Louisville Ballet names new artistic director

The Louisville Ballet Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Robert Curran as Artistic Director for the organization. He will begin his duties with the season-opening production of Giselle.

The Board worked closely with previous Artistic Director Bruce Simpson to put in place a transition plan to ensure the search process and planning moved smoothly. Management Consultants for the Arts conducted the search. Over 80 candidates applied for the position and from that 80, four were chosen for interviews. Qualified candidates were invited to Louisville to meet with dancers, staff and board members; teach class; and present their plans for the Louisville Ballet’s next five years.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the Louisville Ballet family. This company is exactly what I imagined when I thought of my future in artistic leadership. I’m excited to continue the company’s commitment to the tradition of classical ballet whilst exploring new work, new venues and new ways to inspire the community,” Curran said. “The more time I spend in Louisville, the more excited I am about contributing to its arts culture. It’s a dream come true.”

Curran brings with him a diverse background as dancer, choreographer and director. He danced with The Australian Ballet for 16 years, and 10 years as a principal artist. He was heralded by The Australian as “…one of the country’s finest dancers and partners.” In addition, he co-founded the project-based dance company Jack Productions and served as rehearsal director of Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australia’s leading Indigenous performing arts company. He holds an Advanced Diploma of Dance from The Australian Ballet School, a Bachelor of Business from Monash University and is currently pursuing a Master of Applied Theatre Studies from the University of New England.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Robert as our new artistic director,” said Joel Stone, Louisville Ballet Board President. “After a very thorough search, he was the perfect candidate to begin the next chapter in the rich history of this fine company. We look forward to the community meeting Robert!”

The 2014-15 season was scheduled prior to Curran’s appointment. His first programming opportunity will be the Director’s Choice program that closes the season in April 2015.

Louisville Ballet, the official state ballet of Kentucky, offers dance to an audience of more than 43,000 people each year and has earned a national reputation as one of the country’s leading ballet companies. The company has over 70 world premiere ballets to its credit and a repertoire of over 150 works. Louisville Ballet’s education programs reach over 12,000 school children annually through student matinee performances and on-site lecture demonstrations. 

Photo: Robert Curran. Photo by James Braund.