Richmond Ballet has appointed Margaret "Maggie" Whitfield, former deputy director of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, as its first executive director—a milestone restructuring that separates artistic and administrative leadership at the 40-year-old company. The newly created position accompanies the announcement of Richmond Ballet's 2024-25 season, which opens with a world premiere and features the organization's first major partnership with an international guest company.
Whitfield, who begins August 1, spent eleven years at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, where she oversaw a $4.2 million capital campaign and expanded education programs to serve 18,000 students annually across Allegheny County. She previously held development roles at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Colorado Ballet.
"Creating this position reflects the board's recognition that Richmond Ballet has outgrown its founding structure," said board chair Thomas Hendricks in a prepared statement. "Maggie's track record of building sustainable revenue while deepening community roots is exactly what we need for this next chapter."
Why Now? A Company Evolves
Since its founding in 1975, Richmond Ballet has operated with its artistic director handling both creative and administrative duties—a model common among young arts organizations but increasingly rare as companies mature. The dual-leadership model, now standard among regional ballet companies of comparable size, frees artistic director Maureen Westby to focus on repertoire and company training while Whitfield manages fundraising, operations, and strategic planning.
Westby, who has led Richmond Ballet since 2018, called the hire "transformative" for the organization's capacity to commission new work and expand touring. "I've known Maggie since we overlapped at a Dance/USA conference in 2019," Westby said. "She asked harder questions about our business model than some of our own board members. That's the partner I need."
2024-25 Season: New Work Takes Center Stage
The upcoming season, announced alongside Whitfield's appointment, leads with new and collaborative programming rather than standard repertory rotations.
World Premiere: "Commonwealth" (October 11–20)
Choreographer Pam Tanowitz, a 2019 Bessie Award winner whose work has been commissioned by New York City Ballet and the Martha Graham Dance Company, will create an original piece for Richmond Ballet's 32 dancers. The work, set to a commissioned score by Richmond-based composer Trey Pollard, marks Tanowitz's first collaboration with a regional company outside the northeast corridor.
"Giselle" (February 7–16)
A new production staged by guest répétiteur Sandra Jennings, former principal with the Joffrey Ballet and a recognized stager of Antony Tudor works. This staging replaces Richmond Ballet's 2014 production and incorporates newly reconstructed choreography from the 1841 Paris premiere.
"The Nutcracker" (December 6–24)
The company's annual production returns with redesigned Act II scenery by James Kronzer, whose sets premiered at Washington Ballet in 2022. The update addresses long-standing backstage constraints at the Carpenter Theater that have limited production values.
Miami City Ballet Collaboration (April 4–13)
Principal dancers Katia Carranza and Renan Cerdeiro will join Richmond Ballet for performances of Twyla Tharp's "In the Upper Room" and a new duet by Richmond Ballet resident choreographer Val Caniparoli. The partnership, negotiated during Whitfield's hiring process, represents the most prominent guest engagement in the company's recent history.
Financial and Organizational Context
Richmond Ballet reported a $6.8 million operating budget for fiscal 2024, with earned revenue covering 58% of expenses—a figure Whitfield noted lags behind peer companies such as Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (67%) and Cincinnati Ballet (71%). The organization has operated without deficit for seven consecutive years but has deferred several capital projects, including orchestra pit renovations and dancer housing improvements.
Whitfield's compensation package includes a base salary of $285,000, according to board disclosures, with performance incentives tied to contributed revenue growth and endowment building. The position reports to the board of trustees, with Westby retaining authority over artistic personnel and repertoire decisions.
How to Attend
Single tickets for the 2024-25 season go on sale July 15 at richmondballet.org/tickets. Current subscribers receive priority access beginning June 20 and may renew through the subscriber portal or by calling 804-344-0906.
A free preview event featuring Tanowitz and Pollard discussing the "Commonwealth" collaboration will be held September 12 at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Registration opens August 1.
*Richmond Ballet, founded in 1975, is the State Ballet of Virginia. The professional company comprises 32
