News

News of Note: What You Might Have Missed in March 2026

April 1, 2026

Here are the latest promotions, appointments, and departures, as well as notable awards and accomplishments, from March 2026.

Comings & Goings

Chelsea Hoy and Mark Howard, both wearing black, stand shoulder to shoulder looking seriously at the camera.
Trinity Irish Dance Company co-artistic director Chelsea Hoy and founding artistic director Mark Howard. Photo by Todd Rosenberg, courtesy TIDC.

Chelsea Hoy has been named co-artistic director of Trinity Irish Dance Company.

Tiit Helimets will be the next artistic director of Sacramento Ballet, beginning with the 2026–27 season.

At San Francisco Ballet, Katherine Barkman has been promoted to principal.

At Miami City Ballet, Cameron Catazaro and Taylor Naturkas have been promoted to principal. Principal soloist Jordan-Elizabeth Long has retired.

Michele Kumi (久美) Baer has been named executive director of Dance/USA, succeeding interim executive director Sara Nash in April.

Richard Grenell has stepped down as president of the Kennedy Center, to be replaced by vice president of facilities operations Matt Floca.

Tamara McCaw has been appointed president of Brooklyn Academy of Music, a role she has held in an interim capacity since June.

Chamber Dance Project artistic director Diane Coburn Bruning will retire from the post and shift to the role of artistic advisor after the company’s season ends in June.

Sydney Dance Company artistic director Rafael Bonachela will step down in 2028.

Kansas City Ballet executive director David Gray will retire at the end of 2026.

Val Caniparoli has retired from San Francisco Ballet, where he had been a principal character dancer since 1985, to focus full-time on choreography.

Boston Ballet principal Chyrstyn Fentroy will depart the company at the end of the current season. Her final performance was March 15.

National Ballet of Canada principal Siphesihle November will depart the company at the end of the current season.

Pacific Northwest Ballet principal Elizabeth Murphy will retire at the conclusion of the current season. Her final performance is slated for June 7.

New York City Ballet principals Adrian Danchig-Waring and Taylor Stanley will retire from the company during the 2026–27 season. Danchig-Waring’s final performance is scheduled for October 18, Stanley’s for February 28.

BODYTRAFFIC will sunset at the end of the current season in July.

Peninsula Ballet Theatre will close at the end of the season as its parent Peninsula Lively Arts organization dissolves.

Awards & Honors

Tiler Peck jumps in a tight fifth position, arms by her sides. She wears pointe shoes and a white leotard and matching skater skirt.
Tiler Peck. Photo by Yumiko Inou, courtesy Jacob’s Pillow.

Tiler Peck will receive the 2026 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award, which includes a $25,000 cash prize, on June 20.

Ann-Margret will receive the 2026 Chita Rivera Award for Lifetime Achievement.

At the Isadora Duncan Dance Awards, Dr. John Deroy, Krissy Keefer, Smuin Contemporary Ballet, and Tonya Maria Amos and Grown Woman Dance Collective received Sustained Achievement Awards. Alex Ketley, Flamenco Arts International, and Stella Adelman each received special awards.

adrian danchig-waring alex ketley Ann-Margret bodytraffic cameron catazaro chelsea hoy chyrstyn fentroy David Gray Diane Coburn Bruning Dr. John Deroy elizabeth murphy Flamenco Arts International Grown Woman Dance Collective Jordan-Elizabeth Long katherine barkman Matt Floca Michele Kumi (久美) Baer Michele Kumi Baer Peninsula Ballet Theatre Rafael Bonachela Richard Grenell sara nash siphesihle november smuin contemporary ballet stella adelman Tamara McCaw taylor naturkas taylor stanley tiit helimets tiler peck Tonya Maria Amos val caniparoli