Preparing for the Unthinkable
How does an organization plan for a tragedy? You really can’t. You plan for your
organization’s response to one by putting into place the
information, guidelines, training, and materials needed to help company
leadership and staff deal with a most difficult and often chaotic time.
Writer Steve Sucato contacted Sarasota Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance
Theater, Culture Shock Dance Chicago, and Chicago Dance Crash about those company members they lost recently. Their
insight and advice may prove useful in preparing your organization for
the unthinkable.
LEADERSHIP CORNER: Katherine Brown, Executive Director, New York City Ballet
With this interview, From the Green Room inaugurates a new series, the Leadership Corner, featuring one-on-one conversations with top leaders in the dance field. Katherine Brown is executive director of New York City Ballet,
and in that capacity oversees the management and administrative
functions of the ballet and the David H. Koch Theater and manages a
budget of approximately $77 million.
Is American Modern Dance a Pyramid Scheme?
Two million arts graduates in the United States have bachelor’s degrees in the visual and performing arts, though fewer than 10 percent make enough money to live as working artists. Most arts graduates work in non-arts fields — the ubiquitous “day job” that they are encouraged, rightly, not to quit, especially given the cost of an arts degree. Are we perpetuating a myth, or a pyramid scheme, by continuing to promote and accept students into dance and performing arts departments? Read Sarah Anne Austin’s article for more.
Company Spotlight: Winifred Haun & Dancers
The first in a series on Dance/USA’s From the Green Room focusing on member dance companies and their model programs. This month we look at Chicago’s Winifred Haun & Dancers, a small company that has evolved to make long-term, larger projects reflecting the choreographer’s artistic curiosity.
When Tragedy Strikes in the Workplace
Guidelines for managers on how to deal with tragedy in a dance company setting.
Helping Employees React After a Tragic Event
What to tell company members and staff about the death of a colleague? Read these tips shared on how to break untimely and tragic news.
Articulating What Matters
Management expert Kathryn Martin wrote that, “Some of the most
transformational moments for an organization may come when it is in a
moment of transition; acutely aware of pressing issues and knowing it is
not in status quo mode.” While this statement ignited a conversation
about leveraging leadership transitions, it also posed a question about
the reverse scenario: How can an organization remain a priority in the
minds (and checkbooks) of donors even when it is in a normal,
non-crisis, status quo mode?
Upping the Ante on Writing About Dance
Good dance writing informs potential audiences
about interesting dance in their midst, helps acquaint presenters and
funders with artists’ output to frame artists’ work within a wider
cultural, artistic and socio-political context. With shrinking space for dance coverage at traditional media outlets, new forms are taking hold. Learn how a collaborative community-based effort to publish high-quality dance writing is taking hold in one city. Lisa Kraus, founder of thINKing Dance, reports.
Ten Steps To Enhancing Dance Writing in Your Community
Want to jump-start dance writing opportunities in your city or region? Check out these 10 tips from founder of thINKing Dance in Philadelphia.
How Much Arts Journalism Is Too Much Arts Journalism?
Anecdotal and other reports note the obvious: classical dance audiences
are aging and declining, and new work seems to have a hard time gaining
consistent audiences. Many of us agreed on the need to develop
audiences, and out of those conversations author Robert Bettmann, who founded a small arts magazine, Bourgeon to help artists develop audiences. But the question arises: are publications like these part of hte problem or solution in engaging new and existing audiences.