Miami City Ballet Names Darleen Callaghan Director of Miami City Ballet School Former School Director for North Carolina
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Roberto Santiago Public Relations Manager Miami City Ballet (305) 929-7000, ext 1602 [email protected] MIAMI CITY BALLET NAMES DARLEEN CALLAGHAN DIRECTOR OF MIAMI CITY BALLET SCHOOL FORMER SCHOOL DIRECTOR FOR NORTH CAROLINA DANCE THEATRE STARTS HER NEW POSITION ON MARCH 1, 2013 Miami Beach, FL (February 5, 2013): Miami City Ballet Artistic Director, Lourdes Lopez, has appointed Darleen Callaghan as the new Director of Miami City Ballet School. Callaghan starts her new position on March 1, 2013. “It is a tremendous honor and privilege to be invited to direct Miami City Ballet School,” said Callaghan. “I am looking forward to working with Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez to help her realize her vision for the School.” A highly respected dance professional with over 30 years of performance and administrative experience, Callaghan is nationally-recognized for her work as Director of North Carolina Dance Theatre School of Dance (the official school for North Carolina Dance Theatre), where she increased enrollment from 150 to 700 students in three years and achieved national recognition for the School as a major professional training institution. Callaghan also developed and managed three satellite School locations and increased revenues by 700% over 13 years with consistent profitability. Throughout all of this, Callaghan worked closely with North Carolina Dance Theatre Artistic Directors Jean Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride in developing the School’s Summer Intensive Program, Trainee/Apprentice Program and all-day Conservatory Training Program. Callaghan is also credited with developing and instituting an academic program for Conservatory students in collaboration with the local high school. “Darleen has done amazing work for our School and was foremost in helping build its reputation in the dance world,” said Bonnefoux, former star principal dancer for the Paris Opera, Bolshoi, Kirov and New York City Ballet. McBride, known as one of the greatest principal dancers in New York City Ballet’s history, agreed. “Darleen is an exceptional woman. I know she will do a sensational job as Director of Miami City Ballet School.” Lopez, who has been the interim director of Miami City Ballet School since September 2012, now becomes Chairman of the Faculty, overseeing all artistic aspects. “I am thrilled that Darleen has accepted this position,” said Lopez. “Her extensive experience in building a professional school committed to producing finely-trained versatile dancers and affiliated with a professional company, makes her the perfect Director for us. This will not only enable Miami City Ballet School to reach its fullest potential in providing a stream of professionally prepared dancers for Miami City Ballet, but also supplying dancers to diverse companies world-wide. The Company and the School are now in a prime position to move into the 21st Century of cutting-edge dance performances and training and have the distinctive opportunity to do this.” Jim Eroncig, president of the Board of Governors, also praised Callaghan’s appointment. “On behalf of the board of Governors and the Board of Trustees, we welcome Darleen and look forward to Miami City Ballet School prospering even more under her leadership.” Founded in January 1993, and recognized as one of the top dance schools in the nation, Miami City Ballet School accepts students throughout the year, from beginners (age 3 by September 1) through pre-professional level (age 19). The School runs year round, with Winter and Summer Programs. Classes are held at Miami City Ballet’s 63,000 square-foot state-of-the- art studios in Miami Beach. The School attracts students from all over the world with its graduates joining dance companies such as San Francisco Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, North Carolina Dance Theatre and Miami City Ballet. To schedule an interview with Darleen Callaghan or to request a headshot please contact Miami City Ballet Public Relations Manager Roberto Santiago at [email protected] or call him directly at 305-929-7000, ext. 1602. For more information about Miami City Ballet School, please call 305-929-7007, email [email protected] or visit www.miamicityballet.org. About Miami City Ballet Critically acclaimed by The New York Times, MCB is led by Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez. The Company has more than 40 dancers, and a repertoire of over 90 ballets which they perform in the four home counties of Broward, Miami- Dade, Palm Beach and Collier, and around the world. MCB maintains its headquarters in Miami Beach in a facility designed by renowned architectural firm Arquitectonica. The facility houses rehearsal studios and administrative offices as well as the Miami City Ballet School. # # # .