Carla Maxwell (Artistic Director) joined the Limón Dance Company in 1965. She soon became a principal dancer under Limón’s direction and, in 1975, Assistant Artistic Director under Ruth Currier. Ms. Maxwell was appointed Artistic Director in 1978, and during her tenure, the Company has emerged as one of the finest repertory dance ensembles in the world. She received the 1995 Dance Magazine Award and a 1998 New York Dance and Performance (Bessie) Award for finding a creative present in the context of a revered past, and thereby offering choreographic opportunity to multiple generations of artists; for inspired leadership and artistic accomplishment. Acclaimed as a brilliant dramatic dancer, she danced many major roles with the Company, including the title role in Carlota, Limón’s final ballet which he choreographed for her. Ms. Maxwell is responsible for many of the Company’s reconstructions of Limón dances, and as a choreographer, she has created works for the Company and regional companies throughout the U.S. She teaches internationally as both a representative of the Company and a guest artist-in-residence.

Donald McKayle (Artistic Mentor) danced in the companies of Sophie Maslow and Jean Erdman, and later with Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and Anna Sokolow. His choreography, including the classic works, Games, Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder, District Storyville, and Songs of The Disinherited, is in the repertories of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Theatre, Cleveland San Jose Ballet, and the Limón Dance Company. A recipient of many prestigious national awards, Mr. McKayle has taught at The Juilliard School, Bennington College, and Bard College, and has served as the Dean of the School of Dance at the California Institute of the Arts. Presently he is a Professor of Dance at the University of California at Irvine.

Roxane D’Orléans Juste (Associate Artistic Director), a native of Montreal, Canada, has been a member of the Limón Dance Company since 1983. She has also performed with the Eleo Pomare Dance Company and Annabelle Gamson Dance Solos. Ms. D’Orléans Juste’s choreography has been presented by Toronto Danceworks, Shoenberg Dancycle, Dia Center for the Arts, L’Agora de la Danse, The Yard, and the Museé du Quebec. She was honored with the Canadian Dance Award, Le Prix Jacqueline Lemieux (1980), and is the recipient of several grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Foundation for Creation in Fine Arts. An active master teacher, she also stages José Limón’s choreography for companies and ensembles around the world.