Laguna Dance Festival Founder Joins Cincinnati Ballet

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A change is on the horizon for the Laguna Dance Festival. Founder and Artistic Director Jodie Gates will be leaving her post at the Laguna Beach nonprofit to continue her career as artistic director of the Cincinnati Ballet and the Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy, a Laguna Dance Festival news release announced Thursday.

"It's an honor to be named the new artistic director of the Cincinnati Ballet, a company I have long admired," Gates said in the news release.

The Laguna Dance Festival was founded by Gates in 2005, and prior to the opening of the festival, she enjoyed a long and successful dance career for more than 35 years.

Gates created the Laguna Dance Festival with the mission of presenting premier dance performances and increasing public appreciation for the art of dance. The organization behind the Laguna Dance Festival provides youth scholarships, site-specific events, collaborations and partnerships with other arts organizations in the Laguna Beach community.

Additionally, Gates is the founding director of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance in Los Angeles.

Both Gates and the Laguna Dance Festival Board of Directors formed a search committee in order to find a successor for Gates to lead and direct the Laguna Dance Festival.

"The opportunity to join the Cincinnati Ballet and lead such an esteemed organization was a big life decision for me, as I've called Laguna Beach home since 2005," Gates said. "I am incredibly grateful to the current board of directors and team members... I will continue to advocate for the arts here and will maintain a residence in town."