The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) proudly announces a five-year contract extension for Eric Otto, who will continue his role as Artistic Director and Head of Curriculum for Toledo Ballet. The new contract begins July 1, 2025, and extends through June 2030.
Since joining the organization in 2020, Otto has led a vibrant artistic renaissance, expanding educational and performance opportunities while deepening collaborations between Toledo Ballet and the Toledo Symphony.
“Eric has transformed Toledo Ballet into one of the region’s most forward-thinking and artistically ambitious dance organizations,” said Zak Vassar, President & CEO of TAPA. “His passion for storytelling, his commitment to technical excellence, and his vision for collaborative productions have inspired our students and thrilled our audiences. I’m thrilled that Eric will continue to shape the future of dance in Toledo.”
Under Otto’s leadership, Toledo Ballet has significantly expanded its faculty, introduced new pre-professional training initiatives, and welcomed professional dancers like Liza van Heerden to its teaching and performance roster. His production revivals and original choreography have raised the bar for regional ballet, including dynamic collaborations with the Toledo Symphony on Prokofiev’s Cinderella, Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White.
A signature achievement of Otto’s tenure has been the conception and premiere of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, a bold new ballet that debuted in October 2024. Otto adapted Washington Irving’s gothic tale for the stage, choreographed the full-length work, and commissioned a haunting original score by German composer Jonathan Heck. The production received critical and audience acclaim and will return this October as the centerpiece of a new annual Fall ballet series celebrating the Halloween season.
Though Otto is the first Artistic Director of Toledo Ballet not to have worked directly with founder Marie Bollinger Vogt, he honors her enduring legacy through both reverence and reinvention. “Marie built something remarkable, and I feel the responsibility and privilege of carrying her vision forward,” Otto said. “With our amazing new home at the Toledo Center for Live Arts, a flourishing partnership with the Toledo Symphony and Toledo Jazz Orchestra, and a growing community of talented dancers and teaching artists, the future of Toledo Ballet is incredibly bright.”
“Working with Eric has been an exciting partnership,” said Alain Trudel, Music Director of the Toledo Symphony and Artistic Director of the Toledo Jazz Orchestra. “He approaches choreography with a composer’s ear and a director’s imagination. Together, we’ve created productions that are musically rich and emotionally powerful.”
Board leadership also voiced enthusiastic support for Otto’s continued role. “Eric’s artistic vision and his belief in the potential of every student have strengthened Toledo Ballet across every dimension,” said Marna Ramnath, Chair of the TAPA Board of Trustees. “We are proud to extend our collaboration with him and excited for what lies ahead.”
Supporters from across the community have noted Otto’s impact on student development and audience engagement. “Eric brings a rare combination of discipline and joy to the studio,” said Chris Bourell, Co-President of the Toledo Ballet Guild. “He’s elevated the performance quality, broadened the Ballet’s reach, and created unforgettable experiences for our dancers and audiences alike.”
As Toledo Ballet prepares for its upcoming season, including the return of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow this fall, the 85th Anniversary production of The Nutcracker in December, and Delibes’s Coppélia in April 2026, Eric Otto’s continued leadership promises a thrilling future filled with innovation, imagination, and a deep commitment to artistic excellence.
“The passion and talent of our dancers, students, staff, and community inspires me every day,” Otto added. “I am honored to lead the Toledo Ballet through 2030.”
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ABOUT TAPA
The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) is a collective consisting of the Toledo Symphony, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Symphony School of Music, Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestras, and most recently, The Toledo Jazz Orchestra. TAPA strives to establish meaningful partnerships with individuals and organizations that fundamentally impact the cultural life of our region. As a vibrant and growing arts organization, TAPA empowers all in our region to experience the performing arts through concerts, recitals, education programs, community engagement and activation, private lessons, fully staged productions, and more.
In 2025, TAPA moved its headquarters to the former Masonic Temple adjacent to the Stranahan Theater on Heatherdowns Blvd. This new facility, known as the Toledo Center for Live Arts, serves as the artistic hub for all of TAPA's administrative offices, education programs, private lessons and group classes, performances, and community programming.
