danielle rutherford
Dancer

From the ripe young age of three, Danielle always knew she wanted to be a dancer. After seeing a production of ‘The Nutcracker’ she loudly proclaimed that she would be receiving a tutu and ballet slippers for the winter holidays. She was determined from then on to dance.

Danielle grew up in South Jersey dancing for a nationally recognized dance team before getting serious with her ballet career. She spent a year training with Phyllis Papa, director of Atlantic City Ballet Theater, before auditioning for, and being accepted into, Walnut Hill School of the Art’s ballet program, directed by Michael Owen.

Danielle moved to New York City to attend Marymount Manhattan College, where she performed works by director Katie Langan, Nancy Lushington, John Butler, and Mark Morris. She graduated magna cum laude with a BFA in dance and received the prestigious Gold Key Award for excellence in ballet.

Danielle has since spent her professional career dancing with Exit12 & XAOC Contemporary Ballet, performing in the City, creatively working in local residencies, and performing on tours across the country. She’s has the privilege of originating several roles in both companies’ repertoires, as well as being a part of Exit12’s featured short film, ‘Moved By War.’ Her fondest performance memory is performing “Grandmother” in Ballet Theatre Company’s production of ‘The Nutcracker,’ but her performance history primarily includes contemporary ballet works in shows such as Norte Maar's CounterPointe, Battery Dance Festival, XAOC Ballet's 'Choreography Up Close Vol I & II,' Fleet Week at the Intrepid, NYC DOT’s Summer Streets Festival, Brooklyn Ballet’s ‘First Look,’ & The Americans for the Arts 4th National Summit: R&R Festival of Performing Arts.

In her spare time, Danielle is the Beverage Director and an Operating Partner at The Grange Bar & Eatery in Harlem, NY.