The Sarasota Ballet announces today that renowned dance educator Charmaine Hunter will be The Sarasota Ballet’s new Community Engagement Director. Charmaine will oversee Dance – The Next Generation along with the other community engagement programs, including Joyful Movement through Parkinson’s and Silver Swans®. Charmaine brings a wealth of experience to The Sarasota Ballet. Charmaine was a Principal Dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she was known for roles such as The Firebird (John Taras) and Medea (Michael Smuin). While she was still dancing, she began working to provide programs for young people with little or no access to the arts. Charmaine helped to launch Dancing Through Barriers, Dance Theatre of Harlem’s flagship outreach program in South Africa, before developing it for communities across the USA and beyond. Charmaine’s extensive background includes the roles of Director of Disney’s The Lion King in Toronto, Talent Scout for Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, Co-Founder of Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater, and as Upper School Principal with Texas Ballet Theater. Prior to joining The Sarasota Ballet, Charmaine held the position of Director of Community Enrichment for Orlando Ballet, where she developed arts education programming for seven counties in the central Florida area, increasing access to dance for over 24,000 children. When asked about her new position, Charmaine said, “I am excited to step into the role of Community Engagement Director with The Sarasota Ballet. It is an honor and privilege to extend the gift of dance to the community and beyond. Celebrating the rich history of The Sarasota Ballet's commitment to giving back, this opportunity allows me to join in elevating our dance outreach offerings and broadening our impact.”