Julie Diana Hench

American Repertory Ballet and Princeton Ballet School announced that, after an international search, Julie Diana Hench has been selected as the organization’s executive director starting September 1, 2017.

“On behalf of the Board and the entire organization, I am very pleased to extend a warm welcome to Julie Diana Hench,” says Chuck Metcalf, chair of the organization’s Board of Trustees. “American Repertory Ballet and Princeton Ballet School are recognized as leaders in their respective fields throughout the tri-state area, as well as on the national landscape, and it is imperative we have an experienced leader to maintain and build on the excellent reputation of the entire organization.”

Ms. Hench most recently served as executive director of Juneau Dance Theatre (JDT), a non-profit arts organization in Juneau, Alaska. She managed all administrative aspects of the school including finances, development, personnel, programming, outreach, promotion, and marketing. She also taught all levels of the school and served as a repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust, enabling the school to present Balanchine’s work onstage.

“I am thrilled to join the team and look forward to guiding this organization into its next exciting chapter,” says Hench. “All the pieces are in place for tremendous growth, enabling American Repertory Ballet and Princeton Ballet School to further its mission of bringing joy, beauty, and artistry to New Jersey and beyond.”

Ms. Hench earned a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and served as president of the University of Pennsylvania’s Association of Alumnae. She has written for Playbill and continues to research and write for various dance publications such as Dance, Dance Spirit and Pointe, and has been named Contributing Editor at Dance Teacher magazine.

A New Jersey native, Hench studied at the School of American Ballet in New York City, where she was a Princess Grace Award nominee.

Princeton Ballet School has gained a national reputation for its excellent dance training since its founding in 1954 by Audrée Estey. It currently serves approximately 1,200 students, starting at age three, and includes a large open enrollment division for adults. Princeton Ballet School has studios in Cranbury, New Brunswick, and Princeton and offers classes in ballet, modern dance, jazz, hip-hop, CardioBallet, and CoMBo (Conditioning for the Mind and Body). For more information, visit www.arballet.org.