Susan Hagerman Fulks
Susan Fulks began her dance studies at the age of three in Lexington, KY. Upon relocating to Charleston, WV at the age of seven, she chose to study classical ballet exclusively under the tutelage of Andre Van Damme at the American Academy Ballet. After appearing in various children's roles with the Charleston Ballet, she was asked to join the company in 1990. She danced as a member of the company through the spring of 1996, during which time she advanced to soloist roles in classical ballets such as PAQUITA, GRAND PAS DE QUATRE, and COPPELIA, as well as a variety of original works.
Upon graduation from high school, Ms. Fulks attended Butler University as a dance major, where she was placed on both talent-based and university academic scholarship for four consecutive years. While a student at Bulter, Ms. Fulks was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel abroad and perform. In 1997, she auditioned and was selected to travel to Taipei, Taiwan, where she performed principal roles in LES SYLPHIDE and SARABANDA SENTIMENTALE, an original pas de deux. In 2000, she traveled again with Butler as part of a cultural exchange with a group in Tbilisi, Georgia. While in Tbilisi, the students from Butler were the first western group ever to perform on the stage of the State Opera House.
Having graduated summa cum laude in 2000 with a B.F.A in dance performance, Ms. Fulks danced with the Nashville Ballet, where she performed in LES PATINEURS, Balanchine's SERENADE and Paul Vasterling's CINDERELLA. Soloist roles while in Nashville included various roles in the annual NUTCRACKER, Tall Swan in SWAN LAKE and the Earth Figure in the Nashville premiere of Salvatore Aiello's RITE OF SPRING. In October 2005, Ms. Fulks completed a master's degree in Arts Administration at Columbia University. Recent Charleston Ballet performances have featured Ms. Fulks as Anita in WEST SIDE STORY, Myrtha in GISELLE, the Lilac Fairy in THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, Queen of Hearts in ALICE IN WONDERLAND and Arabian in THE NUTCRACKER. Ms. Fulks looks forward to being a part of the Charleston Ballet's upcoming season and continuing to work in the field of arts management.