Vanessa Logan, CEO, Texas Ballet Theatre

In an interview with Invest:, Vanessa Logan, Executive Director of Texas Ballet Theater, highlighted the appointment of Tim O’Keefe as Artistic Director, ensuring continuity while fostering a fresh vision. She celebrated record-breaking attendance for The Nutcracker and expansions in Dallas and Fort Worth, emphasizing the company’s commitment to accessibility, education, and strengthening North Texas’s cultural landscape.

What are some notable highlights for the Texas Ballet Theatre from this past year?

One of the most significant milestones for us last year was appointing Tim O’Keefe as our permanent Artistic Director. This was especially exciting because Tim worked alongside our Artistic Director Laureate, Ben Stevenson, O.B.E., for over four decades. That continuity ensures that the tradition DFW audiences have come to expect — combining classical ballet, neoclassical, and contemporary ballet — will remain intact. At the same time, it’s thrilling to begin this new journey as Tim develops his unique artistic vision and voice. His first year was truly wonderful.

We saw a remarkable increase in our patron base for our productions, a trend not all ballet companies across the country experienced. The Nutcracker brought an incredible surge of patrons who were eager to share that traditional ballet experience with their families and friends. Last year, we welcomed more people than we had since pre-COVID times and even broke several Texas Ballet Theater historical metrics.

What’s equally exciting is the diversity in our audiences, which reflects the balance of programming that Tim is curating. Whether it’s family-friendly productions or more contemporary works, we’re seeing a broader range of people engaging with the art form. This aligns beautifully with our vision and mission to create access to ballet for everyone.

Where is the arts and culture sector in North Texas and what trends have you noticed?

North Texas is incredibly collaborative, and I’m fortunate to witness this firsthand. As the resident ballet company of both Fort Worth and Dallas, we’re deeply involved in the Dallas Arts District, led by Lilly Weiss. This district has provided us with extraordinary opportunities to come together with executives from other arts organizations — both visual and performing — to learn from and support one another.

The collaborative spirit is equally strong in Fort Worth. For instance, TBT has partnered with the Fort Worth Symphony, The Perot Museum, The Dallas Opera, The Cliburn, and other resident companies both at the AT&T Performing Arts Center and Bass Performance Hall. These partnerships allow us to merge audiences and introduce them to new art forms, which is incredibly exciting. I hope to see this trend continue as we find more ways to connect and expand our reach.

What is Texas Ballet Theater’s role as an economic driver for the region?

It’s a significant role, and one we’re proud of. Entertainment dollars are finite for every family, so we aim to provide value not just through our productions but also by supporting local economies. When people attend our performances, they often go out for dinner, pay for parking, or even plan additional outings in the area, all of which contribute to local businesses.

On a more direct level, Texas Ballet Theater employs 67 full-time staff and 300 part-time employees who live and spend throughout North Texas. This creates a ripple effect across the community. Additionally, we’re mindful of affordability, offering tickets starting at $25 to ensure that families with varying budgets can access the ballet. We want to create an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome.

What role does philanthropy play in helping sustain that accessibility?

Philanthropy is absolutely vital. Like everyone else, our expenses have increased, and we rely on contributions to help commission new works and support our programming. TBT has a long history of commissioning art but maintaining that requires strong donor relationships.

We focus on inspiring our donors by showcasing our impact — whether it’s through our training programs that serve hundreds of kids or our outreach initiatives in cities like Mansfield, Arlington, Dallas, and Fort Worth. These programs connect people with the art form, whether they’re students learning ballet for the first time or patrons inspired by the work they see on stage. Our goal is to ensure donors feel deeply engaged and invested in our mission.

Another important area is how we engage with corporate sponsors. For example, this year Akin served as the presenting sponsor of The Nutcracker, demonstrating how corporations can enhance quality of life for their employees and the community by supporting the arts. Collaborations like these elevate the cultural profile of our cities while also offering companies unique opportunities to engage with their teams through shared cultural experiences.

It’s a win-win for everyone involved — employees feel enriched, the arts are supported, and the community thrives. We see great potential for continued growth and partnership in this area.

How does Texas Ballet Theater contribute to local education and arts awareness?

Education is a key pillar of what we do. One exciting development is the opening of our new 15,000-square-foot, six-studio space in Dallas’ Preston Center. This facility, set to open in the coming weeks, will support 500 students, bringing new teachers and a fresh energy to the community. Beyond that, it will boost nearby businesses as families visit the area for classes and events.

We’re also expanding in Fort Worth, where we recently broke ground on a 60,000-square-foot renovation. This new space will include an intimate black-box performance area, offering opportunities for both TBT and others in the community to convene and create.

In terms of direct educational outreach, our CityDance program provides a five-week after-school curriculum in over 60 schools across North Texas. Additionally, we launched an in-school program with Dallas ISD, now in its second year. This initiative addresses a critical gap in elementary schools without dance programs, helping students build confidence and skills for middle school arts programs. We are actively pursuing funding to sustain and expand this vital program, directly supporting arts education in underserved areas.

What do you see as the greatest opportunities for the Texas Ballet Theater? 

When I think about the future of the industry, several exciting opportunities are on the horizon. Inclusivity is a major focus — not only in terms of cultivating diverse audiences but also in reflecting diversity on stage and in our studios. We’re working to celebrate different races, ethnicities, and body types to make ballet more welcoming and representative of everyone.

Another opportunity lies in storytelling. Honoring classical ballet tradition remains central to our mission, but we are embracing innovative storytelling techniques to connect with today’s audiences while staying true to our classical roots.

From an economic standpoint, as we expand our schools and invest in state-of-the-art facilities, we’re creating a lasting foundation that supports local businesses and helps drive the economy. TBT’s growing presence continues to strengthen North Texas’s cultural and economic landscape.

On a national level, Texas Ballet Theater is proud to be a leading voice among midsize ballet companies. Representing North Texas on this stage is a tremendous honor, and we’re excited to further expand our influence.