James Gilmer attended the Pittsburgh School for the Creative and Performing Arts and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School before joining Cincinnati Ballet as part of the Second Company. Gilmer has been promoted each year: to Apprentice in 2012, Corps de Ballet for the 13-14 50th Anniversary Season and Soloist for the 15-16 Season. “Dance is my passion,” says Gilmer. “It is when I can totally express myself.” He choreographed a piece, Current, for the 2015 Inaugural Choreography Workshop at Cincinnati Ballet, which was danced by members of the Second Company. This summer he danced in Amy Seiwert’s Imagery, a contemporary ballet company in San Francisco.