Ballet Theatre of Phoenix is thrilled to nominate Ian Parsons as its new Director, efficient fall 2025. Famend as an completed educator, worldwide performer, and creative chief, Parsons brings a wealth of expertise from his tenure at Canada’s Nationwide Ballet College (NBS), the place he has served as Creative Employees and Alternate Program Supervisor since 2018.
Parsons brings a long time of expertise within the skilled performing arts. A graduate of NBS’s Skilled Ballet Program, he went on to carry out internationally with Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and The Nationwide Ballet of Canada, earlier than increasing into industrial theatre. His credit embody the Olivier Award–nominated West Finish revival of Cabaret, the UK/European tour of Cats, and the movie adaptation of Les Misérables.
Alongside his efficiency profession, Parsons cultivated an intensive worldwide instructing and choreographic observe. He has labored with a variety of establishments within the UK and Canada, together with Performers Faculty, The College of Ballet Theatre UK, Chantry College, Danceworks, Pineapple Studios, and Canada’s Ballet Jörgen. His choreographic works have been offered by Youth America Grand Prix, En Pointe and Simply Dance Competitions, the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, and several other full-time coaching applications throughout North America and the UK, together with the Firm Life Program at Canada’s Nationwide Ballet College.
Since becoming a member of the Creative Employees at NBS, Parsons has contributed considerably to pedagogy and programming. Along with managing the varsity’s international change community—supporting round 100 worldwide scholar placements yearly—he performed an energetic position in scholar profession planning, curriculum design (together with creating the varsity’s formalized Pas de Deux curriculum), and was a part of the group that yearly staged the youngsters in The Nationwide Ballet of Canada’s manufacturing of The Nutcracker.
“After an intensive director search, I couldn’t be happier with hiring Ian Parsons as the brand new college director” says Jennifer Cafarella-Betts, Founder and outgoing Director of Ballet Theatre of Phoenix. “His values and visions align straight with every part Ballet Theatre of Phoenix was based on and it brings me nice pleasure to know that the varsity is in wonderful palms and will likely be elevated to larger grounds.”
As Director, Parsons will lead all points of BTP’s creative and academic programming, from curriculum and school growth to efficiency, outreach, and strategic imaginative and prescient. He can even take the helm of Convergence Ballet, BTP’s affiliated skilled firm, to proceed constructing a significant bridge between scholar coaching {and professional} expertise.
“I’m so thrilled to affix this indispensable a part of the Phoenix and Arizona dance group,” stated Parsons. “Ballet Theatre of Phoenix is understood for its dedication to excellence and group, and I look ahead to working with the scholars, college, and households to nurture that legacy and form its thrilling and dynamic future.”
For extra info on Ballet Theatre of Phoenix or Convergence Ballet, go to ballettheatreofphx.org.
