Charlotte Ballet Welcomes New Artistic Director

Charlotte Ballet board of trustees selected Hope Muir, currently the assistant artistic director of Scottish Ballet, as Charlotte Ballet's new artistic director. Muir's appointment is effective July 2017. Over the next year she will work closely with the board of trustees and staff in preparation for the 2017/2018 Season, her first as artistic director.

As artistic director, Muir will serve as the chief architect of Charlotte Ballet's aesthetic vision and artistic profile. She'll be responsible for the dancers of Charlotte Ballet; supervising artistic and production staff; playing an active role in the development of education and outreach programs and the Charlotte Ballet Academy; cultivating relationships with donors; and serving as a public representative.

"I am thrilled and honored to have been invited to be the new artistic director of Charlotte Ballet at such an exciting time in the company's development," Muir said. "Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride have built a family of artists, produced exciting and varied work, and grown a loyal audience. I relish the opportunity to build on the company's tradition of excellence and lead it forward for the next generation."

Born in Toronto, Muir has worked for the past 27 years throughout Europe, Canada and the United States in both classical and contemporary dance companies. Her uniquely diverse career has seen her create and perform roles for some of the world's most prolific choreographers including Christopher Bruce CBE, Twyla Tharp, Jiri Kylian, William Forsythe, George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham, Robert Cohan, Javier De Frutos and Mats Ek.

"My vision for Charlotte Ballet is to build on the company's reputation of performing challenging and diverse repertoire whilst continuing to educate, provoke and entertain our audience," Muir said. "I plan to draw on my vast international experience and network of choreographers, directors and designers to develop and enhance the company's unique identity. I'm passionate about the nurturing of young talent from Charlotte and abroad, as well as collaboration with like-minded companies and artists. I envision a pioneering and innovative future for Charlotte Ballet in the US and abroad."

Muir was a founding member of Peter Schaufuss' London Festival Ballet School before joining the company, now English National Ballet. Muir then joined Rambert Dance Company, where she danced under the direction of Christopher Bruce CBE for over ten years before moving to Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, where she completed her performance career in 2006.

Since her retirement from the stage, Muir has been invited to work with some of the most prestigious companies worldwide, including The National Ballet of Canada, Rambert Dance Company, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Ballet BC, as a sought after guest teacher, stager and rehearsal director. She has been remounting work internationally for a number of choreographers including Christopher Bruce CBE, Javier De Frutos, Helen Pickett, as well as assisting and staging Emergence for Crystal Pite, and most recently served as rehearsal assistant to Hofesh Shechter for his creation Untouchable at The Royal Ballet, Covent Garden in 2015.

Muir joined the Scottish Ballet in 2009 under the artistic direction of choreographer Ashley Page. In 2012, Muir was named rehearsal director and then promoted to assistant artistic director in 2015, working closely with Artistic Director, CEO and Choreographer Christopher Hampson.

Last year, after Charlotte Ballet President & Artistic Director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux announced his plans to step down, Charlotte Ballet's board of trustees formed a search committee of board and advisory board members and community stakeholders, under the leadership of Chair-Elect Lise Hain.

"The search committee had the enormous task of finding Charlotte Ballet's fourth artistic director," Board of Trustees Chair-Elect Lise Hain said. "The committee exceeded all expectations with the amount of time, effort and passion they brought to the process."

"With overwhelming support, the search committee and board found Hope's artistic vision to align with the goals we have for Charlotte Ballet," Board of Trustees Chair Mark Maraffi said. "Her relationships with emerging and established choreographers promise years of exciting performances for Charlotte audiences."

Photo by Rimbaud Patron

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