When State Avenue Ballet founder Rodney Gustafson steps down from his day-to-day duties in January, he may be assured there can be strong management on the helm of the group he based in 1994. Megan Philipp will change into Inventive Director on September 1, a place presently held by Government Inventive Director Gustafson and Co-Inventive Director William Soleau. On January 1, 2024, Cecily MacDougall, the present Affiliate Government Director, can be promoted to Government Director, whereas Gustafson transitions to the place of Founding Director.
“As we strategy our thirtieth yr, I’m targeted on evolving our repertoire towards a brand new technology of creative imaginative and prescient. I’m assured that Megan and Cecily are the group to guide that initiative,” stated Gustafson in a press release asserting the transition and new appointments. “Once I began this firm in 1994, we have been a small group of gifted dancers, together with my colleagues from American Ballet Theatre, and choreographers who established our elegant-but-edgy type. In the present day we’re a longtime, vibrant firm who’ve simply accomplished the 2022-23 season, which included 54 performances in 17 cities all through the world, with sold-out homes in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. It’s now time to develop our management group.”
Philipp has been with State Avenue Ballet since 2013. She is liable for creating, launching, and directing the corporate’s Skilled Observe Program, and coaching a decade’s value of potential skilled dancers. She has additionally been Rehearsal Director since 2018. Previous to becoming a member of State Avenue Ballet, she spent eight years in New York Metropolis as a performing artist, instructor, and choreographer, and held positions at American Ballet Theatre and Joffrey Ballet Chicago. Among the many exhibits she has choreographed sections of are State Avenue Ballet’s productions of The Nutcracker, Sleeping Magnificence, A Midsummer Night time’s Dream, and The Jungle Ebook.
MacDougall, who joined State Avenue Ballet in 2009, danced with the corporate for 10 years and based and directed Library Dances, a part of State Avenue Ballet’s instructional outreach program. As well as, she has danced professionally with New York Theatre Ballet, Allegro Theatre Firm, and Richmond Ballet, and she or he has choreographed quite a few items for State Avenue Ballet, in addition to for the Music Academy manufacturing of The Bartered Bride, and El amor brujo and La Traviata in collaboration with Opera Santa Barbara.
Upcoming State Avenue Ballet performances embody Giselle (Oct. 21-22), carried out with the Santa Barbara Symphony; The Nutcracker (Dec. 16-17) with Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra and State Avenue Ballet Academy college students; Cinderella (Mar, 23-24, 2024); and Different Voices (Could 10-11, 2024).
There can be a celebration honoring founder Rodney Gustafson, and Gail Towbes Middle for Dance kicks off the season with an unique fundraising occasion hosted by boardmember Gary Dorfman on September 23. —Leslie Dinaberg
For extra data, go to statestreetballet.com.
