Janet Rollé, formerly general manager of Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment for five years, will be the new chief executive officer and chief executive officer of the American Ballet Theatre. Her role goes into effect January 3, 2022, and her hiring marks the first time a person of color has led the company.
Rollé credits her mother, an immigrant from Jamaica, for forming the foundation of her career, by taking her to her first dance class at the age of eight.
She continued, “It is therefore a unique privilege to be entrusted with the trust of the Board of Trustees to preserve and expand the legacy of the American Ballet Theater, and to ensure future prosperity, its cultural impact and relevance. giving back to art has given me boundless and boundless joy.”
Rollé also previously served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer at CNN Worldwide.
Andrew Barth, the company’s Chairman of the Board, said Rollé is perfectly positioned to lead ABT, given her dance background and experience as chief executive.
“She is brimming with ideas to lead ABT into the next decade, while respecting the history and legacy of Ballet Theatre,” Barth said in a statement. “I am confident that Janet’s background of achievements in operations and business development, strategic partnerships and brand management will be a tremendous asset.”
“At age 7, there was a black girl in their school, and they were being told by their teachers, ‘I don’t belong here, my skin isn’t the right color, my feet are too flat… I can’t work with your hair,” says Copeland.
“I have heard over and over again the harmful stereotypes that Black dancers are not flexible enough or have the right legs, or that Asian dancers are not expressive enough,” Gomes wrote. “Ballet is still designed for Caucasian dancers, down to the shoes and makeup we wear. Nude ballet shoes for Black dancers only last until 2018.”
