Artistic Director
Stoner Winslett is the founding Artistic Director of the Richmond Ballet professional company. In the past 30 years, under Ms. Winslett's direction, Richmond Ballet has established the first major company of professional dancers in the Commonwealth, commissioned 55 new works from 20 choreographers from around the world, introduced the much-acclaimed Minds In Motion program into area schools, renovated and occupied its landmark downtown building on Canal Street, and introduced the work of Richmond Ballet to audiences in such major centers as New York, Chicago, and London. Ms. Winslett was trained by Ann Brodie, Aldofina Suarez and Michael Lland in Columbia, South Carolina, and at American Ballet Theatre School and North Carolina School of the Arts on scholarship. After knee injuries curtailed her performing career, she pursued a course of independent study at Smith College, where she graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Ms. Winslett's vision for the organization has always encompassed not only performing but also the training of artists and education of the community that are necessary to both preserve the heritage and explore new directions for the ballet. The major programming divisions of the organization - the Richmond Ballet professional company, The School of Richmond Ballet, and Minds In Motion - all reflect this mission. She has built an impressive repertory for Richmond Ballet with a foundation of full length classics and 20th century masters coupled with a strong commitment to new work. Her own choreography is part of the backbone of the company's repertory, including her acclaimed version of The Nutcracker. Ms. Winslett's work has been recognized both regionally and nationally with numerous appointments and honors. She has served as a panelist and site visitor for several state arts commissions and for the National Endowment for the Arts, and has also served multiple terms as a vice chairman for Dance/USA. Named a YWCA Woman of the Year in 1988, Ms. Winslett served as the Cadmus Leader-in-Residence at the University of Richmond Jepson School of Leadership in 1997. In 2000, Ms. Winslett was chosen by Style Weekly as one of the 100 most influential Richmonders of the 20th century, and that same year was named by Richmond Times-Dispatch as one of the most influential people in the history of Virginia. In 2005, she received The Smith College Medal, the highest honor the college confers on an alumna. Ms. Winslett and Richmond Ballet were recipients of the 2008 Governor's Awards for the Arts announced by then governor Timothy M. Kaine. Currently, Ms. Winslett serves as president of the John Butler Foundation. Ms. Winslett lives in Richmond with her family.

Managing Director
Brett Bonda is in his 28th year with Richmond Ballet. A member of the Richmond Ballet professional company from 1985-1995, Mr. Bonda is fondly remembered for classic roles such as the "Champion Roper" in Rodeo and "Franz" in Coppelia, as well as works created on him that are still performed today such as the first pas de deux in Ancient Airs and Dances. Inspired by a National Dance Institute training course taught by Lori Klinger, Mr. Bonda left the stage in 1995 to become Education and Minds In Motion Director for the Ballet; he subsequently served for 16 years as its artistic and administrative coordinator. Mr. Bonda's comprehensive experience also includes generating advertising sales for the Richmond Ballet and acting as its in-house tour booking agent. Additionally, Mr. Bonda has served as company manager on tour and video producer for the organization. Mr. Bonda has earned the love and respect of both the Richmond community and people within the national dance field. He has served as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and as a juror for the Coming Up Taller Awards; he currently serves on the Board of Directors for Virginia Heroes, Incorporated. In 2001, Mr. Bonda received Richmond Magazine's Theresa Pollak Award for Excellence in the Arts. Mr. Bonda is an alumnus of Virginia Intermont College and lives in Mechanicsville with his wife, Annette, and their two sons.

Artistic Associate and Ballet Master
Malcolm Burn is a native New Zealander in his 26th year on the artistic staff of Richmond Ballet. During his 25-year dancing career he performed leading roles in the standard classic repertory as well as numerous creations of contemporary ballet. Prior to his coming to Richmond Ballet as a principal dancer, Mr. Burn was Co-Director of Ballet Arizona. He has performed with the London Festival Ballet, and was a principal dancer with The Royal New Zealand Ballet, The National Ballet of Zimbabwe, Ballet West, and P.A.C.T. Ballet in South Africa, where he won the Ivan Soloman Award for Best Male Dancer in 1973, 1976, and 1980. Mr. Burn's choreographic works for Richmond Ballet include Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, A Tribute, Classical Symphony, Faces, Walpurgis Nacht, Pas Glazunov, and Complete Trust.

Development Director
Susan Coogan joined Richmond Ballet as Development Director in November 2007. Before joining the Ballet, Ms. Coogan worked in investment banking and financial services in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, in donor services at The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia, and held leadership positions on several not-for-profit boards, including Theatre IV (now Virginia Repertory Theatre) and St. Catherine's School. Ms. Coogan is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Hollins University, where she earned a BA degree in Economics, and holds an MBA from Colgate Darden Graduate Business School at the University of Virginia.

Artistic Associate and School Director
Judy Jacob is from Detroit, where she studied ballet with Evelyn Smith. She trained in London, England, with Anne Heaton, John Field and Valerie Taylor, and at Butler University and Indiana University with George Verdak, William Glenn, Peggy Dorsey, Anton Dolin, and Kenneth Melville. Ms. Jacob performed with the Butler Ballet and Indiana Ballet Theatre, and was a principal dancer with Memphis Ballet for seven years. She created roles in ballets by choreographers Ron Cunningham, Jill Eathorne Bahr, Norbert Vesak, Robert Kelley, and Philip Jerry. She was Associate Artistic Director of Fort Wayne Ballet prior to joining Richmond Ballet in 1995. Ms. Jacob was appointed Assistant Ballet Master in 1996, and has been The School of Richmond Ballet Director since 1998.

Operations Director
Sue McKinney joined Richmond Ballet as Business Manager in November 1998. In addition to directing the Ballet's departments of Finance, Facilities, Personnel and Information Technology, Ms. McKinney has also managed the finances for two major capital campaigns for the Ballet. Before joining the Ballet, Ms. McKinney co-owned a retail/wholesale nursery, and held controller positions for several small businesses. Ms. McKinney is a graduate of East Carolina University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology.

Richmond Ballet Production Director
MK Stewart, begins his tenth season with Richmond Ballet this year. His lighting designs include Women and the Sea: A Tribute to Will Barnet, To Familiar Spaces In Dream, A Rose for Miss Emily, Between the Lines, Dark Hugs Me Hard, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. He has served as Stage Manager for the Martha Graham Dance Company, Elisa Monte Dance, Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre, Cortez and Company, 35 and Hartford Ballet. He has also worked on projects with David Finely Associates, William Electric Black, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, SPARC, Spoleto USA, Metropolitan Opera Guild, and Central City Opera.