Madeleine Onne proposed as next AD of FNB

Former dancer and artistic director of the Royal Swedish Ballet Madeleine Onne has been put forward as the next AD of the Finnish National Ballet.

Onne would succeed Kenneth Greve when his tenure at the helm of the Helsinki company comes to an end in July 2018.

Päivi Kärkkäinen, general director of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet, made the proposal, which has been unanimously supported by the board. They will make their final decision on 10 October.

Originally from Sweden, Onne is currently director of the Houston Ballet Academy, and was formerly AD of both the Royal Swedish Ballet and Hong Kong Ballet, for a total of 15 years.

The proposal read: “Madeleine Onne has extensive knowledge and skills in both classical ballet and modern choreographies. She worked as a ballet dancer at the Royal Swedish Ballet in Stockholm from 1978 to 2002. As a principal dancer since 1984, she has danced most of the major roles of classical ballet.

“These leadership roles [at the Royal Swedish Ballet and Hong Kong Ballet] have provided her with crucial experience in creating and implementing strategy as well as in managing people.

“Onne has a deep insight into the operations of a Nordic art organisation, having been the representative of the personnel in the Stockholm Royal Ballet and other positions of trust. In her earlier leadership roles, she has demonstrated an excellent grasp of finance, conducting and orchestral work, as well the ability to understand the big picture.”

If Onne is appointed, her contract will be for a fixed term of four years, from August 2018.