Isaac Knuteson

Isaac was born in Perm, Russia and adopted at the age of 18 months. At age three, he started dancing. He went on to join a competition team, winning many awards and scholarships, and competed at national events including NYCDA and Dupree Dance and was an assistant for Dupree Dance In 2021. He then trained in New York City for a few months with Broadway Dance Center, Steps On Broadway, and Peridance Center – on full scholarships – and was awarded college scholarships from Studio School of Los Angeles, Point Park, and a $60,000 scholarship to AMDA. Isaac is also a Go 2 Talent agency representative in Los Angeles, and is also a Heart of Gold representative.

After years of competing in various styles, including hip hop, tap, Modern and jazz, Isaac decided to dedicate himself to ballet. He trained with Madison Ballet as a pre-professional/trainee under the direction of Rachelle Fochs, and with Central Midwest Ballet as a pre-professional under the direction of Marguerite Luksik. He attended numerous summer intensives at Ballet Austin, Point Park Dance, Kanopy Dance, Miami City Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Des Moines Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Visceral Dance Chicago, Madison Ballet, Nova Línea, Hotspot and Oklahoma City Ballet – all on scholarships.

Isaac was a guest artist and performed with Madison Contemporary Dance. Isaac also trained with Nashville Ballet for the year as a pre-professional student on a full scholarship at the age of 17. He also trained with Oklahoma City Ballet for a year as a postgraduate student on a full scholarship at the age of 18. He trained with Miami City Ballet as a Pre-professional for a few months as well. Isaac also has worked and been mentored by some of the leading choreographers and teachers like Oliver Muñoz, Jason Ambrose, Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye, Anaïs Chalendard, Brian Stevens, Lourdes Lopez, Herman Payne, Chantel Aguirre, Joseph Hetzer, Craig Black & Tracie Stanfield.

Isaac has performed in many classical pieces such as “The Nutcracker” , “La Bayadera”, “Western Symphony” , “Paquita”, “Borreguita and the Coyote”, and George Balanchine’s “AGON”. He also has performed many contemporary works at Nashville Ballet choreographed by Julia Eisen in 2021 , as well as contemporary works at Oklahoma City Ballet choreographed by Chloe Jenson in 2022. Isaac has worked with and performed pieces by Annie Franklin, Arizne Okammor & performed his work “Marginal”, Kameron Saunders & performed his work “Femme”, Braeden Barnes & performed his work “I am” & Madison Hicks & performed her work “Sum of Her”. He also competed at YAGP and placed top 12 in contemporary in 2019.

Isaac has begun to choreograph his own pieces, and his work has been winning many overalls and judge’s awards. His group piece “Fade” was nominated for the Industry Dance Awards for 2023, for the best open/ballet/acro group. Isaac is currently dancing for Water Street Dance Milwaukee professionally for the 2023 spring/summer season. And is teaching there too and is setting work for the trainees. Isaac is also working on getting his bachelor degree in kinesiology at the university of Concordia Chicago.