Your February 2026 Roster Roundup: Dancers and Directors on the Move

The past few weeks have brought another exciting round of ballet career news—check out the latest farewells, appointments, promotions, and more in your February 2026 roster roundup.

Michael Vernon. Photo courtesy Indianapolis Ballet.

Promotions and Appointments

Indianapolis Ballet has announced that Michael Vernon will lead the company as interim artistic director for the remainder of the 2025–26 season. Vernon, a longtime ballet faculty member at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, departed IU at the end of December.

Longtime Balanchine Trust ambassador Patricia Neary has joined The Princess Grace Foundation Arts Advisory Council, a voluntary board of artistic leaders that oversees the Princess Grace Awards program.

Farewells, New Arrivals, and Guestings

After more than a decade balancing leadership and performing, New York City Ballet soloist Troy Schumacher will step away from the stage to become the full-time artistic and executive director of BalletCollective, which he founded in 2010.

English National Ballet first artist Isabelle Brouwers, who was recently appointed artistic director of Yorkshire Ballet Seminars, took her final bow on January 18.

Vienna State Ballet soloist Rebecca Horner departed the company on December 31 to pursue independent projects. She will return as a guest performer from February 6 to early April, appearing as Madame du Barry in Thierry Malandain’s Marie Antoinette.

Onstage in front of a striking teal backdrop with gold accents, a dancer poses in arabesque with her supporting leg slightly bent. She bows forward with her arms in line with her upper body, in a long arabesque line. She wears a long, dark purple dress with a full skirt. — Rebecca Horner in *Marie Antoinette*. Photo by Ashley Taylor, courtesy Vienna State Ballet.

Pacific Northwest Ballet says hello to its newest apprentices: Luke Gutierrez, Jory Luther, LeeAnaca Moore, and Mckenzie Wilson.

Smuin Contemporary Ballet has welcomed Charmaine Butcher as an additional dancer for its upcoming performances of Spring Point.

On February 9 and 15, guest principal Liudmila Konovalova will appear in George Balanchine’s “Diamonds” with the Vienna State Ballet.

Awards and Recognitions

The Ukrainian government has bestowed the title of Order of Princess Olha upon English National Ballet first soloist Kateryna Khaniukova, a native of Ukraine. The award is the country’s highest state honor for women. Khaniukova, who received the recognition from President Volodymyr Zelensky on January 22, was honored for her advocacy and charitable work in support of Ukraine.

Dutch National Ballet artistic director Ted Brandsen, DNB principal Olga Smirnova, and choreographer Alexei Ratmansky have all been appointed Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture. The state award recognizes outstanding individuals in the arts who have made an impact in France and beyond.

New York City Ballet corps member Malorie Lundgren has received the 2026 Janice Levin Award. Created in 2000 by the late Janice Levin, the annual award recognizes “a promising member of NYCB’s corps de ballet,” as stated in a company press statement.

Onstage in front of a dark blue backdrop, a ballet dancer does an arabesque on pointe with her arms floating up to the side. She wears a light blue dress with a high-low effect and layers. — Malorie Lundgren in George Balanchine’s *Chaconne*. Photo by Paul Kolnik, courtesy New York City Ballet.

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