Dance Podcast Episode 160: The Future of Ballet with Diana Crowder

#160: In this episode of Dance Behind the Screen, host Martheya Nygaard Scott sits down with Diana Crowder, founder and artistic director of Pegasus Contemporary Ballet, to explore leadership, innovation, and what it takes to build a sustainable future for ballet.

Diana shares her journey from professional ballet dancer to arts leader and entrepreneur, including the process of building Pegasus Contemporary Ballet from the ground up. She reflects on the importance of cultivating local artists while staying connected to national and global perspectives—an approach she describes as “think globally, nurture locally.”

The conversation explores how ballet continues to evolve with each generation, why tradition and innovation don't have to be at odds, and how contemporary ballet can speak to today's audiences while remaining grounded in rigorous technique.

Martheya and Diana also discuss technology, branding, audience development, and the business behind the art. Diana shares why technology should support the work rather than drive it, and how a clear artistic vision can help dance organizations communicate their impact and reach new audiences.

Ultimately, the conversation asks: How much structure does it take to break the structure? For Diana, ballet's deep technical foundation isn't a limitation—it's a framework artists can use to create something new.

In This Episode

• Building Pegasus Contemporary Ballet from the ground up

• Thinking globally while nurturing Dallas's local arts community

• Balancing ballet's traditions with innovation

• Creating contemporary work for today's audiences

• Using technology intentionally in dance

• Branding, digital presence, and audience development

• Building a sustainable arts organization

• Finding creative freedom within structure

Chapters

00:00 Welcome + Flash Four

04:00 Think Globally, Nurture Locally

08:00 Cultivating Dallas’s Creative Community

13:00 Diana’s Journey from Dancer to Founder

18:00 Building Pegasus Contemporary Ballet

24:00 Why Contemporary Ballet Matters

30:00 Technology + Dance

34:00 Building a Digital Presence

37:00 Branding + Audience Development

44:00 Saying NO to the BOX

46:00 Connect with Diana + Pegasus

Diana Crowder

Diana Crowder is the Artistic Director and Founder of Pegasus Contemporary Ballet, which she founded in 2021 with a vision of using ballet as a tool for creativity, connection, and artistic innovation in Dallas. Under her leadership, Pegasus has commissioned 32 new works, developed collaborations with leading Dallas artists and organizations, and received 25 grant awards in five seasons. Diana has choreographed five works for the company, including acclaimed full-length interdisciplinary productions 'Words For A Resonant Space' and 'The Egg.' A graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School, she danced with Tulsa Ballet II, Texas Ballet Theater, and freelance companies nationwide. She has also served as adjunct faculty at SMU Meadows School of the Arts and on faculty at the DASH Academy. She lives in Dallas with her husband and daughter.

CONNECT WITH DIANA + PEGASUS CONTEMPORARY BALLET

Instagram: @Dianacrowd and @Pegasuscontemporaryballet

Facebook: @pegasusballet

Website: www.pegasusballet.org

This season of the Dance Behind the Screen Podcast is supported in part by the Moody Fund for the Arts and our generous individual Season Sponsors,

Dexter & Jenel Evans and Helen & James Gallas.