A LETTER FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors underwent an extensive Artistic Director search to emerge from these trying times with exceptional artistic talent at the helm. Through that search, on July 11th, Salt Creek Ballet contracted with Erica De La O to fill the role of Artistic Director and Kristopher Wojtera as Associate Ballet Director.

Erica and Kristopher have expansive backgrounds in classical (Vaganova and Cuban) and contemporary ballet. They have a strong network of connections within the nation’s dance community and bring to Salt Creek Ballet an extensive and broad repertory of classical and contemporary works. They are completely committed and are very much looking forward to working with us in leading the mission and vision of Salt Creek Ballet into the future.

The Artistic Director search was operated in confidence out of respect to all of the applicants and final candidates. Since the Board of Director’s first priority is, and has always been, the dancers and families of Salt Creek Ballet, it was difficult for us to not be able to share how impressed we were with the quality of candidates we received and how thrilled we were with progression of the search.

We believe that the dance instruction and performance programming we now have in place is exceptional and not available in any other pre-professional company in the Chicagoland area. Salt Creek Ballet has had an impressive history over its 35 years of existence and has earned a national reputation for excellence. Our belief in the organization’s potential is limitless.

Moving into the fall, we are looking forward to a full production of The Nutcracker, with auditions being held in September and ten performances taking place at Hinsdale Central High School, College of DuPage with a live orchestra, and North Shore Center for Performing Arts in November and December. Talks with Erica and Kristopher of a strong spring production have also begun!

We will also start a new communication avenue with SCB’s families this fall: the ‘Board News’ newsletter. This newsletter will be a bi-monthly communication directly from the Board of Directors to its families, informing you of the happenings taking place at the board-level. We are starting this newsletter in an effort to be more transparent and approachable as we begin this new chapter of Salt Creek Ballet.