Former American Ballet Theatre dancer and associate choreographer to Justin Peck for Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story.
Born in Miami, Florida, Craig Salstein began his training at the Ballet Academy of Miami at the age of eight and continued his training with the Miami City Ballet. In 1995, he was the Grand Champion of Ed McMahon’s Star Search.
American Ballet Theatre
Salstein joined American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company in 2000 and joined the main company in April 2002, and in 2007was promoted to soloist. He is also one of a set of triplets. Salstein’s repertory with the Company includes Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, the Bronze Idol and the Head Fakir in La Bayadère, Birbanto in Le Corsaire, Gamache in Don Quixote, Puck in The Dream, the first sailor in ancy Free, the peasant pas de deux and Hillarion in Giselle, the Champion Roper in Rodeo, the Neapolitan Dance inSwan Lake, Eros and in Sylvia, the Devil in Three Virgins and a Devil and leading roles in Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes, Gong, In The Upper Room, Sinfonietta and Symphonic Variations.
West Side Story by Steven Spielberg
Salstein made his Broadway debut in the 2017 revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. Most recently he was the associate choreographer to Justin Peck for the current West Side Story movie directed by Steven Spielberg.
From Ballet to Broadway
This summer Salstein will be working with a small group of students in an exclusive virtual workshop with Broadway repertoire from West Side Story and Carousel.
