Krista Ledden is a certified Elite Artistry and Gentle BeMoved® dance instructor, philanthropist, and community volunteer.  She was previously a professional dancer traveling the world with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. She joined the Orlando Ballet Board of Directors in 2017, serving on the School Committee and founding the Development (now Cultivation and Stewardship) Committee, pioneering efforts to cultivate and steward donors and stakeholders, which resulted in doubling individual contributions and average gift amount.  She introduced and currently teaches BeMoved® at Orlando Ballet School, a dance and fitness experience for dancers of every age and skill level.  Krista accepts no fee and 100% of the proceeds benefit Orlando Ballet.  Krista’s efforts reinvigorated adult-class offerings, ultimately leading to the Fitness through Dance program.  Upon completion of her first tenure on the Board, Krista was elected the first Director Emeritus in the Company’s 48-year history. She returned to serving on the Board in 2023.  Together with her husband Jonathan, the Leddens have contributed over $3 million to the Orlando community.  In addition to Orlando Ballet, they are major donors to Dr. Phillips Center, Orlando Health Foundation and Opera Orlando.  Krista and Jonathan were recognized amongst “15 to Watch” in Orlando Magazine’s 2019 “50 Most Powerful” survey.  In 2019, they received the Kenneth F. Murrah, Esq. Award for Outstanding Philanthropist in Central Florida. Krista was raised outside Chicago Illinois and began dancing at age 5.  Her first professional experience was at age 11 as Clara in the iconic Ruth Page Nutcracker in Chicago.  She attended performing arts high school at Interlochen Arts Academy, an internationally recognized conservatory in Michigan.  She was accepted to both The Julliard School and New York University Tisch School of Arts but was immediately recruited at the age of 17 to dance professionally in the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, touring in the U.S., Europe and Australia. In 1990 she joined Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, an internationally acclaimed company recognized for a broad and accessible repertoire of ballet, jazz and Broadway based works.  During her 8 years with the Company, she was featured in a wide array of repertoire.  Krista originated roles in Twyla Tharp’s original ballet, I Remember Clifford, and the company premieres of Tharp’s Fait Accompli, Baker’s Dozen, The Fugue; Sue’s Leg, and Nine Sinatra Songs; and Jyri Kylian’s Sechs Tanz.  Other roles she originated include Danny Ezralow’s Lady Lost Found and In Praise of Shadows; Kevin O’Day’s Hellblondegroove; Mauricio Wainrot’s Perpetuum Mobile. Krista also performed works by David Parsons, Margo Sappington and Alonzo King.  She was the Featured Performer in the Company’s signature work, Lou Conte’s 40s. Because of her mastery of the repertoire, she also served as Rehearsal Assistant, responsible for staging company works and maintaining its high standards on tour. Krista retired from dance to raise her children and support her community. After enduring Chicago winters for 20 years, the Ledden family settled in Golden Oak in 2014 with their two children, Molly, now a marketing consultant in Miami, and Sam is a Freshman Duke University.  With the nest emptied, the Leddens moved to Winter Park in October of 2022.