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LakeCities Ballet Theatre, a not-for-profit arts organization, is guided by a volunteer
board of directors. These individuals devote many hours to the planning, administratrion,
and guidance of LBT.
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In 2007 Mary celebrated her twentieth anniversary as a Board Member with LakeCities
Ballet Theatre, and has served as President of the Board since 1994. Being actively
involved with LBT from near it's conception, Mary has been influential in guiding
this company from a small, promising dance group to one of the largest, most successful
arts organizations in the North Texas area. One of her greatest achievements with
LBT was the introduction of world renowned guest artists into LakeCities Ballet
productions. A life-long supporter of the arts, Mary has been a member of the Greater
Lewisville Arts Council since 1992, three of those years as their Chairman, and
now serves as Secretary to the Arts Council.
As Mary continues to strive for the further development and success of LakeCities
Ballet, one of her many aspirations for the company is to see it one day, go-on-the-road,
taking LBT's Nutcracker to smaller towns in Texas. It is clear and evident that
without the unwavering support of Mary, this ballet company and the arts in general
in this area would not be where they are today, and for that we are grateful to
Mary Neel.
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Kelly Lannin has been Artistic Director of LakeCities Ballet Theatre since 1989.
She was a charter member of LBT in 1984 and became involved as a dancer, choreographer,
teacher and then as an active board member committed to seeing the company grow.
As Artistic Director, Ms. Lannin made enthusiastic plans to increase the company's
classical and contemporary repertoire by staging full-length classics that audience
members would recognize and appreciate, yet introduce the contemporary work of fresh
and innovative choreographers as well. Ms. Lannin's dream for LBT was to choreograph
and create LBT's own Nutcracker production so that local students and audience members
did not have to venture into Dallas or Ft. Worth to perform or enjoy this favorite
holiday classic. This dream became a reality in 1991 with the support of a committed
Board of Directors and many amazing local volunteers who made costumes, built sets
and props and raised the necessary funds. Ms. Lannin was also instrumental in developing
a working relationship with Maestro Adron Ming and the Lewisville Lake Symphony
bringing another level of professionalism to LBT's Nutcracker production. She also
began the tradition of contracting professional guest artists such as Damian Woetzel
and Julie Kent to inspire LBT dancers to grow as artists, to thrill local audiences,
and to heighten the community's awareness of the arts. Ms. Lannin was honored with
an Angel Award from the Lewisville Arts Council for volunteering her talents to
the community and was commended by the former Honorable Mayor Bobbie Mitchell for
the outstanding quality of LBT productions. In 2002, Ms. Lannin was honored to be
the first recipient of the Arts Council's "Community Angel Award" for bringing recognition
to the City of Lewisville through the Arts. Ms. Lannin has dedicated her time and
talents to LBT for the past 23 years. Her vision, passion, and commitment to her
dancers have been the foundation for LBT's growth and success.
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A member of the Board of Directors since 2002. Tom continues to strive to bring
LakeCities Ballet to the forefront of the ballet attending audiences and the community
at whole, by pushing LBT to the maximum of it's potential. Working closely with
other Board Members, the Artistic Staff, and Production Staff, Tom's goals of keeping
it unique, different, fresh and new remain unwavering. Tom is a recipient of the
2001 Greater Lewisville Arts Council's Angel Award, but still he says his greatest
reward is watching the beauty of a ballet that he helped to produce.
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Laura has been a member of the Board of Directors for three years and is currently
serving as the Board Secretary. She brings to this Board her experience of the many
years she spent on the Board of Directors of the Greater Lewisville Area Soccer
Association. An avid volunteer in many areas of hers and her daughters lives, Laura's
organizational skills and her experience in gathering corporate donations has proven
invaluable to LBT. Laura is always ready to help in any area of LBT or LBT productions
and states, " I just love to volunteer and I love what LBT does." The Board of Directors
is extremely appreciative for her many contributions.
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Judy has been a member of the Board of Directors for one year and served as the
LBT Guild president for the prior two years. She has been a Guild member for many
years as well as valuable, active volunteer for LBT. Judy was awarded the 2006 Greater
Lewisville Arts Council's Angel Award for her dedicated devotion to LBT and to the
arts in her community. Her association with Ballet Conservatory and LBT began in
1991 when her daughter, Tessa (then 3), began ballet at Ballet Conservatory with
Kelly Lannin. Tessa, who just finished her freshman year of college, has retired
from LBT after one year as an adult member. Judy is the mother of five grown children
and the grandmother of 2 and 3/4 grandchildren. She hopes to enjoy several more
years with LBT before retiring to the desert southwest with her husband of 38 years,
Steve.
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Karen has been involved with LBT and the studio for over 13 years, and was sworn
in as our newest Board Member in September of 2006. During the decade that her daughter
danced, Karen and her husband Tim were not only ardent volunteers and supporters
of LBT, but Tim also performed. Tim performed 5 seasons in LBT's production of The
Little Match Girl and then performed in LBT's Nutcracker for the premier in 1991,
and again in 1992. Family, friends, and LBT were stricken the summer of 1993 with
Tim's untimely passing. The 1993 Nutcracker was dedicated to Tim Westphal. Karen
however, continued her involvement and today is one of the leading supporters of
all the arts in the Lewisville area. In 2005, Karen became a member of the Greater
Lewisville Arts Council. In January of 2007 Karen was named Chairman of the Greater
Lewisville Arts Council, and has been nominated to serve in the position again in
2008. Among Karen's numerous goals as a Board Member of LakeCities Ballet Theatre,
she has affirmed that her priority is to bring more members of the community, and
the other arts groups in particular, to experience the local grandeur that is LakeCities
Ballet.
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Polly became a member of the board in 2008 in the role of Development. Her experience
from a corporate background enables Polly to use her skills of development of contracts
and proposals and apply them to LBT in her committed quest for corporate sponsorship
and grant support. Polly consistently amazes the board with her creative ideas on
fundraising and her devotion to the continuous growth of the art of dance LBT provides
in our community. Prior to becoming a board member, Polly was an active volunteer
and Guild member for five years chairing several fundraising events. Polly is married
to Armando Pardo who also volunteers his time for LBT, and they are the parents
of Charles and Victoria. The Board of Directors is very excited to have Polly as
member of the board not only because of the skills she brings to the company, but
also because of her love of the theatre. She has said that, "because of LBT, a family
can attend a performance with world-renowned artists without leaving their neighborhood.
In today's economy, that is a rich gift!"
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