Miami City Ballet Appoints Juan José Escalante as Executive Director

Juan José Escalante Executive Director Miami City Ballet

Miami City Ballet (MCB) has selected Juan José Escalante as Executive Director, following an executive search process led by Arts Consulting Group (ACG). He will begin his tenure on February 6, 2023.

Escalante brings more than 30 years of experience in arts management mainly centered on financial and executive leadership positions. At his latest role as Executive Director of the National Dance Institute (NDI), Escalante assumed leadership of NDI’s fundraising strategies, nurtured relationships with and cultivated its Board of Directors, and assessed its operating health through a holistic and strategic lens. Prior to joining NDI, Escalante served as the Executive Director of the José Limón Dance Foundation for nine years. Escalante secured the organization’s fiscal health through enhance revenue and sustainable strategies while honoring the Board’s institutional goals and Artistic Director’s vision.

Previous leadership positions include Director of Finance and Administration at El Museo del Barrio, Executive Director at Orlando Ballet, and Executive Director at Ballet Florida. He is currently a board member of Dance NYC and is included among the 2017 class of the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute program—designed to nurture the creativity and vitality of community-serving leaders. Escalante earned a bachelor of arts in business management from the Herbert H. Lehman College and a master of business administration from the University of Phoenix.

In making the announcement, MCB Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez said, “I’m delighted to have Juan José as MCB’s new Executive Director, helping and working alongside me, the Board and staff to take the company to new heights. As a former resident of South Florida, he clearly understands the excitement and huge opportunity ahead to accelerate the growth for MCB and the School one of the most recognized ballet companies and schools in the Americas. Juan José has first-hand experience of the vibrancy, diversity, and characteristics of our communities and will help us to further deepen our relationship with them. This will shape MCB as an important cultural ambassador and economic engine to the State of Florida, as well as one of its greatest jewels.”

“The Board is thrilled to have such an experienced leader and exceptional community builder join our executive team,” said MCB’s Board Chair, Jeff Davis. “We feel so fortunate that Juan José is returning to Miami to support Lourdes’s artistic vision and to advance our community involvement. It is an exciting time in MCB’s history!”

“I am honored to be joining a team of talented professionals who are committed to deliver the mission of MCB every day,” said Escalante. “Having the opportunity to support the exceptional artistic vision of Lourdes Lopez at an organization that is very dear to me is extraordinary”.

“Congratulations to Juan José and the team at Miami City Ballet,” said ACG Vice President Geoff Chang. “Juan José will undoubtedly provide visionary and powerful leadership through the company’s next phase of growth and excellence."

January 2023

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