Renowned Dancer Chosen as Eastern Connecticut Ballet Executive Director

Ashley Bouder in New York City Ballet’s 2007 production of “Four Seasons.”
Photo by Paul Kolnik courtesy of Eastern Connecticut Ballet.

Ashley Bouder. Photo by Erin Baiano courtesy of Eastern Connecticut Ballet.

EAST LYME—Eastern Connecticut Ballet (ECB), one of Connecticut’s premier ballet schools drawing from towns including both Lyme and Old Lyme, has selected a renowned, decades-long principal dancer as its new executive director.

The school in a press release welcomed Ashley Bouder, a former principal ballerina of the New York City Ballet for 20 years.

Eastern Connecticut Ballet founder Lise Reardon touted Bouder’s success on the world stage and her personal achievements.

“Ashley possesses a generous, creative and entrepreneurial spirit,” Reardon said. “She will bring fresh eyes and energy to an organization that is committed to developing young dancers and the future of ballet. Her commitment to building upon ECB’s legacy of excellence will continue to help the school flourish and propel it into the future.”

Bouder replaces Krystin Dixon, who will remain with the school as its director of management.

Bouder on social media said she looks forward to working closely with Dixon and legendary Balanchine ballerina Gloria Govrin, who serves as the school’s artistic director, “to form a fierce female leadership team” to guide the school into a new era.

“This school already has so much prestige and accolades, it is truly thrilling to be able to take the reins and fly higher,” she wrote.

Bouder’s biography on the school website identifies her as the founder and artistic director of the Ashley Bouder Project, where she works to promote gender equality, diversity and inclusion in creative leadership roles within the dance world.

Ashley Bouder in New York City Ballet’s 2007 production of Stars and Stripes. Photo by Paul Kolnik courtesy of Eastern Connecticut Ballet.

Trained in the Balanchine, neo-classical style of ballet at the School of American Ballet and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, she has also performed with Bayerisches Staats Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, and Rome Opera Ballet, and distinguished ballet galas around the world.

Awards include the Benois de la Dance, often referred to as the Oscars of ballet, for best female dancer in 2019; the Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise in 2000; and Janice Levin Dancer Honoree from 2002-2003.

Bouder has produced and choreographed 15 productions and recently served as the training program director for Regional Dance America, where she developed and designed training sessions for pre-professional dancers.

The new executive director on social media expressed gratitude for the opportunity.

“I also owe a huge thank you to ECB founder Lise Reardon for our years long conversations that ended in this happy moment. And to our board chair Kevin Buchanan for his insight and acceptance of my proposals and ‘style,'” Bouder said. “We are all a big positive community. It is something to treasure.”