NWA Ballet Theatre Appoints Stephen Wynne as Artistic Director
After an extensive search, Northwest Arkansas Ballet Theatre (NWABT) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Stephen Wynne has been hired to lead the professional ballet company into the future. Mr. Wynne, a former professional ballet dancer, university professor, and acclaimed international choreographer has big plans to transform the company into a sustainable and regional hub for professional concert dance within the Northwest Arkansas cultural environment.
Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Stephen lived and worked in Europe for sixteen years after a two-year stint in New York City. He brings a wealth of artistic experience and world-class business knowledge. As a Fulbright Scholar in the area of choreography and cultural impact, Stephen has worked with the US Department of State to serve other countries in developing cultural amenities and cultural impact by using dance as a driving force. Mr. Wynne also brings years of experience in university dance and has recently completed a 4-year commission with the dance department at the University of the Arts in Cologne, Germany, a commission funded by the Cologne Philharmonic.
Founding Director, Margie Bordovsky, stated, “We are profoundly grateful to have found someone of Stephen’s impeccable caliber who shares the same commitment for the highest standard of artistic excellence.” Mr. Wynne is excited to develop the company's new voice and build a strong community within its walls– and outside of them. Stephen was celebrated and awarded by the German Cultural Department and the YEAH European Cultural Award. He has worked as a dance tour consultant with SouthArts and has a unique business sense from which he plans to build sustainability for the organization.
Mr. Wynne plans to make BALLET a household word in Northwest Arkansas by showing how dance connects to everyone's life and how it can reflect the values and passion of this region. He is passionate about collaborating with other organizations to cultivate connections. Stephen and his wife, Britta Heermann-Wynne, work as a team within the dance studio and their goal is to build an inspiring and respectable community for the artists and a welcoming retreat for its audience. He is excited about the possibilities the company holds, including its potential to cultivate regional dance leadership, and looks forward to connecting the dots between the area’s unique nature, its people, and the dance company.
“I delight in the inexhaustible possibilities that each new opportunity illuminates. It personally inspires me to motivate, assist, and encourage the people around me. It is very gratifying for me to be in a professional position where the company is on a growth trajectory”. –Stephen Wynne
NWA Ballet Theatre was founded in 2011 by Margie Bordovsky, Mariah Bordovsky, and the late Peggie Wallis. Their purpose was to provide a quality professional ballet company so talented dancers would not have to leave the state in order to pursue their dreams, local communities would not have to drive hours away in order to see high quality dance performances, and to create a company that would garner respect and bring other artists to Northwest Arkansas as well as maintaining a work atmosphere of dignity and respect. The company they established is here to provide valuable artistic opportunities and experiences to enrich the creative vitality of the region.
Stephen Wynne’s work and leadership has been noted both nationally and internationally:
Dance Magazine – “his work is technically stunning”
The Philadelphia Inquirer – “he is original and precise” “a genuine surprise”, “he leads with authority”
The Houston Chronicle - “highly inventive,”
The Kansas City Star – Stephen “works with finesse.”
Prism Magazine – Stephen is the “real deal.”
U.S. Senator Mike Stack says he is a “unique and valuable cultural resource."
Philadelphia City Paper - he is “riveting and engaging”
Cool Cleveland - Stephen “articulates deep thoughts in an effective manner,”
Bill Bissell from the Pew Foundation states that he has “high standards.”