Maggie Tesch is an exceptionally experienced instructor with national recognition. She is experienced in teaching and staging a variety of works from all genres and is particularly passionate about supporting opportunities for dancers to perform in historical works. She mentors and prepares dancers for performances and select competitions and is continually sought after for coaching.

Maggie Wright Tesch retired from her 18-year career with Ballet West in 2006. She spent 12 of her 18 years with them as a Principal Artist and was noted for her versatility transitioning from classical ballet into Balanchine-style works and contemporary ballets with equal acclaim.

In 2003 she completed a BFA in Ballet from the University of Utah and her Polestar Pilates Certification that included 750 training hours. In 2006, she was invited to teach ballet technique, pointe and Pilates based conditioning at the Department of Ballet as an Adjunct Professor. Promoted to Associate Professor/Lecturer in 2012, she continues as one of the primary instructors for many of the university’s undergraduate studio courses. Maggie is an American Ballet Theater Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT’s Teacher’s Training Intensive in Primary-Level 7 and Partnering of the ABT National Training Curriculum. As a result her university teaching has expanded to include theory courses in Ballet and Pointe Methodology as well overseeing all of the Teaching Practicums that students need who seek the U of U Ballet Program’s Teaching Certificate. She created and oversees all of the trainee internships and professional courses offered by the Ballet Program and is the primary author of the Steps of Study that is used in leveling and grading the students. Most recently in 2017 she was appointed Director of the University of Utah Ballet Summer Intensive which hosts 100+ students every summer.

She is experienced in staging a variety of works from all genres for the department and is particularly passionate about supporting opportunities for dancers to perform in historical works. She mentors and prepares dancers for performances and select competitions and is continually sought after for coaching for which she has been noted: 

“It was clear they had received the kind of excellent care and coaching from Tesch that artists welcome. By this I mean coaching in style, approach (what to think, feel, anticipate in each phrase or section), and overall interpretation. (Dean Speer)

She has coached dancers for both the Prix de Lausanne, YAGP and in June 2012, a dancer she coached was awarded 3rd prize in the Beijing International Ballet Invitational and another placed Top 12.

She has been awarded 4 grants and regularly sits on both College and School of Dance committees. In 2012 she developed a year-round Joint Trainee program in conjunction with Ballet West’s Professional Training Division which affords dancers from both programs to expand their training and performing experiences. Demonstrating her commitment to providing opportunities for her students and the community to receive the most current teacher training, she arranged for the co-authors of the ABT’s NTC to present on campus in June of 2014 and again in March of 2017. She most recently has become certified in the Progressing Ballet Technique which works holistically to train dancers out of damaging habits and improve their overall stability.

She is sought after to teach in schools around the country including University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Boston Ballet’s Newton Campus. She has been asked to teach master classes nationally and is asked back regularly to Regional Dance America and Ballet Alliance as a Distinguished Faculty and to recruit for the U of U.