From our friends at The Washington Ballet...
The Washington Ballet Board of Directors has announced that Shakira Segundo has been named interim executive director of The Washington Ballet (TWB.)
Currently chief financial officer and human resources director for TWB since 2009 and prior to that served as chief financial officer for the Orlando Ballet, Segundo will replace Arthur Espinoza, Jr., who has served as managing director since 2013 and will leave the organization later in November. Espinoza will assume the position executive director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Rosie Vergilio, currently The Washington Ballet's director of marketing and communications, has been named to a new position of interim deputy director and will oversee external affairs.
"Shakira is seasoned in arts management and knows the operations of The Washington Ballet exceedingly well. Her sharp intellect and management skills will guide TWB through several exciting opportunities we have before us including the growth in our school and opening of new, expanded studio facilities next month", says Ballet Board Chair Sylvia de Leon. "Ms. de Leon also commented that the board of directors wished Arthur Espinoza every success in his new endeavor and added that Mr. Espinoza's experience as both director of artistic operations and subsequently, managing director at TWB will serve him well in his exciting new role for the city. "Arthur is our friend and colleague. We are delighted our culturally dynamic City will gain from his broad experience at The Washington Ballet and his deep commitment to the arts."
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON BALLET:
The Washington Ballet (TWB) was originally founded as The Washington School of Ballet in 1944 by legendary ballet pioneer Mary Day and incorporated as a professional company in 1976. The Washington Ballet is one of the pre-eminent ballet organizations in the United States. TWB built an international reputation presenting bold works by choreographers from around the world, including Choo San Goh, Christopher Wheeldon, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, Hans van Manen and Jiří Kylián, as well as neoclassical masterworks and fresh staging of 19th century classics. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Septime Webre and Managing Director Arthur Espinoza, Jr., TWB has embraced a three-part mission: ensuring excellence in its professional performance company; growing the next generation of dancers through its Washington School of Ballet; and serving the community in which it resides through robust community engagement programs.
