On Pointe: In the Judge's Chair with Deirdre Miles-Burger

Ballet Help Desk

Join us as we sit down with Deirdre Miles-Burger, a distinguished ballet competition judge with years of experience in the dance world. Ms. Miles-Burger helps pull back the curtain on what judges really think.

What do judges love to see from competitors on stage? What are some no-nos? Why do some students not place yet still make it to finals? What's the role of costumes? How much does potential play a role vs. flawless performances? And, who is really making all the decisions?

Ms. Miles Burger answers all these questions and more!

About Ms. Miles-Burger

Born in Burlington, Massachusetts, Dierdre Miles Burger began her formative dance training with Margaret Prishwalko Fallon and subsequently the Boston Ballet School on a Ford Foundation Scholarship. Ms. Miles Burger became an apprentice with Boston Ballet at age fourteen and joined the Corps de Ballet in 1974. From 1978 until 1982 Miles Burger danced in New York City and with Houston Ballet before returning to Boston Ballet in 1983. During her career she danced countless principal roles in the classical and contemporary ballet repertory but was most known for her portrayal of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, and the Principal Stomper in Twyla Tharp’s Brief Fling. In June of 1993 Miles Burger retired from performing and joined Boston Ballet’s Artistic Staff. In September 2002 Miles Burger was appointed Principal of Boston Ballet School. In the summer of 2006 she left Boston Ballet to move to Florida with her husband, where she continued to teach and coach on a freelance basis. In addition she has served on the jury for a number of ballet conventions and competitions including Youth America Grand Prix regional semi-finals and New York City Finals. In July 2010 she was appointed Director of Orlando Ballet School, serving there for eight years until August 2018. Under her leadership Orlando Ballet School grew and developed programming, most notably the Orlando Ballet School Academy, which develops young dancers for professional careers. Reaching out to the community she instituted several programs for children with special needs including Adaptive Dance for students with Down Syndrome, Come Dance With Us for children with physical challenges and Kids Beating Cancer for children recovering from cancer. In 2019 Miles Burger assumed the position of Assistant Education Director for the Sarasota Ballet and continues as an examiner for the ABT National Training Curriculum.