Artistic Directors’ Coalition for Ballet in America
Racial inequities and injustice have existed in ballet since its inception and actively working to change this requires a collective.
Following the murder of George Floyd, a group of leaders in the classical ballet and dance fields began meeting regularly to discuss and address how to instigate positive and lasting change within our art form. This collective, the Artistic Directors’ Coalition for Ballet in America, has turned a critical lens on their organizations and has been working since June 2020 to evaluate practices, policies and biases, to brainstorm and share, and to listen and learn from one another. A complete list of participants is outlined below.
NEW YORK CITY BALLET AND THE SCHOOL OF AMERICAN BALLET ARE PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS COLLECTIVE
Its goals and objectives are directly aligned with their missions, visions and core values, and it is a continuation of their ongoing work and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Read more about New York City Ballet’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Read more about the School of American Ballet’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Inaugural Members of Artistic Directors' Coalition for Ballet in America
Inaugural members of Artistic Directors Coalition for Ballet in America include:
Kyle Abraham, Artistic Director, A.I.M
Lauren Anderson, Associate Director, Education & Community Engagement, Houston Ballet
Peter Boal, Artistic Director, Pacific Northwest Ballet
Nigel Campbell, Company Director, Gibney Company
Jodie Gates, Founding Director, USC Kaufman, Artistic Director, Laguna Dance Festival
Christina Johnson, Artist, Instructor and Coach
Virginia Johnson, Artistic Director, Dance Theatre of Harlem
Julie Kent, Artistic Director, The Washington Ballet
Edwaard Liang, Artistic Director, Ballet Met
Lourdes Lopez, Artistic Director, Miami City Ballet
Mikko Nissinen, Artistic Director, Boston Ballet
Desmond Richardson, Artistic Director, Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Dwight Rhoden, Artistic Director, Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Adam Sklute, Artistic Director, Ballet West
Jonathan Stafford, Artistic Director, New York City Ballet and School of American Ballet
Helgi Thomasson, Artistic Director, San Francisco Ballet
Denise Saunders Thompson, President and CEO, The International Association of Blacks in Dance
Stanton Welch, Artistic Director, Houston Ballet
Ashley Wheater, Artistic Director, Joffrey Ballet
Wendy Whelan, Associate Artistic Director, New York City Ballet