John Cranko School, Vienna State Opera Ballet School name new directors

 The John Cranko School has named Elisa Carrillo Cabrera as the new director of the school, the Stuttgart Ballet announced on 28th February 2025.

"After more than 27 years, Tadeusz Matacz will step down as Director of the John Cranko School at the end of 2025. Starting in January 2026, Elisa Carrillo Cabrera will assume the position as Director of the John Cranko School, supported by Mikhail Kaniskin as Associate Director," the German company said in a press release.

Cabrera, from Mexico, was Soloist of the Stuttgart Ballet and Principal of the State Ballet Berlin. She retired from the stage in July 2024.

In Austria, the Ballet School of the Vienna State Opera has also named a new director.

"The designated ballet director, Alessandra Ferri, has appointed Patrick Armand as the new director of the Ballet Academy from 1 September 2025," the Vienna State Opera said on its website on 25th February 2025.

Ferri will also assume the position of the director of the ballet in September 2025.

French Armand has extensive international experience as a dancer and a teacher. The most recently, he has been the director of the San Francisco Ballet School since 2017.