Originally from Augusta, Georgia, Michael Viator began his dance training with the Columbia County Ballet at the age of 9. He became a trainee in the Instructor’s Program and upon successfully completing the course joined the CCB Instructional Staff. His gift for choreography emerged as a natural progression of his unfolding talent. At age 16 Michael choreographed a full-length ballet for the entire company, Freedom, celebrating the spirit of the American people. It was from this considerable accomplishment that Artistic Director, Ron Jones recognized a strong talent within Michael that complimented his ability to dance. Michael then choreographed full length story ballets for the Columbia County Ballet including: Alice, Beauty and the Beast, and Cinderella. Though accepted into the Ballet Magnificat! Trainee Program when he graduated high school, Michael decided to attend three years of ministry school at the Georgia School of Ministry. During the next few years, he founded a dance ministry at his home church to allow students from any background to have affordable and quality dance instruction. After finishing with GSM, Michael moved to Jackson, MS, to join the Ballet Magnificat! Trainee Program. He was soon promoted to Company Artist and for three years had the opportunity to travel all over the United States, Europe, and Asia, performing and teaching workshops. Michael then moved to Iowa where he combined dance and ministry as the Artistic Director of Encounter Performing Arts Company, Iowa’s first Christian pre-professional ballet company. After two years, Michael and his wife, Olivia, followed the Lord’s leading back to Michael’s hometown where he has been an instructor, rehearsal director, and choreographer for the Augusta Ballet. He has choreographed a new version of his original ballet “Freedom” and excerpts for the company’s Nutcracker. Michael has also had the opportunity to guest perform around the country in productions with the Wilmington Conservatory, Doxa Dance Ministries, Encounter Grace Ministries, and the Augusta Ballet. Michael and his wife are the founders and directors of Renovate Ballet Company, a Christian professional and pre-professional ballet company located in the Augusta, Georgia area.