{{short description|American arts administrator and ballet dancer}} {{Infobox person | name = | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | education = School of American Ballet | alma_mater = Columbia University | occupation = Unknown | years_active = | employer = | known_for = | title = | spouse = Nigel Redden | children = }} '''Arlene Shuler''' is an American arts administrator and former ballet dancer. Until 2022, she was the president and chief executive of the New York City Center.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Sulcas |first=Roslyn |date=2021-12-08 |title=Arlene Shuler to Step Down as President of New York City Center |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/arts/dance/arlene-shuler-steps-down-city-center.html |access-date=2022-07-18 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sulcas |first=Roslyn |date=2009-08-28 |title=Building a Profile for City Center: Dance Mecca |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/arts/dance/30sulc.html |access-date=2022-07-18 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
== Biography == Shuler grew up in Cleveland playing ballet.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The Art of Pleasing |url=https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/art-pleasing |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Columbia Magazine |language=en}}</ref> She began her training at age six under Marguerite Duncan in Cleveland and then entered the School of American Ballet in New York City.<ref name=":1" /> At age 13, she played as the young lead in ''The Nutcracker'' with the New York City Ballet.<ref name=":0" /> She was joined the Joffrey Ballet at 17 and performed frequently at the New York City Center.<ref name=":0" />
After a career in dancing, Schuler received her B.A. degree from Columbia University and her J.D. degree from Columbia Law School. She worked at the National Endowment for the Arts as a summer intern, which inspired her to become an arts administrator.<ref name=":1" />
Shuler began her career as program administrator of the dance program of the NEA, and then worked for Representative Ted Weiss. She returned to New York to serve as executive director of the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, and served executive positions in the Wallace Funds, General Atlantic Partners Foundation and the Atlantic Philanthropic Service Company. For 11 years, Shuler worked for the Lincoln Center, first as vice president of planning and development, and then as senior vice president of planning and external affairs. She then served as executive director of the Howard Gilman Foundation.<ref name=":0" />
In 2003, Shuler was named president and CEO of the company. She was credited for converting the NYCC from a rental space for dance companies to a producing house that commissions revivals of Broadway shows and dance performances.<ref name=":0" /> Shuler started the Fall for Dance Festival, which features a number of dance companies with the aim to introduce new audiences to dance.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=New Audiences Fall for Dance |url=https://www.nysun.com/article/arts-new-audiences-fall-for-dance |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=The New York Sun|date=8 September 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kourlas |first=Gia |date=2021-10-24 |title=Silky Ballet Solos and Irresistible Tapping Toes Close Fall for Dance |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/24/arts/dance/fall-for-dance.html |access-date=2022-07-18 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The success of the new programs increased the center's budget from under $10 million in 2003 to $27.6 million in 2021.<ref name=":2" /> In December 2021, she announced her retirement at the end of the 2021–2022 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McPhee |first=Ryan |date=December 8, 2021 |title=City Center President and CEO Arlene Shuler to Step Down in 2022 |url=https://playbill.com/article/city-center-president-and-ceo-arlene-shuler-to-step-down-in-2022 |access-date=July 18, 2022 |website=Playbill}}</ref>
Shuler received the Capezio Dance Award in 2009 that awards an individual or institution whose “innovation, creativity, and imagination . . . bring respect, stature, and distinction to dance.”<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sierra |first=Gabrielle |title=Arlene Shuler to Receive Capezio Award 9/22 At New York City Center |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Arlene-Shuler-to-Receive-Capezio-Award-922-At-New-York-City-Center-20090804 |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == Shuler is married to Nigel Redden, former director of the Lincoln Center Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, and Santa Fe Opera.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blumenthal |first=Ralph |date=1998-06-17 |title=New Director for the Lincoln Center Festival |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/17/arts/new-director-for-the-lincoln-center-festival.html |access-date=2022-07-18 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-11 |title=Nigel Redden Prepares for Life After Spoleto Festival USA |url=https://www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/sc-news/2021-06-11/nigel-redden-prepares-for-life-after-spoleto-festival-usa |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=South Carolina Public Radio |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hardaway |first=Connelly |date=2017-06-29 |title=Spoleto Festival USA Director Nigel Redden steps down from Lincoln Center Festival position |url=http://charlestoncitypaper.com/spoleto-festival-usa-director-nigel-redden-steps-down-from-lincoln-center-festival-position/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Charleston City Paper |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == <references />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shuler, Arlene}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:New York City Ballet dancers Category:Joffrey Ballet dancers Category:Columbia University School of General Studies alumni Category:Columbia Law School alumni Category:American arts administrators Category:American women arts administrators Category:American nonprofit chief executives Category:American nonprofit executives Category:School of American Ballet alumni