Paul Hilliard McRae, Montclair High School Team, class of 1974 (Assistant Director, New Jersey Ballet) is a professional ballet dancer and arts administrator who trained at the San Francisco School of Ballet, New Jersey School of Ballet, and the School of American Ballet. He became an apprentice with New Jersey Ballet at age 16. In 1974 joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and attended Point Park College while there. In 1978, he rejoined New Jersey Ballet, performing a wide range of solo and principal roles in the Company’s extensive repertory. Named Assistant to the Director of New Jersey Ballet in 1990, he became the Assistant Director in September 2001. Paul is a committed dance educator and is on the ballet faculty at New Jersey School of Ballet. From 1990 through 2021, he was the adjunct ballet faculty at Kean University. He and Deborah Mitchell were the first teaching artists for the Education Department of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, for which he continues to serve in an advisory capacity to the department. Mr. McRae was named an Honorary Star-Ledger Scholar for twelve years of service as a judge and monitor for the NJPAC/Star-Ledger Scholarship for the Performing Arts. He is an Advisory Board member for Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Academy of Performing Arts and is a master teacher for the dance program. Mr. McRae has also served as Co-Chair of the Arts Advisory Committee at Arts High School in Newark. An advocate for the arts in New Jersey, he serves on several boards and committees. Mr. McRae is a co-founder and former President of Dance/New Jersey, who continues to be an active board member. Paul is the current Board Chair of Art Pride New Jersey. He also served as a founding board member of New Jersey Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.Paul is a longtime resident of Montclair and a member of St. Mark’s UMC since 1968. He has been an active member of his church community. Some of his many activities include singing with the Choraliers, being president of the Senior Youth Ministry, and chairing St. Mark’s Men’s Ministry, Staff Parish Committee, and Administrative Council.