Board of Directors

EDT's directors come from all walks of life and bring their expertise in fundraising, marketing, arts administration and more to EDT's table. The board of directors are the backbone of the organization and help keep EDT's mission alive.

Current Board Members:

Eva Maria Kish

  • Title/Post: Chair
  • Terms on EDT board: 1
  • Expertise/Background: M.A. in education, specialization in dance; Eva is professional folklorist who studied at the State Ballet Institute Folk Dance Department in Budapest, Hungary; who was a guest performer with the VDSz Bartók Béla Dance Ensemble, Budapest, Hungary; is a founding member of Banevolks folk dance group, Ball State University, Muncie, IN; founder of Eszterlánc Hungarian Folk Dance Ensemble, San Francisco, CA; founder of Forrás Non-Profit Association, Boston, MA; Recipient of Jerome Foundation Research grant to Hungary
  • Professional Affiliations: Resident Choreographer for EDT since 1992; serves on Board of MN Hungarians, Inc
  • Fun Fact: Works as an instructional designer with Andersen Windows; was born in Germany; name was Kiss until 1957 when became a naturalized US citizen; teaches beginning and intermediate Hungarian language to local Twin Cities residents

Rita Schultz

  • Title/Post: Vice-Chair
  • Terms on EDT Board: 1
  • Expertise/Background: Information technology; active member of the Twin Cities' Latvian community; is nearing completion of an MA in Theology.
  • Fun fact: Loves to garden and take care of her two cats.

Jeanne Schultz (no relation of Rita!)

  • Title/Post: Secretary
  • Terms on EDT Board: 4
  • Expertise/Background: Information and Systems Management; German Folk Dance
  • Professional Affiliations: S.G. Edelweiss, St. Paul; German-American Institute of Minnesota
  • Fun Fact: Was an original performer with EDT in 1974; she's also the twin sister of Mark LaCourse, also an original member of EDT and like Jeanne, a sibling of EDT Artistic Director Donald LaCourse.

Leila Poullada

  • Title/Post: Director
  • Terms on EDT board: 14
  • Expertise/Background: Graduate studies in Middle Eastern and South Asian Area Studies and History; Volunteering; Dance
  • Professional Affiliations: Board of Directors, UNA-MN
  • Fun Fact: Spent 12 years with her U.S. Foreign Service spouse in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Republic of Togo; Has travelled extensively by jeep, sailing ships and Third World transport

Donald LaCourse

  • Title/Post: Director (EDT Artistic Director)
  • Terms on EDT Board: 33
  • Expertise/Background: German folk dance; Hungarian folk dance; Traditional folk costumes of the world; Folk traditions of the former Yugoslav republics; Studied dance in Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, Costa Rica, Russia, North Ossetia, Ukraine
  • Professional Affiliations: Board of Directors, National Folk Organization; S.G. Edelweiss, St. Paul; German-American Institute of Minnesota
  • Fun Fact: Is the Imelda Marcos of folk footwear.

Emily Judd

  • Title/Post: Company Representative
  • Terms on EDT Board: 2
  • Expertise/Background: BA in Dance from St. Olaf College; Department Manager at Nordstom's

Concert Facts:

Did you know that?

Mumbai

Photo of the triumphal arch at the head of the harbor in Mumbai, The Gateway to India

The Gateway to India

Mumbai is one of the most populous cities in the world. It was built across seven islands & was controlled by various empires before the arrival of the first Europeans, the Portuguese. Control ultimately passed to the British who, beginning in the late 18th century, reshaped the city in a series of large-scale civil engineering projects. Under British control, Mumbai emerged as India’s most important center of commerce. Today, it is home to such institutions as the Reserve Bank of India & the National Stock Exchange of India, as well as numerous Indian and multinational corporations. In 1885 the first session of the Indian National Congress ("the Congress Party") was held in Mumbai, and in the 20th century Mumbai was a strong base of support for the Indian independence movement. The city is also the home of Bollywood, India’s film and TV industry. See our Indian suite in PORTS of CALL!

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