Toledo Ballet leaves parents in the dark, following the firing of two employees

One parent says transparency is practically nonexistent.

Parents demanding answers from the Toledo Ballet after the firing of their artistic director and choreographer. (Jaden Jefferson)

TOLEDO, Ohio — The firing of two employees that have played an integral role in the success of the Toledo Ballet has left the parents of performers with more questions than answers.

Lisa Mayer-Lang, who was the artistic director for the ballet, and her husband, Michael Lang, a choreographer, were let go recently, but the ballet didn’t provide a reason as to why. Now some parents are growing frustrated, including Sandra Beauchamp. She says the school has been promoting a new vision for the future, but wonders who will lead them into it.

“All they tell us is their vision has changed, but they’re not telling us what their vision is,” said Beauchamp.

Beauchamp tells me Michael and Lisa were beloved members of the ballet that everyone loved and respected, and wonders why termination would even be a thought.

“I’ve known them for about six years and it’s been amazing. My daughter took many private lessons with them. They were professional, they were amazing mentors to my daughter,” she said.

She says many dancers have since left the school after the firing of the two. Beauchamp believes that if parents are continuing to pay for their kids to attend, the least the ballet can do is provide them with answers.

“They need to step forward and tell us what their vision is and give us a reason why this happened, an acceptable reason why this happened, they need to make sure that the level of education is not going down,” Beauchamp added. “We’re spending a lot of money a year and it is our job to be advocates to our children and make sure they’re getting the education that they want and the education that we’re paying for.”

I reached out to the ballet for comment and left a message, but didn’t hear back at the time of this story.