Tyler Schnese (he/they) is currently an Assistant Professor in Ballet at Utah Valley University and an Associate Instructor in Gender Studies at the University of Utah. Raised in Appleton, WI, he studied with Jeanette Makaroff before receiving a BFA from SUNY Purchase and later, an MFA in Ballet and a Certificate in Gender Studies from the University of Utah. Tyler was a soloist with the Hessisches Staatsballet in Wiesbaden/Darmstadt and a member of Gibney Dance Company in New York City. He has performed works by Alexander Ekman, Crystal Pite, George Balanchine, Nicolo Fonte, Bill T. Jones, Richard Siegal, and Marcos Morau (La Veronal) among many others. He received a nomination for the German Stage Prize (Der Faust) in 2016 for his interpretation of the title role in Tim Plegge’s Kaspar Hauser. In addition to teaching at various institutions in the US and abroad, Tyler continues to work with Gibney as a Lead Actionist facilitating movement workshops for trauma survivors. As a choreographer, movement director, and dancer he has worked on short films and music videos for Steve Aoki, Sting, Damani Pompey, Naima Ramos-Chapman, and Emma Sophia Caymares. Tyler won Repertory Dance Theatre’s Regalia choreography competition and received a commission for their 22-23 season. Since 2022, he has served as the Assistant Director of the Utah Ballet Summer Intensive.