Sonja Kostich

View Sonja's interview with Houston First

As the Executive Director and CEO of Houston Ballet, Sonja Kostich is a dynamic cultural and business development leader whose unique career bridges the worlds of dance and finance. With over two decades of national and international experience as a professional ballet and modern dancer and an extensive background in business and nonprofit leadership, she brings a distinctive vision to the performing arts and one of the world's leading ballet companies. Since joining Houston Ballet in August 2025, Kostich has focused on broadening the Company's visibility, cultivating new civic and business partnerships, and furthering Houston Ballet as both a world-renowned artistic institution and an important cultural ambassador for the City of Houston.  

Kostich began her professional dance career at just 17 when she was invited by the celebrated icon, Mikhail Baryshnikov to join American Ballet Theatre. She went on to perform with San Francisco Ballet, Zurich Ballet, Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project, and in groundbreaking collaborations with opera and theater director Peter Sellars. She has worked closely with some of today’s most celebrated artists including Viola Davis, Frances McDormand, Patti Smith, Natalie Merchant, Deborah Harry, Sir Simon Rattle, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Bryn Terfel, and Anish Kapoor to name a few. She co-founded and co-directed the NYC contemporary dance company OtherShore.

Following her performing career, Kostich pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Zicklin School of Business at CUNY Baruch College, graduating Salutatorian at age 42. She also holds a master's degree in arts administration. Her professional path led her to Goldman Sachs, where she worked in the Finance Division on regulatory capital requirements before transitioning to arts leadership roles at Mark Morris Dance Group, New York City Center, and Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, where she served as Chief Executive and Artistic Officer from 2018–2022. Under her direction, Kaatsbaan underwent a transformative rebrand, becoming an award-winning destination for artists and audiences alike, and a major contributor to the cultural and economic vitality of New York’s Hudson Valley.

From 2022 to 2025, Kostich served as President and Executive Director of Baryshnikov Arts, where she helped realize Founder and Artistic Director Mikhail Baryshnikov’s vision for a multidisciplinary center supporting artists across disciplines. During her tenure, the organization achieved new-found financial and operational strength, launched new artistic and educational programs and community partnerships, and expanded its audiences and donor base.

Under Kostich's leadership, Houston Ballet hosted the 2026 Youth America Grand Prix Finals in Houston for the first time, bringing an event long associated with New York to the City of Houston. The Finals welcomed thousands of visitors from nearly 40 countries, positioning Houston as an international destination for dance and underscoring Houston Ballet's impact as an economic engine for the region. She has expanded collaborations with the City of Houston, Houston First, and the Greater Houston Partnership, increased Houston Ballet's visibility through regional and national media and marketing initiatives, and advanced strategic initiatives designed to strengthen Houston Ballet’s financial foundation while positioning the Company for continued artistic excellence and growth. In 2025, she was recognized among Houston's 50 Most Influential Women, profiled in Houston Woman Magazine and featured in Modern Luxury Houston's 2026 Power List.

Inspired by her parents’ commitment to family, compassion, and unity, she serves as a founding board member of Rifka’s House, an intergenerational nonprofit that connects orphans and elders through shared living and care.