PROVIDENCE – The Festival Ballet Providence board of trustees has elected Alan Weiss, a global business consultant who lives in East Greenwich, as president of New England’s second-largest professional ballet company.
Weiss takes over for artist and innovator Toots Zynsky, who stepped down after six years.
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Zynsky oversaw Festival Ballet Providence during a period of artistic growth resulting in increased revenue and programming, the organization said. Zynsky will remain on the board.
Weiss, who will serve a two-year term, said in a news release that his two priorities are to substantially increase the size of the donor base and to increase the size of the board, which has already attracted three new members.
“I’m honored to serve in a leadership capacity for Festival Ballet Providence because I think the company creates and produces some of the finest performing art in the entire Northeast,” said Weiss, who owns Summit Consulting Group Inc. and is a well-known speaker on business topics.
Weiss, a former Festival Ballet board member, served on the boards of Elizabeth Buffum Chase Center, Gamm Theater, Trinity Repertory Company, and has chaired the Newport International Film Festival.
He was elected president of Festival Ballet in a unanimous vote on Aug. 1.
Festival Ballet said it has a resident company of 30 dancers, a pre-professional school with more than 300 enrolled students and extensive educational and community initiatives reaching more than 13,000 children annually.
“I am thrilled Alan is taking the helm of Festival Ballet Providence at this exciting time of growth,” said Kathleen Breen Combes, who was recently appointed executive director of the ballet company. “He has unique expertise and a long-standing passion for the institution and this art form.”
Artistic Director Misha Djuric said, “After many years of knowing Alan and benefiting from his advice and consulting, I am more than pleased that he will now be leading the organization’s efforts. With Kathleen in place and with Alan’s energy on the board, I am looking forward to the continued growth of a steadier, stronger organization, supporting the recognized artistic excellence of the company.”
Weiss’ wife, Marie, is also a member of the Festival Ballet board.
