For Immediate Release                                   Contact:

April 7, 2004                                                     Cindy Reynolds

                                                                        Communications Manager

                                                                        (714) 541-8314 ex5. 19

Saint Joseph Ballet Announces Change in Leadership

Founder Beth Burns to Become Volunteer Consultant in June 2005

Santa Ana, Calif. (April 6, 2004) - Saint Joseph Ballet announced today that Founder and Artistic Director Beth Burns’ role will change to Volunteer Artistic Advisor and Melanie Rios Glaser will become Saint Joseph Ballet’s new Artistic Director effective June 2005.  In addition, Managing Director Steffani Francis was named Executive Director April 1, 2004.

Under Burns’ 21 years of leadership, Saint Joseph Ballet has become a model community youth arts organization.  Today, Saint Joseph Ballet has a compelling mission with documented results, integrated values, an effective infrastructure and a solid financial basis.  “Now that the foundational work is accomplished, I’ve decided it’s time for new energetic  leadership,” said Burns.

“Of course this is bittersweet,” Burns said.  “Yet I mostly just feel pride in all that Saint Joseph Ballet continues to accomplish with community support.  Few organizations in the nation serve as many low-income youth year-round, as deeply and well, through arts, academics and family services.”

“The Board of Directors is completely supportive of the transition in leadership at Saint Joseph Ballet, and we are extremely committed to ensuring the strength of its mission,” said Saint Joseph Ballet Board Co-chairs Ernesto and Socorro Vasquez.  “We applaud Beth and admire her for dedicating 21 years to establishing and building a quality youth arts organization that serves a vital role in Orange County, especially in the Latino community.”

Saint Joseph Ballet’s Board of Directors reviewed and approved three criteria for selecting new artistic leadership:

·       A consistently and varied demonstration of Saint Joseph Ballet’s mission and values over several years (respect, excellence, community, stewardship)

·       A demonstrated ability to inspire all constituencies – students, parents, volunteers, Board of Directors, donors, faculty and staff.

·       A demonstrated ability to further and extend Saint Joseph Ballet’s artistic excellence and creativity.

Rios Glaser’s rich and diverse background includes choreography and teaching in Latin America, Europe and the United States.  Since 1998, she has worked with Saint Joseph Ballet’s students as a choreographer, teacher and workshop leader and is passionate about continuing Saint Joseph Ballet’s artistic growth.

“The invitation to follow Beth Burns as Saint Joseph Ballet’s next artistic director is very exciting and I consider it an extraordinary privilege to be entrusted with this bountiful responsibility,” said Rios Glaser.  “Since I was introduced to Saint Joseph Ballet seven years ago, my admiration has continued to grow.   I witness the light this organization emanates, and what positive and wondrous things result when a vision meets a community that can support it.”

Francis became Saint Joseph Ballet’s Managing Director in November 2001.  Her background includes more than 15 years in administrative and law firm management in Chicago, and four years with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless as the Founder and Director of Coming Home, a creative writing outreach program for homeless men and women that received local and national attention.

“I’m honored that Beth and the Board of Directors are confident in my ability to help continue this amazing mission,” said Francis.  “As Executive Director, my task will be to ensure Saint Joseph Ballet’s programmatic and financial sustainability for as long as there are youth who can benefit from the programs we offer.”

            Founded in 1983, Saint Joseph Ballet has impacted more than 40,000 youth with its mission to empower low-income youth from diverse backgrounds to strengthen self-esteem, self-discipline and a sense of accomplishment through dance, academic and family programs.  Saint Joseph Ballet offers students up to nine years of continuous and progressively challenging artistic, academic and family service programs.  Youth who enter Saint Joseph Ballet with few resources leave with the tools and skills to build a future for themselves, their families and their community. 

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