Meet the 2025 Movers & Shakers Ball: Cristal Anniversary Co-Chairs
Movers & Shakers Ball 2025 Co-Chairs
Meet the incredible team behind our Movers & Shakers Ball: Cristal Anniversary celebration! Our passionate co-chairs Maria & Gene Dobbs Bradford, Andrea & Jason Slavik, and Suzanne & Roger Johnson join Artistic Director Kirven Douthit-Boyd and Executive Director Erin Prange to make this milestone evening unforgettable. Together, they're celebrating 15 years of Saint Louis Dance Theatre and launching our Love Languages season with world-premiere performances. From lifelong dancers to community advocates, this dream team believes in the power of dance to transform lives and strengthen our city.
MARIA BRADFORD
A lifelong dancer who began lessons at age six, Maria's journey continued through college and beyond, including teaching adult tap classes to mature dancers—some with no experience. As Senior Development Director at @classic107.3, she's passionate about supporting under-appreciated art forms. “Dance sits at the intersection of art and athletics in a way that makes it uniquely beautiful and uniquely difficult to perform,” she explains. “SLDT feeds the soul and makes our city and our world a better place.”
GENE DOBBS BRADFORD
Community volunteer Gene discovered his love for dance through “my wife and daughter who both love dance.” As a co-chair, he's excited about “honoring an organization with vision and drive” and celebrating SLDT's “awesome collaborations!” Check out our Gaslight Dreams performance with @jazzstlouis and Music in Motion performance with @stlsymphony on our website.
ROGER JOHNSON
Community advocate Roger has a history of dancing everything from folk to disco to modern and even expanded his dance repertoire to ballet. He co-chairs because “dance makes me happy!” and believes supporting SLDT is essential for “artistic freedom and expression in St. Louis.”
SUZANNE JOHNSON
Artist and former ballerina Suzanne brings creative passion to co-chairing the Ball as a longtime STLDT subscriber who has watched the company evolve. “I was in ballet growing up,” she shares, and now supports SLDT “to keep it going for future audiences and community.” She's most excited about experiencing the dancers showcase their artistic talents and collaborations of movement.
ERIN PRANGE
Executive Director of Saint Louis Dance Theatre, Erin is thrilled to celebrate the company’s 15th anniversary. Find out more about Erin on her official company bio page HERE.
KIRVEN DOUTHIT-BOYD
Artistic Director of Saint Louis Dance Theatre, Kirven will world premiere two works during the Love Languages season. Find out more on his official company bio HERE.
MOVERS & SHAKERS BALL 2025, NOV 15th:
At 560 Music Center & COCA’s Catherine B. Berges Theatre, St. Louis, MO
All Ball tickets include an evening performance from the Fall Series.
Fall Series Performances:
At COCA’s Catherine B. Berges Theatre, St. Louis, MO
Fri, Nov. 14 | 7:30 p.m. — World premiere by Kirven Douthit-Boyd
Sat, Nov. 15 | 7:30 p.m. — World premiere of Grassville by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (during Movers & Shakers Ball: Cristal Anniversary)
Sun, Nov. 16 | 2:00 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 16 | 7:30 p.m.
Fall Series Events & Engagements:
Behind the Curtains Showcase & Reception — Oct. 29, 2025, 3–5 p.m., COCA. Live rehearsal of Grassville with Q&A and reception. Subscribers and media invited; limited public tickets available.
The Language of Art Artist Panel — Nov. 4, 2025, 6–8 p.m., 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis. Free, public panel discussion with Fall Series artists.
Movers & Shakers Ball: Cristal Anniversary — Nov. 15, 2025. Gala celebration with dinner, the premiere of Grassville, dessert, and DJ after-party. Co-chaired by Maria and Gene Dobbs Bradford, Suzanne and Roger Johnson, and Andrea and Jason Slavik.
Special Offers:
Community Night — Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m., “pay-what-you-wish” pricing.
Kids Circle — Nov. 16, 2:00 p.m. matinee. Children ages 3–8 enjoy arts activities plus a performance excerpt. $25 per child; sibling discounts available.
21c Museum Hotel St. Louis — As our season's hospitality partner, 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis offers STLDT patrons discounts on overnight stays, depending on nightly rates.