In 1958, the company restructured as the Dayton Civic Ballet, with a board of directors, and federal tax-exempt status.
[2] Sebastian led the Dayton Ballet for 10 years, in which time the company rose in stature and status.
Sebastian brought in new dancers and created the company's first full-length ballet, The Sleeping Beauty.
In 1988, the company appeared on national television while performing in the opening ceremonies of the Pan American Games.
[3] Following the departure of Stuart Sebastian in 1990 and his subsequent death in January 1991 after a lengthy battle with AIDS,[2] the company entered a period of transition.
James Clouser, former artistic director of the Houston Ballet, was brought in on a three-year contract.
According to Dayton Daily News articles written during the transition, the board of trustees was looking for change and that is why they brought in someone from the outside.
In the fall of 1992 an executive director was brought in for the very first time in the company's history: Dermot Burke.
In the Fall of 1993 Dermot assumed the dual role of executive and artistic director of the company.