People & Business

The Sarasota Ballet Expands its Artistic and Education Departments

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June 25, 2021 – Sarasota

The Sarasota Ballet announces today that two significant additions are being made to the Company’s Artistic and Education Departments – Mandy-Jayne Richardson, who joins as Ballet Mistress, and Lindsay Fischer, who joins as Assistant Education Director and Principal Company Teacher. Richardson will apply her expertise and artistry to the coaching of the professional Company, providing valuable insights towards rehearsing upcoming ballets such as Sir Peter Wright’s Giselle. Fischer’s impressive skillset will be channeled into The Sarasota Ballet’s Education Department, with an emphasis on contributing to the development of the pre-professionals of the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory and members of The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company.

“We’ve known, danced, and worked with Mandy-Jayne and Lindsay for many years, and are so thrilled to welcome them into our Sarasota Ballet family,” say Iain Webb and Margaret Barbieri, Director and Assistant Director of The Sarasota Ballet. “Their knowledge and experience will bring even greater strength to our Artistic and Education departments, and their remarkable history with companies including The Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada so perfectly complements The Sarasota Ballet’s repertoire as well as our own background and artistic foundations.”

Mandy-Jayne Richardson has established an international reputation as a truly accomplished Stager, Repetiteur, and Ballet Mistress. Her staging credits include works by Sir Peter Wright, Christopher Wheeldon, George Balanchine, and Alexei Ratmansky for companies such as American Ballet Theater, Boston Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada, and the Royal Swedish Ballet. As a Ballet Mistress, Richardson worked as Senior Ballet Mistress with The National Ballet of Canada for over twenty years coaching and nurturing the numerous dancers that have worked under her careful eye. Prior to her career offstage, Richardson danced with Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, and New York City Ballet, giving her a unique and valuable perspective and expertise on the technique and stylistic details that define the repertoires of those three iconic ballet institutions.

Lindsay Fischer joins The Sarasota Ballet from The National Ballet of Canada where he served as Artistic Director of YOU Dance, the company’s flagship Education and Community Outreach program, since 2007. He was also Principal Ballet Master. Additionally, he operated as Program Head of The Banff Centre’s Professional Summer Dance Program in Banff, Canada, for eight years. During his tenure at The National Ballet of Canada, Fischer designed and implemented the company’s Apprentice Program. Over and above his work in Canada, Fischer worked with companies like San Francisco Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, and Bavarian National Ballet as a Stager and Guest Teacher. During his onstage career, Fischer danced with both New York City Ballet and Dutch National Ballet as a Principal Dancer, and his International guesting credits include performances with Merrill Ashley, Margaret Barbieri, Cynthia Gregory, and Evelyn Hart.

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