BA in Liberal Studies, focus in Arts, Magna Cum Laude, University of Maine
MBA in Business Administration, focus in Organizational Leadership, Magna Cum Laude, Western Governor’s University 
Project Management Professional Certification, Google 
Progressive Ballet Technique Certification 
American Ballet Theater National Training Curriculum Primary-Level 3 

Office: MCD 203
Email: stephanie.cotton@utah.edu

Stephanie Cotton is a teaching artist, director, choreographer, and founder of The Ballet Mentor, an online coaching program and resource library for pre-professional ballet dancers. She previously served Inspire Performing Arts, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, for six years as Performing Company Director and later as Assistant Director of Inspire School of Ballet. With more than a decade of experience in performing arts education, Ms. Cotton specializes in ballet pedagogy, pointework, choreography, injury prevention, cross-training, and mentorship, preparing students with the skills and confidence required for professional success. 

At Inspire, Ms. Cotton played a pivotal role in designing a pre-professional ballet curriculum, as well as strength training and pre-pointe programs for emerging dancers. She directed and choreographed numerous full-length classical ballets and original works, including Adventure to Neverland, Tiny Dancer, Peter & the Wolf, and Beyond the Barre. She has also staged classical repertory such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Alice in Wonderland. Her choreographic commissions include works for Del Mar Ballet and Scripps Ballet Theater, and her productions have been presented at Chula Vista Art Fest, San Diego State University, and Disney®. In addition, she contributed to the creation of a boys’ ballet program in San Diego’s inner-city schools. 

Ms. Cotton’s professional training and performance career include affiliations with Boston Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theatre, Cirque du Soleil, Texas Ballet Theater, The Rock School, Milwaukee Ballet, The Washington Ballet, and Scripps Ballet Theatre. She has performed soloist and principal roles across classical, neoclassical, and contemporary repertoires by internationally recognized choreographers. 

Alongside her artistic achievements, Ms. Cotton is a dedicated advocate for athletes navigating autoimmune conditions and chronic pain syndromes. Having lived with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia since adolescence, she transitioned her focus from professional performance to teaching, where she emphasizes mindful approaches to training, injury prevention, and sustainable practice. 

Her mission as an educator is to foster resilience, artistry, and a comprehensive understanding of ballet technique in each student she mentors. The challenges she has faced as an artist have profoundly informed her teaching philosophy, allowing her to guide pre-professional dancers with both technical expertise and empathetic insight.