In this season two premiere of South End Stoop Sessions, Cate Brinch sits down with Boston Ballet Executive Director Ming Min Hui and Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen. They share how Boston became home, how Mikko reshaped the company’s artistic identity, and why live performance still matters in an increasingly digital world. The conversation covers Boston Ballet’s approach to The Nutcracker, Ming and Mikko’s working partnership, the organization’s global roster of dancers, its education and adaptive dance programs, and the role the Ballet plays in the South End and across Boston. They also talk favorite neighborhood spots, tuna fishing, career purpose, and the mission that keeps them committed to the arts.

Key Points From This Episode:

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:01:33] Ming Min Hui and Mikko Nissinen introduce their roles and tenures at Boston Ballet.

[00:02:04] Ming shares how business school brought her from New York to Boston and how the city became home.

[00:02:55] Mikko reflects on his international path from Finland to Boston and why he plans to stay.

[00:05:32] Mikko explains arriving as a “game changer” and building an organization relevant to today’s audiences.

[00:06:35] The importance of experiencing art live in a social and communal setting.

[00:07:09] Boston Ballet’s artistic identity across classical, neoclassical, contemporary, and modern dance.

[00:07:52] Mikko explains his approach to The Nutcracker and why he treats it as a gateway into ballet.

[00:09:12] Boston Ballet approaches the 1,000th performance of Mikko’s production of The Nutcracker.

[00:10:20] Ming reflects on working with Mikko and what she has learned from his long-term leadership.

[00:11:19] Mikko describes his partnership with Ming and their shared focus on what is best for the organization.

[00:12:10] Mikko recalls a memorable Nutcracker performance involving a young mouse performer and the orchestra pit.

[00:12:49] Ming reflects on stepping down and what she will miss most after 11 years at Boston Ballet.

[00:14:35] Ming shares her go-to South End restaurants for business lunches.

[00:15:04] Boston Ballet’s roughly 60 dancers represent as many as 19 or 20 nationalities.

[00:15:25] Mikko explains the competition to join Boston Ballet, with around 1,300 people pursuing five company spots each year.

[00:16:12] Mikko talks tuna fishing, while Ming shares stories about his passion for cooking and preparing fish.

[00:17:39] Boston Ballet’s dance education begins in infancy and extends across a large student community.

[00:18:33] Mikko discusses the scale of Boston Ballet’s school and the impact of its adaptive dance program.

[00:20:20] Mikko and Ming share how they experience art and community throughout the South End.

[00:21:38] Boston Ballet welcomes around 200,000 theatergoers annually and extends its reach through touring.

[00:22:56] Mikko reflects on how dance changed his life and his commitment to preserving and advancing the art form.

[00:23:42] Ming explains why she left a traditional finance path to build a mission-driven career in the arts.

Links:

Boston Ballet: https://www.bostonballet.org/

Mikko Nissinen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikko-nissinen-97331a31

Ming Min Hui on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mingminhui/