News of Note: What You Might Have Missed in January 2023

February 2, 2023

Here are the latest promotions, appointments and departures, as well as notable awards and accomplishments, from January 2023.

Comings & Goings

Adam W. McKinney, a middle-aged Black man, leans against a modernist railing, maintaining his upright posture. He wears a dark suit over a turtleneck. His expression is serious but warm.
Adam W. McKinney. Photo by Timothy Brestowski, courtesy Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

Adam W. McKinney has been named artistic director of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, effective in March.

Royal New Zealand Ballet artistic director Patricia Barker will retire from the company in March. Former artistic director of The Australian Ballet David McAllister will step in as interim artistic director on March 6.

Brooklyn Academy of Music artistic director David Binder will step down in July. He will serve as a consultant through January 2024 while the search for his replacement is underway.

The Shed founding artistic director Alex Poots is no longer the venue’s chief executive.

Mariana Zschoerper has been appointed artistic director of San Jose Dance Theatre. Augusto Silva has been promoted to artistic associate.

Maria Konrad has been named director of Nashville Ballet 2, beginning full time in August.

Meredith Sutton has been named interim director of the Dance Presenting Series at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago.

Madison Ballet artistic director Ja’ Malik has additionally been named interim executive director following the departure of CEO Jonathan Solari.

National Dance Institute executive director Juan José Escalante will join Miami City Ballet as executive director beginning February 6.

Matt Cook has been named executive director of Blue13 Dance Company.

Aszure Barton smirks at the camera as she perches on a block, one knee pulled to her chest. Her brown hair falls messily to her collarbones. She is barefoot under a pair of dark pants and a flannel in shades of browns.
Aszure Barton. Photo by Michelle Reid, courtesy Carol Fox and Associates.

Aszure Barton has been named resident artist at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

Ananya Dance Theatre managing director Gary Peterson will retire at the end of October. He will be succeeded by managing director Jennifer Ward and operations manager Hadiya Shire, who began with the organization in January.

Jared Angle will retire from New York City Ballet at the conclusion of its winter season, giving his final performance February 4. He will join Royal Danish Ballet as a ballet master. Fellow NYCB principal Harrison Ball will give his final performance with the company on April 30.

Oregon Ballet Theatre principal Xuan Cheng will depart the company to join Hong Kong Ballet as a principal dancer and ballet mistress. Her final performance is scheduled for February 25.

Awards & Honors

Ayodele Casel, Ayako Kato, Noemí Segarra Ramírez, devynn emory and Antoine Hunter are among the 2023 United States Artists Fellows, which includes a $50,000 unrestricted grant.

Ayodele Casel looks towards her feet, which are partially blurred as she taps on a square tap board. Upstage and to her right, a besuited pianist looks past the piano to her, his hands on the keys.
Ayodele Casel with Arturo O’Farrill in The Sandbox. Photo courtesy Cultural Counsel.

Kayla Hamilton, Christopher Nuñez, Margaret Ogas, Valerie Oliveiro, Mx Oops, Kendra J. Ross, Joseph Tran and Anh Vo are among the 2023 Jerome Hill Artist Fellows. Each will receive $50,000 over two years.

Miguel Gutierrez has been named the New York Live Arts 2023–2024 Randjelović/Stryker Resident Commissioned Artist.

Solo Badolo and Jacob Bamogo, Stefanie Batten Bland, Sidra Bell and Immanuel Wilkins, Yanira Castro, Ximena Garnica and Shige Moriya, Laurel Lawson and Sydney Skybetter, Yvonne Meier, Rashaun Mitchell and Silas Riener, Prumsodun Ok, Jasmine Orpilla and Mariana Valencia are among the recipients of the 2023 Creative Capital “Wild Futures: Art, Culture, Impact” Awards, which grant up to $50,000 in direct project funding.

Diana Byer and Dianne McIntyre will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards and Deborah Damast the Mid-Career Award from the Martha Hill Dance Fund at a February 27 ceremony.

Chita Rivera will receive Signature Theatre’s 2023 Stephen Sondheim Award in a ceremony on April 3.

Josh Prince received the 2022 Joe A. Callaway Award for excellence in choreography for his work on Trevor: The Musical.

KJ Takahashi received New York City Ballet’s annual Janice Levin Dancer Award.