EPIC in partnership with ThinkTV presents:

Rodney Veal’s Inspired By Series in the Dana L. Wiley Gallery Featuring Mike Elsass

October 16th, 2024

5pm Doors Open

5:30 Live Interview

39 W. 4th St., Dayton, OH

Guest – Brandon Ragland

New Artistic Director of the Dayton Ballet

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Brandon Ragland received his early training from Jacqueline Crenshaw Lockhart and continued his dance training at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. In 2007, he graduated from Butler University with a B.S. in Dance-Arts Administration.

Before joining Louisville Ballet, Brandon spent 3 seasons with the Alabama Ballet, where he performed works by George Balanchine, Roger Van Fleteren, Christopher Bruce, and Twyla Tharp. Since joining the Louisville Ballet in 2010, he has had the opportunity to perform leading roles in classical and neoclassical works such as, Andre Prokovsky The Three Musketeers; Val Caniparoli’s The Brown-Forman Nutcracker, Lamberena, Lady of the Camellias, and Spaghetti Western, Robert Curran’s Coppelia, Serge Lifar’s Suite en Blanc, George Balanchine’s Square Dance, Kammermusik #2, and Western Symphony. Other works include Bruce Simpson’s Swan Lake, La Sylphide, Ma Cong’s Tethered Pulse, and works by Adam Hougland, Lucas Jervies, and Alun Jones.  

As an aspiring choreographer, he has created works for Louisville Ballet, Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble, Alabama Ballet, Alabama Ballet School, AROVA Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Arkansas, Next Generation Ballet, J. Lockhart Performing Arts Institute, and Sedona Chamber Ballet.

Additionally, Brandon serves as an integral member of The Louisville Ballet School faculty as Pre-Professional Program Manager, teaching faculty, and Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble Ballet Master.