Washington Ballet Appoints New Artistic Director

Edwaard Liang is the first Asian American to hold the role

The Washington Ballet recently announced the appointment of Edwaard Liang as the company's new Artistic Director. A respected dancer, choreographer, and administrator, Liang is the first Asian American to hold the role — and is one of the few to hold comparable roles in US ballet companies.

Liang comes to the position from his eleventh season as the Artist Director of BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio. During his tenure, the company has almost doubled in size, significantly expanded its school, and hosted 21 world premieres — all of which were choreographed by Liang.

Originally hailing from Taiwan, Liang grew up in California and began his career dancing in the New York City Ballet. He also spent a stint at the Nederlands Dans Theater, where he developed his skills as a choreographer.

"Edwaard is a proven, visionary leader and deeply gifted artist who is uniquely prepared to nurture all aspects of The Washington Ballet — our world-class artists, our school and training programs, and the communities we serve," said Jean-Marie Fernandez, chair of The Washington Ballet’s Board of Directors.

"Edwaard’s commitment to shaping the future of ballet perfectly aligns with our ambitions as a dynamic, diverse mid-sized ballet company with an outsized impact in our community and in the ballet world."

"The Washington Ballet is a remarkable organization that I’ve felt drawn to since I first worked with the company in 2008," Liang said. "We share the same values: a commitment to world-class dance; a powerful drive to program dance that can respond to the needs of many diverse and varied communities; and a genuine desire to evolve the art form thoughtfully. What an exceptional honor and opportunity to live, work, and lead the future of ballet in our nation’s capital."