Elise Drew León

Elise Drew León is Manager of Diversity and Inclusion at the School of American Ballet (SAB) at Lincoln Center. In her role, she works to ensure that SAB is a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization according to its behaviors, policies, and practices.

Prior to joining SAB, Elise worked as an artist, administrator, and teacher. As a member of the Limón Dance Company, she performed throughout Asia, Europe, and North and South America before touring to Africa as a cultural ambassador on behalf of the US Department of State. She received a 2014 Princess Grace Dance Honorarium for her emerging artistic excellence and was designated the 2015 Puerto Rican Day Parade’s Rising Star in the Performing Arts. While performing, Elise served as The Ailey School Summer Housing Coordinator, where she developed staff leadership training, broadened the subsidized housing program, and instituted an annual school-wide trip for students and staff. As a teacher and coach, Elise has taught for Adelphi University, The Ailey School, Bryant Park Moves, LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, and New York University.

Elise holds a BFA in Dance from Fordham University. A BAM/DeVos Institute for Arts Management Fellow, she was selected as the 2014 John R. Munger Research Fellow by Dance/USA. In May 2018, she received the Distinguished Young Alumna Award from Westover School, given to an alumna “who is inspired as an intellectual, artist, athlete, philosopher or entrepreneur, and who demonstrates integrity, responsibility, and commitment to the community in accordance with the Westover mission.”

Elise is dedicated to ensuring that the performing arts is as inclusive and equitable as possible. She has spoken on a panel for the Diversity in Arts Leadership Internship program, was an alumni speaker for the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, and has served as a grants panelist for ArtsWestchester. Elise resides in New Jersey with her husband and daughter.