Tom Kilps is a native of Madison, Wisconsin, where he received his early dance training from Studio One, Monona Academy of Dance, Ballet Madison, and Madison Ballet. He furthered his education at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Rock School, and Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy before joining Texas Ballet Theater in 2003.

Throughout his career with TBT, Kilps performed numerous roles in Ben Stevenson’s ballets, including Ptolemy in Cleopatra, Renfield in Dracula, White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Amour in Don Quixote, and Jester in Cinderella.

Kilps retired from full-time dancing with TBT in 2015 but continued dancing guest roles with the Fort Worth Opera, The Dallas Opera, and Contemporary Ballet Dallas before relocating to Wisconsin in 2016 to be closer to family. He now runs Dance Jox full-time and enjoys teaching ballet in the Madison area.