OUR DIRECTORS
Laurel Winton
Laurel Winton (formerly known professionally as Jenny Winton) is the Founder and Executive Director of DanceAspen. After a successful career as a professional ballet dancer, Laurel transitioned seamlessly into the worlds of television and Broadway before returning to her roots in Aspen to build a bold new chapter in contemporary dance.
She began her professional dance career in 2009 with the Joffrey Ballet, performing with the company for five years. Her versatility and passion for storytelling then led her to the stage as “Penny” in the National Broadway Tour of Dirty Dancing, and later to the screen with a co-starring role on the CBS series BULL. Laurel’s love for dance brought her to Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, one of her dream companies, where she deepened her connection to the local community and fellow artists.
When Aspen Santa Fe Ballet's performing company disbanded in 2021, Laurel took action—founding DanceAspen to ensure the continuation of professional dance in the region. Under her leadership, the organization has grown into a thriving hub for contemporary performance, artistic collaboration, and community engagement in the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond.
Allison Walsh
Allison Walsh is an accomplished arts leader and performer with more than 20 years of experience spanning Broadway, concert dance, television, film, and museum performance.
Born in New Orleans and raised in Bethesda, Maryland, Allison launched her professional dance career as a teenager with American Ballet Theatre. She went on to spend a decade as a soloist with both the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago and BalletX in Philadelphia, performing a wide repertoire.
On Broadway and the U.S. National Tour, Allison performed the role of Lise Dassin in the Tony Award-winning An American in Paris. Her diverse performance credits also include the Original Broadway production of Anastasia, the STARZ series Flesh and Bone, productions with Houston Grand Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, and appearances at renowned cultural institutions such as the White House, the Tony Awards, the Whitney Biennial, the Guggenheim Museum, Vail Dance Festival, and Despertares México Gala.
She is committed to fostering sustainable growth, deepening community engagement, and supporting the next generation of artists at DanceAspen.