This post comes from WFPL Arts Reporter Elizabeth Kramer.

The Louisville Ballet announced today it’s appointed Leslie B. Dunner as the new principal guest conductor for the 2009-10 season. Dunner spent six seasons as music director and principal conductor of The Joffrey Ballet. He also has conducted for The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden and the New York City Ballet. Bruce Simpson, the Louisville Ballet artistic director, worked with Dunner in South Africa.

The company also announced it’s promoting principal dancer Mikelle Bruzina and first soloist Helen Daigle to rehearsal assistants. Both will dance in upcoming ballets, but have new responsibilities. Bruzina will guide the Company’s trainee program and Daigle will oversee the children’s cast for The Brown-Forman Nutcracker.

The company has hired two new dancers. Eduard Forehand is a Miami native who trained at Nutmeg Conservancy and will be in the corps de ballet. He’s danced with The Richmond Ballet, Charleston Ballet Theatre and Dayton Ballet. Edward Urwin is a new apprentice from Doylestown, Penn. He trained at American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton Ballet School and attended summer programs at American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet and Oregon Ballet Theater. He has danced with Opera New Jersey and Ballet Florida.