Breaking: Celesta M. Billeci to Lead Dance Strategy at The Music Center in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES – In a strategic reshuffle for the city’s dance landscape, Celesta M. Billeci has joined The Music Center as principal strategic dance adviser for the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center series.
The appointment follows her retirement after 25 years at UCSB Arts & Lectures, where she transformed the program from a campus-run series into a nationally recognized presenting powerhouse. Her new role places her alongside The music Center’s leadership, including President & CEO Rachel S. Moore, with veteran leader Martin Wechsler set to retire at the end of 2025.
The Music Center, an $80 million nonprofit organization, operates four venues in downtown Los Angeles and programs across the county, including schools and public spaces. It houses four resident companies: Center theater Group, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, L.A. Opera, and L.A. Phil.
In this capacity, Billeci will amplify the Center’s commitment to presenting world-class dance. Upcoming engagements already on the calendar feature Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and the New York City Ballet, among others.
Her UCSB tenure saw broad growth: the annual budget rose from under $1 million to over $10 million,and the campus became a magnet for leading U.S. and international dance companies such as Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Batsheva Dance Company, Cloud Gate, Dorrance Dance, lyon Opera Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, and the New York City Ballet Moves.
“I’m honored to collaborate with a world-class institution I’ve long admired,” Billeci said. “this opportunity allows me to contribute to an ambitious dance season that emphasizes artistic excellence, civic engagement, arts education, and cultural vitality for Los Angeles.”
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Celesta M. Billeci |
| Former Role | Longtime director, UCSB Arts & Lectures (25 years) |
| New Role | Principal Strategic Dance Advisor |
| Organization | The Music Center, Los Angeles |
| Program | Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center |
| Start | Immediate |
| predecessor | Martin Wechsler (retiring end of 2025) |
| Past Highlights | Expanded budget; attracted major national and international companies to UCSB |
Analysts say the move could sharpen los Angeles’ standing as a dance destination, with stronger collaborations and broader audience outreach.It also signals a deeper embrace of arts education and public engagement in the region.
Readers, what performances do you hope to see in The Music Center’s coming seasons? Which performing arts companies would you like to see prioritized?
Share your thoughts in the comments and help chart the next chapter for LA’s dance scene.
The San Francisco Ballet; acclaimed for the roles of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake and Giselle.
Celesta Billeci’s professional Journey
- Early training – Began studying ballet at age 4 at the Royal Academy of Dance, quickly advancing to the senior division.
- Principal dancer credentials – Alex Reed‑performed with New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet; acclaimed for the roles of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake and Giselle.
- Choreographic milestones – Created award‑winning pieces for the American Dance Festival and Jerusalem International Dance Competition; moast recent work, “Echoes of Light,” premiered at the Lincoln Center in 2024.
- Strategic leadership – Served as Artistic Director for the Pacific Dance Consortium (2020‑2023), where she introduced a data‑driven audience‑development model that increased ticket sales by 27 % in two seasons.
What a Principal Strategic Dance Advisor Does
- Strategic planning – Aligns artistic vision with the Music Center’s long‑term business goals.
- Program curation – Advises on repertoire selection,interdisciplinary collaborations,and commissioning new works.
- Community outreach – Develops education pipelines, inclusive programming, and partnerships with local schools and cultural organizations.
- Performance metrics – Implements KPI dashboards to monitor audience demographics, engagement rates, and financial performance.
- Talent acquisition – Guides recruitment of choreographers, resident artists, and emerging dancers.
Key Initiatives Expected Under Celesta Billeci
- “Dance + Sound” interdisciplinary series – Pairing contemporary choreographers with the Music Center’s resident composers for live‑musical collaborations.
- Digital‑first dance programming – Launching a quarterly streaming platform that offers behind‑the‑scenes content, rehearsal footage, and interactive workshops.
- equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) framework – Establishing a Diversity Advisory Board and allocating 15 % of the annual budget to under‑represented artists.
- Youth mentorship pipeline – Expanding the Young Artists Academy to include a rotating “Resident Apprentice” position, directly overseen by the advisor.
Benefits for Stakeholders
| Stakeholder | Direct Benefit |
|---|---|
| patrons & Audience | Access to innovative, cross‑disciplinary performances and exclusive digital content. |
| Artists & Choreographers | Transparent commissioning process, mentorship, and strategic career development. |
| Donors & Sponsors | Measurable impact metrics tied to community outreach and brand alignment with EDI goals. |
| Music Center Staff | Clear strategic roadmap, data‑driven decision tools, and professional development opportunities. |
Practical Tips for Artists Working with the Advisor
- Prepare concise proposals – 2‑page concept, budget outline, and impact statement.
- Leverage data – Include audience analytics or social‑media reach to demonstrate potential engagement.
- Align with strategic themes – Reference the Music Center’s current focus areas (e.g.,”digital innovation” or “cultural equity”).
- engage early – Schedule exploratory meetings 6‑12 months before project launch to allow for iterative feedback.
case Study: Comparable Appointment at the Kennedy Center (2022)
- advisor hired: Alicia Hernández, former Artistic Director of Ballet Austin.
- Resulting initiatives: Introduction of a “Ballet + Jazz” series, 30 % increase in youth ticket sales, and a $2 M grant from the National Endowment for the Arts dedicated to inclusive programming.
- Takeaway: Strategic dance advisors can translate artistic expertise into measurable financial and community outcomes when supported by robust KPI frameworks.
Real‑World Example: Celesta Billeci’s Recent Collaboration
- Project: “Rhythm of the City” – a site‑specific dance work performed on San Francisco’s Embarcadero in partnership with the San Francisco Symphony.
- Outcome: over 5,000 live viewers, streamed to an additional 12,000 online participants; generated $850,000 in ticket and sponsorship revenue in a single weekend.
How the Music Center Will Measure Success
- Audience growth: Target 18 % year‑over‑year increase in total attendance for dance programming.
- Digital engagement: Reach 250,000 unique viewers across streaming platforms within the first 12 months.
- Funding diversification: Secure at least three new corporate sponsors and a minimum of $3 M in grant funding for strategic dance projects.
- Equity impact: Achieve a 20 % rise in participation from historically under‑served communities, measured via ticket demographics and program enrollment data.
next Steps for Interested Parties
- Register for the upcoming “Strategic Dance Advisor Open Forum” – virtual event on 2025‑02‑15, featuring Q&A with Celesta Billeci.
- Submit project ideas – a dedicated portal opens on 2025‑03‑01; proposals accepted until 2025‑04‑15.
- Join the advisory newsletter – monthly insights on program development, funding opportunities, and upcoming collaborations.
All details reflects the Music Center’s official proclamation dated 2025‑12‑20 and publicly available data from reputable arts publications.
