Bentonville, AR---June 24, 2020---NWA Ballet Theatre and its Board of Directors announced today that David Justin will assume the role of Executive Artistic Director for the 20/21 season. David will succeed NWABT’s first Artistic Director, Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye, who announced his departure on April 25th. Additionally, David will assume the responsibilities of Executive Director, a position held since 2011 by the founder, Margie Bordovsky, who will now focus on duties as Managing Director. David joins NWABT from his post as Associate Professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory and brings an unprecedented level of education and experience to the company.
“I am delighted to bring someone with David’s knowledge, talent, and experience to lead NWA Ballet Theatre," said Bordovsky. "His innovative ideas and talent will blend seamlessly with the mission of the company and it will be a great pleasure watching our organization evolve under his artistic and executive leadership. I am equally excited for our dancers and staff to have a mentor of this caliber who cares about them individually, guiding and shaping their dance careers.”
David began his career at Boston Ballet, advancing to hold principal and soloist roles at Birmingham Royal Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. He toured the globe extensively and has a broad repertoire that includes principal roles in classical works by choreographers including Ashton, Balanchine, Bintley, Caniparoli, de Mille, Forsythe, Kylian, MacMillan, Morris, Taylor, Tharp, Tudor, Robbins, Welsh, and York. David’s dancing was described as “alluring and mercurial,” “polished,” “brilliant,” and “fearless.”
Since retiring as a dancer, David has worked as a choreographer, staging critically acclaimed work supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, National Choreographic Institute (NYCB), Dance Gallery NYC, Ballet Builders, American College Dance Association, International Choreographer’s Showcase, National Choreographer’s Initiative, as well as several universities and performing arts schools. Presented with international acclaim, reviews of his choreography describe it as “surprising,” “poetic,” “athletic,” “inventive,” and “intelligent.”
David’s instructional expertise stems from his contributions as the interim ballet master and men's program coordinator at Kansas City Ballet, attaining the highest ABT Teacher Training certification, and a professorship at the University of Texas-Austin. As the founding artistic director of American Repertory Ensemble, a professional chamber music and ballet company, and co-producer of the David Mark Cohen New Works Festival, David also brings an energetic executive leadership to the organization.
Commenting on his new role, which began on June 22nd, Justin said:
“I am thrilled to be joining the team of dedicated people at NWA Ballet Theatre. As I take on the roles and responsibilities of Executive Artistic Director, I am keenly aware of the energy and effort by so many talented individuals that have brought NWABT this far. As we move into the future, we will continue our service to the region and seek new ways to meet the challenges ahead with innovation and creativity. I am grateful to be on this journey with you.”
David is married to Grace Holmes, current School Director at Kansas City Ballet and a former soloist with San Francisco Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet, UK. They have two children, Miles and Evelyn.