In the grand Paris Opera House as a young girl, Amy O’Connor sat high in the balcony watching Giselle unfold on the distant stage below. Though the dancers appeared small from her perch, the performance’s beauty and power ignited a lifelong love of ballet that would later define her professional path.
Amy’s journey to Ballet West was anything but traditional. After earning a master’s degree in biology from the University of Utah, she initially pursued wilderness conservation with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. There, she discovered a remarkable talent for building relationships and growing support, expanding the organization’s membership from 1,000 to 20,000 passionate advocates.
This experience launched a thirty-year career in nonprofit development, eventually leading her to Ballet West in the summer of 2023. As the Annual Giving Manager, Amy now focuses on creating intimate experiences that bring patrons closer to the art form she loves.
When not nurturing Ballet West’s patron relationships, Amy feeds her artistic spirit through diverse passions. She loves the outdoors, gardening, and dancing—particularly Swing and Latin styles. Her adventures with her husband Ray have been extraordinary, ranging from backpacking along national park rims to exploring Panama’s Darien jungle and sea kayaking across the Gulf of Alaska, Baja’s coast, and the Greek Aegean islands.
“The thread that has been woven throughout my professional experience is serving organizations that are bringing positive change to the world,” Amy reflects, embodying a life dedicated to meaningful connection and artistic expression.