ABOVE: Cheryl Collins (center) is named Orlando Ballet’s new executive director. (Photo via OrlandoBallet.org)
ORLANDO | The Orlando Ballet announced Cheryl Collins as its new executive director in a letter released by Jonathan Ledden, the company’s board president, Aug. 20.
The search for a new executive director began after Orlando Ballet’s previous director, Shane Jewell, left the company earlier this year.
Collins, who was chosen from a pool of eight candidates, has been with the Orlando Ballet since December 2016 as its director of development.
“She was instrumental in Orlando Ballet’s resurgence, growing Contributed Income 117 percent since 2016 and concurrently raising $13.5 million to build Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre,” Ledden said of Collins in his letter. “Cheryl effectively built a professional fund-raising effort in an organization that historically struggled with inconsistent leadership and a limited number of donors. Cheryl worked hand-in-hand with board leadership to cultivate and recruit a new Board that is now 19 strong.”
Collins selection as Orlando Ballet’s new executive director was a result of a unanimous vote of the board.
The Orlando Ballet cancelled the remainder of its 2019-20 season in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic but is expected to reopen with its performances of “The Sleeping Beauty” Oct. 23-24.
For more information on the Orlando Ballet and its upcoming season, visit OrlandoBallet.org.
