Cincinnati Ballet Names New President & CEO

Deborah S. Brant stepped into the role on March 11

The Cincinnati Ballet recently announced that Deborah S. Brant will serve as its new President & CEO. She has been serving as interim President since January, when Scott Altman announced his departure from the company — and the appointment was made permanent on March 11, 2024.

Brant is no stranger to the organization: she previously served as chair of the Cincinnati Ballet Foundation and as chair of the Cincinnati Ballet board of trustees. She also led the capital campaign committee that secured funding to construct the 62,000-square-foot, $31 million Cincinnati Ballet Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance in Walnut Hills.

Hailing originally from Akron, Ohio, Brant studied American studies and art history at Brandeis University. She then worked as a fundraiser and grant writer for the Kennedy Center, and as a fundraising consultant for New York City Ballet and Paul Taylor Dance Company, among others.

More recently, Brant has been a fundraising consultant for Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Prospect House, and the Art Academy of Cincinnati. She is also a former board chair of the Mayerson JCC and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and served on the board of Most Valuable Kids of Cincinnati Inc.

"From her incredible efforts on the capital campaign to build Cincinnati Ballet’s spectacular new home to her years of service as a board member, Debbie’s experience, skills and energy make her the perfect fit to help propel the company to new heights," said Joel Stone, the president of the board.

"Cincinnati Ballet has been such a special part of my life for many years," Brant said. "I am inspired by its long history of artistic excellence, and I am passionate about expanding access, building new audiences and deepening connections in our community."