NEW YORK, New York – Following a national search, the José Limón Dance Foundation has appointed Michelle Preston as incoming Executive Director.

A dance performance coming to Mobile this week will provide what one organizer thinks will be an inspirational demonstration of the ways artistic dance can transcend expectations.

Steven Melendez’s life sounds like stuff from which movies are made: While living in a homeless shelter in the Bronx as a child, Melendez discovered ballet through New York Theatre Ballet’s LIFT program, which provides scholarships to at-risk children.

The company, belatedly celebrating its 75th anniversary, presented a program with works by Limón and Doris Humphrey and a premiere by Olivier Tarpaga.