Leadership & Staff

Jonathan Stafford*

Artistic Director

Jonathan Stafford began his ballet training at age 8 with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. After attending two summer courses at SAB, he enrolled full time in 1997. He joined New York City Ballet in 1999, was promoted to soloist in 2006 and principal dancer in 2007. Mr. Stafford joined SAB’s permanent faculty in 2007 and was named the School’s first Professional Placement Manager in 2015.

After retiring from dancing in 2014, Mr. Stafford served as Ballet Master for New York City Ballet. In 2017, he led New York City Ballet’s four-person interim artistic leadership team and was named Artistic Director of both New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet in February 2019.

Darla Hoover*

Chair of Faculty

Darla Hoover began her new role as the School of American Ballet’s Chair of Faculty in June 2022. Ms. Hoover started her ballet training at age 6 at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary. After attending three SAB Summer Courses, she was invited to enroll as a full-time student in the fall of 1976. At George Balanchine’s invitation, Ms. Hoover joined New York City Ballet in 1980 where she danced for 12 years.  Ms. Hoover was named CPYB’s Associate Artistic Director in 1995 and rose to Artistic Director in 2019. Concurrently with her work at CPYB, Ms. Hoover joined the faculty of Ballet Academy East in 1996, rising to Associate Artistic Director in 2006, and Artistic Director of BAE’s Pre-Professional Division in 2014. Ms. Hoover is a recipient of the Marcia Dale Weary Legacy Award in recognition of her lifelong commitment to education in the arts, and 2021 she received a Congressional Commendation for outstanding public achievement in New York’s 12th Congressional District. Additionally, Ms. Hoover has been a répétiteur for The George Balanchine Trust since 1996, staging Balanchine works for leading dance companies in the U.S. and around the world.

Aesha Ash*

Associate Chair of Faculty

Carrie W. Hinrichs

Executive Director

Carrie W. Hinrichs joined the School of American Ballet (SAB) as Executive Director in September 2017. She brings to SAB more than 20 years of experience in school administration and nonprofit fundraising, as well as a lifelong passion for ballet. Under her leadership, SAB has significantly strengthened its financial sustainability, increased it support of its talented students and dedicated faculty and staff, and continued to deepen SAB’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Ms. Hinrichs returned to SAB following five years as Director of Advancement at The Spence School, where she oversaw fundraising, alumnae relations, and school communications. Previously in her career, she served as SAB’s Director of Development and Planning, Director of Development for Careers Through Culinary Arts Program, and held fundraising positions at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the American Museum of Natural History. Ms. Hinrichs graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Politics, magna cum laude.