I want to do things that make a difference and bring joy—all in the spirit of love.
A Lifetime of Leadership, Love, and Dance
Since joining José Mateo Ballet Theatre’s Board of Trustees in 2010, Erline Belton has been a steadfast advocate for the organization’s mission to make ballet accessible and community-centered. She first met José through the Barr Foundation when he was part of its inaugural class of Fellows. I was so impressed by José and his values, she recalls.
She retired as the founder and CEO of Lyceum Group, an organization development firm, following a career in corporate America as a Senior Vice President of Human Resources working internationally across 31 countries. Beyond corporate life, she’s authored two books (“Your Voice Matters” and “A Journey That Matters, Your Personal Living Legacy”), held faculty appointments at UMass, Tufts University, and Harvard, and served on numerous nonprofit and corporate boards – including as Vice Chair of the Red Cross of Boston, the Museum of African American History, and a decade-long tenure on board of Applebee’s International Inc. Notably, she worked closely with the CDC to develop workplace policies during the AIDS epidemic – an effort that helped change how organizations cared for their employees.
But behind this distinguished resume is a personal story – about a connection to dance. As a child (8-9 years old), Erline studied ballet. Yet after being harshly discouraged by a teacher – “You’re impossible. You’ll never be a dancer.” -she stopped dancing. And then, at 50 years old, she joined a dance group in Roxbury, MA and began dancing again. She recalls that her dance teacher, Fred, created a dance for her to “A Woman’s Work” that they performed many times together. Here I was, doing a solo, when most of my life I spent thinking I couldn’t dance.
Erline’s return to dance helped shape her commitment to JMBT’s mission. Ballet and dance should be available to everybody, she emphasizes. Dance brings people together – it’s laughter, connection, community. Reflecting on José Mateo Ballet Theatre’s impact, she adds, It’s a little company with a big vision. It brings communities together around dance and reminds people that ballet is accessible to all. We’re building spaces where people can find love and community through art.That sense of purpose drives her continued board service. I want to support the organization in any way I can. To help keep that magic alive, to bring people together, and to keep my voice present in something that matters.