Donate in honor of Michael Fothergill, Executive and Artistic Director!

In his role as Executive and Artistic Director, Michael oversees all elements of operations for Ballet Arkansas's 16 member professional company and its affiliated school, the Ballet Arkansas School for Dance. He's added vibrant works by George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Gerald Arpino, Agnes De Mille, Ma Cong, Madison Hicks, Simon Kuban, FLOCK (Alice Klock and Florian Lochner), Yuka Oba-Muschiana, Maddie Falconer, Yury Yanowsky, Yoshito Sakuraba, Ashley Green, and Mariana Oliveira to Ballet Arknasas's repertoire, showcasing a dynamic blend of classical and contemporary works that captivate audiences and critics alike. Michael has created several full-length productions for Arkansas audiences including Dracula, Sleepy Hollow, The Great Gatsby, The Nutcracker, Wonderland: Alice's Epic Adventure, and Cinderella, each to rave reviews. In the fall of 2017, Michael launched the Ballet Arkansas Children's Series, a highly-popular series of interactive and educational productions designed for young audiences, and subsequently founded Live @ The Plaza and Movement in the Parks, two free concert series that activate green spaces through the arts across Little Rock and North Little Rock. His pandemic-era holiday programming received national accolades from CBS for its innovative and inclusive approach, and the organization's broadcasts reach audiences in all 50 states and in more than 60 countries.

In addition to his work at Ballet Arkansas, Michael is a sought after choreographer, dance educator, and consultant. His choreography has been performed throughout the United States and in Iceland, Australia, France, Romania, Dubai, Spain, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and in Japan, and his work for film was featured within Dance the Dream at 50, an international documentary produced by acclaimed filmmaker Richard Karz. Michael is the founding director of the Cecchetti Council of America's Enhanced Men's Training Program and regularly serves on the faculty of CCA's International Summer School. He has sat on the juries of the Hokkaido Ballet Competition and CCA Classical Ballet Competition and has coached numerous dancers to success at national and international competition. Over the course of his career, Michael has taught for dozens of professional companies and schools across the USA and abroad. Notable teaching engagements include Steps on Broadway, Peridance Capezio Center, Samford University, and Belhaven University, where he was most recently a guest artist in residence. In Arkansas, Michael has lectured at UA-Little Rock, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, the Walton Arts Center, and UA-Pulaski Technical College's Center for Humanities and Arts. In recognition of his business acumen, Michael has received accolades, including being named one of the Top 100 Professionals in Arkansas in 2020 and recognized as one of the Top Influencers of 2022 by Arkansas Money & Politics Magazine. Soiree Magazine further acknowledged his impact by naming him one of only 25 Men on a Mission statewide in 2023. His accomplishments were further underscored with his induction into Who's Who in America in 2022, solidifying his status as an influential figure in today's dance world.

Donate in honor of Catherine Fothergill, Associate Artistic Director!

At Ballet Arkansas, Catherine is the chief caretaker of the organization's repertory and the curator of its education programs and community outreach initiatives. Since her appointment, Ballet Arkansas's repertory has diversified and the organization's affiliated School for Dance was founded. Catherine is instrumental in the staging of the classics and works closely with commissioned choreographers in the crafting of their works. In addition, she oversees a faculty of school educators and community cast rehearsal directors, and facilitates all communication between Ballet Arkansas and the hundreds of K-12 participants featured within its full-length productions. In honor of these achievements, Arkansas Money & Politics Magazine named Catherine one of its Power Women, class of 2020. Under Catherine's leadership, Ballet Arkansas was named one of the Top 100 Ballet Companies in America by the Dance Data Project.

In addition to her duties at Ballet Arkansas, Catherine travels frequently throughout the United States and abroad as a guest instructor, repetiteur and ballet mistress for ballet companies, semi-professional academies, and university dance programs. She has staged works for Japan Ballet Association's 37th annual Zendo Ballet Festival, Balleteatro Nacional de Puerto Rico, Les Ballets de France, the Takako Classical Ballet, Chida Toshiko Ballet, and the Alabama Ballet. Catherine has served on the faculties of the Takako Classical Ballet, Chida Toshiko Ballet, and Hiroko Masuya Classic Ballet of Japan, and is a frequent guest instructor for the Cecchetti Council of America's International Summer School. While on faculty at the Alabama Ballet School, Catherine taught multiple levels of the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus and passed numerous students with distinction. She was named guest artist in residence at the University of Arkansas - Little Rock's Department of Theatre Arts and Dance, 2019 - 2021. Catherine is listed among other accomplished entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals from the state of Arkansas within Marquis Who's Who in America 2022.

Donate in honor of Colin J. Neel, Production Manager!

Colin J. Neel was born in Birmingham, Alabama and started dancing at The Alabama School of Fine Arts at the age of 12. He moved to The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, HARID Conservatory, and Bossov Ballet Theatre over the course of his High School Seasons, and attended The International Dance Open in St. Petersburg, Russia in a postgraduate season. After, Colin returned home to dance with The Alabama Ballet as a Company Dancer and Resident Company Character Actor. Performing in Professional Bills such as: Romeo and Juliet, Agnes DeMille's Rodeo and Fall River Legend, Coppelia, Derek Rocas' Bagyo, Balanchine's The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Dracula, Jekyll & Hyde, and Cinderella. After 4 seasons, he moved on to get his College Degree at Birmingham-Southern College, where he found his love of Theatre Lighting Design and Stage Management and graduated with a B.A. in Theatre Production Design in December, 2020. His Bills at BSC include: Fiddler on The Roof, Noises Off, A Sunday in The Park with George, Silent Sky, These Shining Lives, The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged), Made in America, TickTick BOOM!, Pippin, Trojan Women, Shakespeare's Tempest, Falsettos and Emotional Creature: The Secret Lives of Women from Around The World.

Donate in honor of Stephanie Ong, Costume Director!

Stephanie is excited to be back with Ballet Arkansas as their costume director. She is a graduate of UA Little Rock with a degree in theatre arts. Stephanie has been a seamstress/wardrobe mistress for local theatre's such as The Rep, Wildwood Park for the Arts, Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, and The Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas as well as a summer season in Florida. She was a 2007-2008 education intern at The Actor's Theatre of Louisville, is on the Arkansas Arts Council Arts in Education roster, and is currently a Montessori elementary teacher.