Ballet Memphis | Executive Director
Memphis, Tennessee
Ballet Memphis
Executive Director
Memphis, TN
About Ballet Memphis
Founded in 1986 with the goal of establishing a ballet company reflective of the greater Memphis community, Ballet Memphis’ mission is to reveal and celebrate the human spirit through dance and movement. Now in its 38th season, Ballet Memphis operates along four programmatic pillars: the professional dance company, the Ballet Memphis School, robust year-round Pilates and wellness offerings for adults, and a growing body of community impact work.
Ballet Memphis’ professional company performs well-known classical ballets as well as new works prioritizing a diversity of voices, styles, stories and creators that represent the richness of the human experience. It connects with audiences through original interpretations of narrative ballets that are accessible and tailored to the company’s size and resources, and has built an acclaimed original repertoire that speaks of the cultural significance of the area.
The company, which has toured to prestigious stages such as The Joyce Theater and the Kennedy Center, stages a full season of classical and modern dance, including performances at Memphis' historic Orpheum Theater. In 2017, Ballet Memphis moved into a custom-built, award-winning facility in a vibrant arts district, featuring a large-scale performance studio, classrooms, Pilates studio, and costume shop, as well as community meeting spaces and exceptional rental opportunities for events of all sizes.
Ballet Memphis School, the organization’s longest-standing program, continues to serve as the Mid-South's premier education and training facility for dancers ages 3-18 throughout the school year. It offers personalized ballet instruction tailored to each student’s abilities and artistic development. The most advanced students can audition for and join Youth Ballet Memphis, which provides opportunities to develop and showcase their technique and artistry through professional-level performances. Ballet Memphis School also hosts summer camps and intensives each year.
Ballet Memphis offers Pilates and wellness classes for adults of all ages and abilities. In addition to private and semi-private Pilates instruction, there are group mat and equipment classes for all levels. Ballet Memphis is also a Licensed Training Center for training and certifying new Pilates instructors. Ballet Memphis also offers adult classes in classical ballet and modern dance, as well as an adult summer intensive.
Community impact offerings include Inclusive Dance for children and young adults with developmental disabilities, a Dance for Parkinson’s class, and dance and movement classes taught in Spanish and English for bilingual youth. Ballet Memphis also partners with other local nonprofits such as Young Actors Guild, Stax Music Academy and Memphis River Parks.
Ballet Memphis embraces creativity and innovation, continuously exploring new works and ideas. It remains a welcoming space that encourages artistic experimentation and connection, inspiring audiences and dancers alike.
Position Summary
The Executive Director (ED) of Ballet Memphis will serve as a co-leader of the organization alongside the Artistic Director, sharing responsibility for overall strategic direction, financial sustainability, and organizational growth. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED will be a visible advocate and spokesperson, driving community engagement and fostering strong partnerships. This role requires a dynamic, visionary leader with a passion for the arts, exceptional fundraising and business acumen, and the ability to collaborate effectively to balance artistic and operational priorities.
In close partnership with Artistic Director Steven McMahon, the ED will implement Ballet Memphis’s artistic vision, ensuring alignment with strategic and financial goals. Together, they will play a pivotal role in sustaining and expanding Ballet Memphis’s legacy as a premier arts institution, renowned for its innovative repertoire and long-held commitment to reflecting the diverse Memphis community. The ED will lead efforts to enhance financial sustainability, grow the donor base, and maximize earned revenue opportunities, while fostering an inclusive and inspiring organizational culture. With the Artistic Director, the ED will be instrumental in nurturing Ballet Memphis’ artistic and educational pillars: a full season of classical and modern dance, robust community programs, and a ballet school known for its individualized approach to training.
This is a unique opportunity to lead a beloved cultural institution, leveraging its strong foundation to envision and execute a future of expanded community impact, national prominence, and lasting financial stability. If you are a strategic thinker, an adept fundraiser, an advocate for the arts, and a leader driven to inspire and connect, we invite you to bring your expertise and passion to Ballet Memphis.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Vision: Develop and implement long-term strategic plans, balancing artistic vision with operational needs and positioning the organization for continued growth.
- Fundraising & Donor Relations: Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive fundraising strategy, including growing the donor pipeline, cultivating and soliciting major gifts, securing grants from foundations and corporate sponsors, implementing a moves management system, and growing the endowment to meet both general operating and special project funding needs.
- Financial Leadership: Oversee budgeting, financial planning, and revenue generation, ensuring long-term sustainability.
- Board Development: Strengthen board engagement and recruitment, follow governance best practices, and foster active participation in fundraising.
- Community Engagement: Act as the public face of Ballet Memphis, building relationships with local and regional stakeholders while sharing Ballet Memphis’ vision and story.
- Team & Culture Management: Foster a cohesive, communicative internal culture, bridging any gaps between staff, dancers, and leadership.
- Artistic Partnership: Collaborate closely with the Artistic Director to support creative initiatives while ensuring financial viability.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor cultivation, and endowment campaigns.
- Proven experience in executive leadership within the arts or nonprofit sectors.
- Strong financial acumen and business management expertise.
- Exceptional leadership, relationship-building, and communication skills.
- Passion for the arts, with an understanding or appreciation of ballet.
- Experience with board governance and nonprofit best practices.
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Connection to Memphis or enthusiasm for embracing the city’s culture.
- Experience navigating organizational financial challenges.
- Understanding of the unique demands of the arts work culture.
- Background in arts education or performance.
Key Colleagues
Steven McMahon, Artistic Director
Steven was born in Glasgow, Scotland, where he began his dance training at The Dance School of Scotland. In 2001, Steven moved to the United States to continue his studies at the Ailey School in New York City, where he graduated with honors. In 2004, Steven joined Ballet Memphis as a company dancer and, for the next 13 seasons, danced in much of the company's original repertoire by noted choreographers such as Julia Adam, Trey McIntyre, Mark Godden, Matthew Neenan, and Gabrielle Lamb.
In 2005, Steven created his first work, "What Your Soul Sings," for the dancer-produced program Interiorworks. Soon after, Ballet Memphis's Founding Artistic Director, Dorothy Gunther Pugh, named him Choreographic Associate. Since then, Steven has created over 40 original works that show a great range in scale and style. Major full-length productions for Ballet Memphis include Dracula, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, and the Wizard of Oz. Steven has continued to expand his repertoire with works such as A Rare and Gentle Thing, which is danced to the music of icon Dolly Parton, and This Form Shall Rest by bluegrass/folk musician Rhiannon Giddens. Steven has collaborated with several Memphis-based artists and musicians, including visual artist Erin Harmon (Flyway), Memphis record Label Unapologetic and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra for his dance film Out of the Blue; his work Confluence was performed at the Joyce Theater in NYC; his works I AM and Being Here with Other People have been seen at the Spring to Dance Festival in St Louis.
Steven received the Young Scots Achiever Award in 2001. He graduated from the New Memphis Leadership and Development Institute and is a fellow of National Arts Strategies Senior Leadership and the Salzburg Global Seminars Young Cultural Innovators program.
Steven is a member of Dance Memphis, which promotes dance in his adopted city. In 2019, he was named Artistic Director of Ballet Memphis, a position he still holds today.
Shelley Shanaman, Board Chair and Community Volunteer
Shelley Shanaman, Chair of the Board of Directors of Ballet Memphis, first found Ballet Memphis in 2007 when looking to enroll her then three-year-old daughter in her first ballet class. Many hours spent watching class and waiting for her daughter at the studio unearthed a previously unknown love of dance. She joined the Ballet Memphis Board in 2017 as the first school parent to be a member, and was named chair in 2023. Before moving to Memphis, Shelley worked in marketing consulting and brand management. In Memphis, she has been active at her children’s schools and has tutored second-graders in reading for several years. Additionally, she serves on the board of Iris Collective, a music and community-based organization also in Memphis. She has a BA in Economics from Williams College and received her MBA from Cornell University. Shelley and her husband, Brett have two children and live in Germantown, TN with many pets.
Compensation
Compensation for the Executive Director is $140,000 to $160,000 annually based on experience and includes an excellent package of employee benefits.
To Apply
Interested applicants should send a resume and a statement of interest to Jonathan McIntosh, Partner and Hannah GoslingGoldsmith, Recruiter with ThinkingAhead Executive Search: [email protected]; [email protected].
Contact Information
Jonathan McIntosh
Partner, ThinkingAhead Executive Search 615-391-2650
[email protected]
Hannah GoslingGoldsmith
Recruiter, ThinkingAhead Executive Search 615-391-2598
[email protected]
Recruiting Team
Reach out to learn more or nominate a qualified candidate.
Jonathan McIntosh
Partner, Nonprofit Practice