Louisville Ballet appoints Felicia Swoope as Executive Director ahead of historic 75th Anniversary Season
LOUISVILLE, KY — August 21, 2026: Louisville Ballet today announced the appointment of Felicia Swoope as its new Executive Director. An accomplished arts executive, producer, curator, educator, and former professional dancer, Swoope brings more than 20 years of leadership experience to the fifth-oldest continually operating professional ballet company in the United States as it enters its landmark 75th Anniversary season.
"I am honored to join Louisville Ballet at such a pivotal moment and build upon the amazing momentum of the past few years," said incoming Executive Director Felicia Swoope. "I look forward to partnering with Anthony Krutzkamp, our board, and our artists to expand our reach and co-lead this company through a vibrant 75th Anniversary season and beyond."
Swoope joins Louisville Ballet during a period of remarkable organizational strength, marked by three consecutive years of operating surpluses, record-setting sell-out performances, and historic philanthropic support. Board leadership sees her arrival as a key catalyst to build upon that strong foundation.
"For 75 years, Louisville Ballet has been an institution built by and for our city and state," said Pamela Thompson, Board President of Louisville Ballet. "As we step into our 75th season from our strongest financial and institutional footing in history, we are thrilled to welcome Felicia as Executive Director. Her track record of operational excellence, deep grounding in dance, and commitment to community access make her the ideal leader to accelerate our growth and partner with Anthony into this next era."
In her new role, Swoope will work in close partnership with Artistic Director Anthony Krutzkamp to guide the company's artistic innovation and institutional expansion across Kentucky and the nation.
"Felicia understands dance, from performing on stage to managing complex operations and building community engagement," noted Anthony Krutzkamp, Artistic Director of Louisville Ballet. "Artistic vision requires a strong, collaborative partner in leadership. I am eager to work side-by-side with Felicia to push creative boundaries, deliver world-class productions, and bring dance to audiences across Kentucky and beyond."
A strategic thinker and passionate advocate for the arts, Swoope brings a rare combination of artistic vision, operational discipline, and a deep-rooted commitment to equitable cultural investment. She most recently served as Director of Fine and Performing Arts at Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, Maryland, where she oversaw strategic vision, operations, and financial management for an arts division serving more than 600 students.
Across her career, Swoope has held prominent leadership, production, and higher education roles nationwide. At Dartmouth College, she served as Associate Producer and Ombudsperson at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, where she originally performed as an undergraduate, as well as Assistant Director of Admissions Recruiting at the Tuck School of Business and DEI Strategist for Artivism. She also served as Creative Campus Director for Cleo Parker Robinson Dance in Denver, Colorado, managing theater operations, dance academy programming, and citywide partnerships.
A pioneer in dance curation and arts education, Swoope was the Founding Curator and Producer of E-Moves, Harlem Stage’s (formerly Aaron Davis Hall) landmark annual dance showcase in New York City, which has provided a prominent platform for emerging and established choreographers of color for over two decades. She was also the Founder and Director of GENDARC Dance NYC and taught for 16 years across major dance institutions, including Battery Dance Company and the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, where she served as the inaugural Director of AileyCamp Newark.
Swoope holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Dartmouth College and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She has served on the Board of Directors and as former Gala Chair for Complexions Contemporary Ballet since 2022.
As she officially steps into her role and makes Louisville her home, Swoope emphasizes the power and responsibility of leading Kentucky’s flagship dance company.
"As we look toward the future, ensuring a strong alignment between our artistic vision and institutional growth is paramount," Swoope stated. "The performing arts have the unique power to inspire, unite, and transform communities. I look forward to making Louisville my home and collaborating with local partners, patrons, and civic leaders to ensure Louisville Ballet remains a cornerstone of Kentucky’s cultural landscape."
For more information, please contact Arricka Dunsford, Director of Public Relations, at 502.376.9947, or via email at adunsford@louisvilleballet.org.
About Louisville Ballet
Founded in 1952, Louisville Ballet is Kentucky’s official state ballet and a nationally recognized professional dance company. Committed to changing lives through dance, the company presents a diverse repertoire—from beloved classics to bold contemporary works—while engaging more than 80,000 people annually through performances, education, and community outreach. Anchored by a vibrant learning community of over 1,300 students enrolled at The Louisville Ballet School, Louisville Ballet is dedicated to making dance accessible to all and fostering creativity, wellness, and connection across generations. Louisville Ballet is led by Artistic Director Anthony Krutzkamp and Executive Director Felicia Swoope. Learn more at louisvilleballet.org.