Husband-and-wife team, Orlando Ballet Artistic Director Jorden Morris and Associate Artistic Director Lisa Thorn Morris, will retire from their leadership roles at the end of this season (but not their marriage), the company announced Wednesday.
Jorden Morris will remain artistic director through June 30, 2027, and stay on as an artistic advisor through the end of 2027 to support the transition, according to the official press release. Lisa Thorn Morris is expected to stay connected by staging select works by Jorden Morris, including future productions of The Nutcracker.
The Orlando Ballet board has started a succession process to find the next artistic director. The company says it wants a leader who can build on its artistic excellence and bring “strategic vision, collaborative leadership and business acumen.” No timeline for naming a successor has been given at this time, though.
“Serving as artistic director of Orlando Ballet has been one of the greatest privileges of my career,” Jorden Morris said. “Orlando Ballet is thriving, and this feels like the right moment to pass the baton while I can remain actively involved in supporting a thoughtful and successful transition.”
The company says it is entering the transition after the most successful season in its history, with record fundraising, attendance, and community impact. Executive Director Bradley Renner said the transition “comes from a position of strength.” Board President Jonathan Ledden said Jorden Morris “accomplished more in six years than many Artistic Directors do in a lifetime.”
Morris joined Orlando Ballet as artist in residence in 2020 and was later named artistic director. The board picked him by unanimous vote on December 16, 2021, after a national search. He succeeded the infamous Robert Hill, who stepped down in August 2021 after 13 years.
A former principal dancer with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Morris has worked in ballet for more than 50 years as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and artistic leader. His ballets include Peter Pan, Moulin Rouge: The Ballet and The Great Gatsby, and he held leadership roles with Boston Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Citie Ballet. He even choreographed for Queen Elizabeth II. At Orlando Ballet, he created a reimagined Nutcracker that debuted during the company’s 50th anniversary season and will remain in the repertoire.
Lisa Thorn Morris joined the company in 2015. A former professional dancer, she has served as rehearsal director and repetiteur, and has helped lead production quality, dancer development, and organizational growth.
Orlando Ballet says it will remain focused on the current season and that more opportunities to celebrate the Morrises will be announced in 2027.
