Pens, cologne, extra shirt, notebook.
✨Pets: Two cats and one dog.
🎭What he does for fun: Write music, sing, play guitar and piano at home, play video games, ride bikes.
✨Interesting collections: David collects guitars and instruments.
🎭If he weren't a dancer: Performing in a band/symphony, or another musically driven pursuit.
✨Proudest moment as a dancer: Finishing "Jekyll and Hyde" after performing the role of Hyde, the moment he went onto stage with Jekyll and feeling the moment. “It was the hardest thing I ever did. I was so proud.”
🎭Biggest challenge as a dancer: The most challenging moment is post-performance by himself. He remembers the first time after performing Renfield in "Dracula" where he bowed, finished, changed, got back to his car, and an immense sadness hit. He started wondering "wait, no one knows what I just did. And it doesn't matter. Did it actually make me happy? Or am I just happy I didn't fail?" Learning to deal with that mental talk has been his biggest challenge. Over time, he's learned to actively redirect those thoughts, reminding himself that even if just one person was moved or affected in a positive way, that matters.
Photo by Lauren Wattenburg
