Ballet on Board

State Street Ballet founder Rodney Gustafson is transitioning to founding director, with appointments of Megan Philipp as artistic director and Cecily MacDougall as executive director.

“As we approach our 30th year, I am focused on evolving our repertoire toward a new generation of artistic vision,” says Gustafson, a former dancer with American Ballet Theatre in New York. “I’m confident Megan and Cecily are the team to lead that initiative.

“Today we are an established, vibrant company who have just completed the 2022-23 season, which included 54 performances in 17 countries throughout the world, with sold-out houses in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. It’s now time to expand our leadership team.”

Philipp will take over her position, currently held by Gustafson and co-artistic director William Soleau, next month, while MacDougall, current associate executive director, will be promoted to executive director in January.

Philipp joined State Street Ballet in 2013 and spent eight years in New York as a performing artist, teacher, and choreographer, and worked in administration at ABT. She was also faculty and curriculum coordinator at the Joffrey Ballet Chicago.

MacDougall joined the company in 2009 and, in addition to dancing with State Street Ballet for 10 years, also founded and directed Library Dances, part of the troupe’s educational outreach program.