Amy Russell is the founder and Artistic Director of Ballet Kalamazoo, an arts organization she built from the ground up with a vision of making exceptional classical ballet training and transformative artistic opportunities available to young people in Southwest Michigan.

In 2016, with no established institution behind her and no inherited legacy to build upon, Amy launched Ballet Kalamazoo from scratch. Through entrepreneurial grit, artistic vision, and relentless determination, she grew the organization to serve more than 200 students in just four years.

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When the COVID-19 pandemic threatened performing arts organizations across the country, Amy refused to let Ballet Kalamazoo disappear. She rapidly transformed programming to a virtual model, preserving instruction, sustaining community, and protecting the organization’s future. In the years that followed, she rebuilt the company to its pre-pandemic strength, an accomplishment that required rebuilding trust, enrollment, momentum, and vision from the ground up for a second time.

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Today, Amy leads an organization that develops young artists, creates employment opportunities for teachers and arts professionals, produces original productions, and invests in the cultural life of the Kalamazoo community. Her leadership extends beyond choreography and instruction to organizational strategy, fundraising, creative direction, community partnerships, and long-term institutional growth.

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She is the creator of KAL|Dance, an initiative that expands performance opportunities, fosters artistic collaboration, and showcases the extraordinary talent within Southwest Michigan’s dance community. Under her direction, Ballet Kalamazoo has presented acclaimed productions including Nutcracker Kalamazoo and The Little Mermaid, providing hundreds of young dancers with meaningful performance experiences while making high-quality ballet accessible to local audiences.

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An AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE® Certified Teacher, Amy has pursued advanced training through respected institutions including Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Her commitment to excellence is reflected not only in the classroom but in the culture she has built, one that values discipline, artistry, resilience, and uncompromising standards.

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Amy’s vision reaches beyond producing performances. She is building an enduring institution: one that nurtures the next generation of artists, creates professional opportunities within the arts, strengthens the cultural fabric of her community, and proves that bold ideas backed by extraordinary persistence can become lasting legacies.