Red Clay Dance Company Appoints Dr. Emmanuel Neal as First Managing Director
Red Clay Dance Company proudly announces the appointment of Emmanuel Neal as the organization’s first Managing Director, marking a significant milestone in its leadership evolution and long term organizational development.
With full support from the Board of Directors, this appointment reflects an intentional step in strengthening executive leadership as Red Clay Dance Company continues expanding its artistic footprint, operational capacity, and national presence. The creation of this role signals the organization’s continued investment in infrastructure that supports sustainability, strategic growth, and enduring impact.
As Managing Director, Dr. Neal joins the executive leadership team in close partnership with Founder, Artistic Director & CEO Vershawn Sanders-Ward, overseeing day to day operations while helping guide the strategic advancement of the organization’s mission and long term vision.
This leadership model positions Red Clay Dance Company to deepen organizational capacity while remaining firmly rooted in its purpose: awakening glocal Artivism through creating, performing, and teaching dances of the African Diaspora.
Dr. Neal brings more than a decade of experience in leadership consulting, executive coaching, organizational development, and arts administration. His professional work spans nonprofit leadership, board service, interim executive management, and consulting across both arts and business sectors, with a practice grounded in business psychology and human centered organizational strategy.
His previous leadership experience includes interim executive roles with Chicago arts organizations, consulting through arts service institutions, and national board leadership within professional psychology and coaching spaces. His background reflects a rare intersection of strategic leadership and artistic practice, shaped by years of work across multiple disciplines.
A South Side Chicago native, Dr. Neal holds a Master of Arts in Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago and a Ph.D. in Business Psychology from The Chicago School.
His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Red Clay Dance Company as the organization continues to advance new pathways for earned and contributed revenue, strengthen community impact, and build systems that support both artistic excellence and institutional endurance.
More than an expansion of staff, this moment represents a broader commitment to intentional leadership and the kind of organizational design required for long term resilience.
Red Clay Dance Company enters this chapter with strengthened leadership, clear vision, and continued commitment to bold artistry, community centered practice, and strategic growth.
