Dance Information You May Have Missed in February 2025

Here are the latest promotions, appointments, and departures, as well as notable awards and accomplishments, from February 2025.

Comings & Goings

Lourdes Lopez will step down as artistic director of Miami City Ballet at the conclusion of the current season in May.

Sofiane Sylve resigned from her post as artistic director of Ballet San Antonio. She has been succeeded by Rafael Ferreras.

Boris Charmatz will step down as director of Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch at the conclusion of the current season. Deputy director Dr. Daniel Siekhaus will oversee the company’s operations until a successor is found.

Ivan Gil-Ortega has been appointed artistic director of Queensland Ballet.

Frédéric Olivieri will succeed Manuel Legris as director of La Scala Ballet at the beginning of March. Olivieri will continue to lead the company’s official school.

Emily Waters has been named executive director of A.I.M by Kyle Abraham. She succeeded Sydnie Liggett-Dennis on February 17.

Omar Ingram has been named executive director of the International Association of Blacks in Dance, beginning March 1. Dr. Natasha R. Moreland Spears, who had served as co-executive director alongside Ingram since July 2023, has stepped down.

Brooklyn Academy of Music president Gina Duncan will step down in June.

The contract of Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts president Deborah F. Rutter, who planned to step down at the end of 2025, was terminated. She has been replaced by interim president Richard Grenell.

David Dawson has been appointed resident choreographer at National Ballet of Canada.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Grace Rookstool and Colin McCaslin in Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Justin Merriman, courtesy PBT.

At Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Colin McCaslin has been promoted to principal, David O’Matz to soloist.

Stephen Petronio Company will cease operations after final performances slated for July 23–27 at Jacob’s Pillow.

Awards & Honors

Recipients of Foundation for Contemporary Arts’ Grants to Artists awards, which include $45,000 unrestricted grants, include Lisa Fagan and Lena Engelstein, Jennifer Harge, Shayla-Vie Jenkins (Viola Farber Award), Jon Kinzel, Jennifer Lafferty (Viola Farber Award), and Peggy Piacenza (Merce Cunningham Award).

Hettie Barnhill, Emily Gunter, Chia-Ying Kao, Danielle Russo, Yebel Gallegos, Courtney Moreno, Barkha Patel, Huiwang Zhang, Ethan Beckwith-Cohen, Nanako Horikawa Mandrino, Stacy VanBlarcom, and Christina Vega-Westhoff are the 2025 New York State Choreographers Initiative awardees. Each will receive a $2,500 stipend, mentorship access, and support for 20 hours of creative time.

Charlotte Mclean was among the 2025 fellowship recipients of The Arts Foundation’s Futures Awards. The fellowship includes a £20,000 prize.

Christos Papadopoulos won Sadler’s Wells’ inaugural Rose International Dance Prize, which includes a £40,000 award, for Larsen C. Stav Struz Boutrous received the Bloom Prize, which includes a £15,000 award.

Ben Vereen will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chita Rivera Awards in May.

Obie Award winners in the category of Directing included choreographers Arturo Lyons and Omari Wiles (for Cats: The Jellicle Ball, alongside directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch) and director and choreographer nicHi douglas (for (pray)). Special citations were awarded to the ensemble of Cats: The Jellicle Ball and Raja Feather Kelly and the ensemble of The Fires at SoHo Rep.

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