TWB NAMES SEASONED ARTS LEADER RUSSELL ALLEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sylvia de Leon, Chair of The Washington Ballet Board of Directors, is pleased to announce that Russell P. Allen has been named the Ballet's new Executive Director. Mr. Allen, who currently serves as the Executive Director for Orlando Ballet, will join TWB on September 2, 2008.

"It is with great pleasure that I move to Washington to assume the post of Executive Director of The Washington Ballet," says Mr. Allen. "Having the opportunity to work closely with this world-class company and its renowned Artistic Director is very exciting. I know it will be personally rewarding to join this excellent team of board, staff and artists to further develop the resources and stature of the Ballet."

Mr. Allen's appointment concludes a six-month national search, conducted by the prestigious New York-based executive search firm, Phillips Oppenheim, and a TWB Selection Committee chaired by Monica Medina, comprised of nine board members and Artistic Director Septime Webre.

"Russell Allen possesses just the right blend of management skills, business acumen, and a wonderful affability." says Ms. de Leon. "He will provide leadership and a solid footing. Russell joins us in his commitment to the success of the performing company, the school, and our extensive community engagement program."

"I'm thrilled to welcome Russell to TWB, and I look forward to forging a deep partnership with him," echoes Mr. Webre. "He brings to our organization a track record of sound achievements and deep fidelity to the art form. His leadership and experience will help us move to the next level in realizing the vision of our institution."

Since May, 2004, Russell P. Allen has been Executive Director of Orlando Ballet where he works to continue to build on the organization's successes as a growing force in classical ballet. Mr. Allen is responsible for the overall management of the company, including its fundraising efforts, its strategic planning, its marketing, finance and human resources activity. During his tenure, Orlando Ballet has partnered with such Ballet legends Bruce Marks and Fernando Bujones, to realize unprecedented growth.

Prior to joining Orlando Ballet, Mr. Allen was General Manager for both The Atlanta Opera and The Virginia Opera. He has also served as an independent arts consultant in numerous cities across the United States, and has had significant involvement with the OPERA America Field Services Program and the National Endowment for the Arts On-Site Review Program. Mr. Allen also worked for sixteen years in symphony management. He served as Vice President/General Manager of the Phoenix Symphony from 1986 to 1994 and in other senior management positions with the Jacksonville, Shreveport, Houston and San Antonio Symphonies.

As a leader in the cultural arena, Mr. Allen has been active on grants panels with the Maryland State Arts Council, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, the Phoenix Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Florida Arts Council, and the Houston Cultural Council, as well as being a member of the Downtown Phoenix Partnership and Chairman of the Heritage Square Advisory Board in Phoenix. Mr. Allen was a member of the Valley Leadership Institute in Phoenix. He served on a legislative sub-committee of the Virginia General Assembly on the state's arts funding, and on the Board of Directors of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads. Mr. Allen was Chairman of the Executive Directors Council, and he is a member of the 1999-2000 class of the Civic Leadership Institute in Norfolk, VA.

A graduate of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, Mr. Allen double majored in English and Music, and also studied accounting at the University of Houston. He was a professional tenor soloist and a member of the professional choral ensemble the Dale Warland Singers in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Since 2003, Mr. Allen has served on the Macalester College Alumni Board in numerous leadership positions. s

Mr. Allen succeeds Kay Kendall, who has served as TWB's Interim Executive Director since April 2007. Her long history with the Ballet includes a 26-year tenure as a member of TWB's Board of Directors, including an eight-year term as Board Chair during which the Ballet's budget grew from 2.8 to 8.5 million dollars. Notable milestones of her leadership include founding of The Nutcracker Tea Party, partnering with Mr. Webre to realize TWB's historic tour to Cuba in 2000, raising critical funds to support the organization's new production of The Nutcracker in 2001, and establishing TWB@THEARC in 2005. Ms. Kendall will continue her work with the organization as a member of The Washington Ballet's Advisory Board.

"I am extremely pleased that the Ballet has found a seasoned Executive Director who brings a solid background of experience in Ballet and the performing arts," says Ms. Kendall. "Together Septime and Russell will provide outstanding leadership for the future of the Ballet."