News of Note: What You Might Have Missed in April 2025
Here are the latest promotions, appointments, and departures, as well as notable awards and accomplishments, from April 2025. Plus, a new scholarship opportunity for dance students and educators.
Comings & Goings
Cara Hagan has been named executive director of Dance on Camera.
Christine Rocas has been appointed rehearsal director at The Joffrey Ballet.
At San Francisco Ballet, effective July 1, Cavan Conley has been promoted to principal, Katherine Barkman and Joshua Jack Price to first soloist, Jihyun Choi, Luca Ferrò, Nathaniel Remez, Mingxuan Wang, and Seojeong Yun to soloist, and Thamires Chuvas, Dylan Pierzina, Simone Pompignoli, Alexis Francisco Valdes, and Adrian Zeisel to demi soloist. English National Ballet’s Francesco Gabriele Frola, Queensland Ballet’s Patricio Revé, and Royal Swedish Ballet’s Madeline Woo join as principals, and Boston Ballet’s Ángel García Molinero as a soloist.
At Ballet San Antonio, Buse Babadag, Aidan Carrasquel, and Will Robichaud have been promoted to principal, Alexa Horwath and Aiden Moss to soloist.
Dina Aldor will step down as CEO of Batsheva Dance Company in December.
Longtime company member Brandon “Private” Freeman has retired from ODC/Dance.
Sarah Marley will retire from Grand Rapids Ballet this spring. Her final performance is scheduled for May 4.
Pacific Northwest Ballet principal Cecilia Iliesiu and soloists Miles Pertl and Price Suddarth will retire from the company at the conclusion of the current season in June.
American Ballet Theatre principal Cassandra Trenary will depart the company to join Vienna State Ballet as a principal at the end of the current season. Her final ABT performance is scheduled for July 5.
Chicago’s Links Hall will close at the end of June.
Awards & Honors
Trajal Harrell, Raja Feather Kelly, and Kaneza Schaal are among the recipients of the 2025 Doris Duke Artist Awards, which includes a $525,000 unrestricted grant.
Vanessa Sanchez is among the recipients of the 2025 Rainin Arts Fellowship, which includes a $100,000 unrestricted grant.
Monica Bill Barnes, Donald Byrd, Leslie Cuyjet, Jeanine Durning, Larissa FastHorse, Stephanie García, Sasha Alexandra Marta Ivanochko, Robbie Saenz de Viteri, Merián Soto, and Gwen Welliver are among the 2025 Guggenheim Fellows.
Carmen Baron, Peniel Guerrier, and Adrienne Reiko Iwanaga are among the 2025 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellows.
The Dance/USA 2025 Honorees are Stoner Winslett (Honor Award), Rita Mustaphi (Ernie Award), National Dance Project (Trustees Award), Joel Hall (Champion Award), Jessica Leyva (Emerging Leader Award) and Jonathan Pacheco (Emerging Leader Award).
Meredith Monk will receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in Music at the Venice Biennale.
Isaiah K. Harvey, Kanon Sugino, and David Gabriel are among the recipients of the 2025 Clive Barnes Awards.
Winners at the 2025 Olivier Awards included Christopher Wheeldon (Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer, for MJ the Musical), Eva Yerbabuena (Outstanding Achievement in Dance, for Yerbagüena), and Kidd Pivot, Crystal Pite, and Jonathon Young (Best New Dance Production, Assembly Hall).
New Funding Opportunity
Ohio Alliance for Arts Education is accepting applications for the Verdi-Fletcher Dance and Disability Scholarship Fund, which will award disabled dance students and dance educators interested in teaching physically integrated classes scholarships of up to $5,000. Applications are due June 1. More information here.
