M'Liss Dorrance, is Associate Professor of the Practice of Dance and Director of Undergraduate Studies. She is Co-Director of the Duke Ballet Repertory Ensemble at Duke University. She has performed as a member of the National Ballet Company, Eliot Feld's American Ballet Company, the Arlington Dance Theater and as guest artist with many local and regional companies. She was instrumental in founding the New Performing Dance Company and the Former Chapel Hill Ballet Company, where she served as Artistic Director (1978-1994) and 15-501 Ballet and principal choreographer. M'Liss is the co-founder and partner of the Ballet School of Chapel Hill.