Canton Ballet has appointed Dr. Yining Lin to its Board of Directors, adding a powerful voice in cultural dialogue and arts leadership to its governing body.
“Canton Ballet represents the very best of what community arts can achieve,” said Dr. Lin. “It cultivates discipline, empathy, and creativity — qualities that extend far beyond the studio. I’m honored to support an organization that understands dance as both an art form and a foundation for developing the next generation of artists and citizens.”
Connecting Students, Schools, and Stages
A dramaturge, scholar, and arts leader, Dr. Lin has built a distinguished career at the intersection of culture, performance, and education. She currently serves locally as an adjunct professor at Walsh University.
Before joining Canton Ballet’s board, Dr. Lin was Manager of Partnerships at the Tony Award–winning Cleveland Play House, where she was a member of the theatre’s nationally recognized education and community engagement programs, honored by the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. Dr. Lin was part of a dynamic group that expanded the programs beyond Cleveland, reaching more than 10,000 students in 100 schools each year and extending into partner communities such as Buffalo, New York, and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Most recently, Dr. Lin returned from the Bay Area after presenting a lecture series at the San Francisco Opera for the world premiere of The Monkey King, a new opera by composer Huang Ruo. During that residency, she co-presented with Tony Award–winning playwright David Henry Hwang — acclaimed author of M. Butterfly and Yellow Face, and the librettist for Disney’s Broadway musicals Aida and Tarzan. Together, they explored how Eastern and Western narratives intersect and evolve on today’s opera stage.
Global Perspective, Local Impact
Dr. Lin holds a Ph.D. in Theatre from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa; a Post-Baccalaureate in K–12 Theatre Education from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee; an M.A. in Drama from San Francisco State University; and a B.A. in Theatre and Classical Studies from The College of Wooster. She also trained at the Oakland Ballet Academy, where her early dance experience shaped her lifelong commitment to the discipline and artistry of ballet.
Her research has received support from the Confucius Institute, the Institute of International Education, and the Copeland Fund Grant. Her writing has appeared in the Journal of Dance Education and the Asian Theatre Journal.
Beyond her academic and artistic work, Dr. Lin serves as Interim Chapter Director for Make Us Visible Ohio and sits on the board of MotivAsians, a Cleveland-based professional network for Asian-American leaders.
Leadership That Reflects the Region
For Canton Ballet, Dr. Lin’s appointment marks the next chapter in a thoughtful effort to build a board that reflects both the organization’s high artistic standards and the diverse communities it serves.
“Our students come from across Northeast Ohio — some traveling up to 80 miles round trip to train here — which speaks to the strength and reach of our mission. We want our leadership to reflect that same energy and diversity. Dr. Lin brings a rare understanding of the arts and cultural perspectives — local, regional, and global — that will help us continue to grow in meaningful ways,” said Jennifer Catazaro Hayward, Executive Artistic Director.
Dr. Lin resides in North Canton with her husband, a forensic psychologist with the Federal Bureau, and their young sons.
