The Most Influential People in Dance Today: Linda Shelton

The Joyce Theater remains a second home for mainstream dance lovers in New York City, and executive director Linda Shelton’s choices of whom to present (made along with director of programming Martin Wechsler) hold remarkable power. Saying your company has landed a week at The Joyce is basically another way of saying you’ve “made it.”

Prior to becoming the Joyce’s executive director in 1993, Shelton was general manager of the Joffrey Ballet and managed tours for companies like the Bolshoi Ballet. She’s served on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts, been on the jury of Russia’s prestigious Benois de le danse, and is a nominator for the Tony Awards.

For her work, Shelton has been appointed Chevalier of France’s Order of Arts and Letters and was given the 2015 “Ernie” Award for her work behind the scenes within the infrastructure of the dance field.

Read the rest of Dance Magazine‘s list of the most influential people in dance today.