DDP Talks To Ballet Harmony Chicago
DDP: With your first performance, what are your immediate priorities as you transition from a debut performance to an ongoing company? How do you balance the realities of budget constraints with artistic ambition?
Jennifer Holoubek, Artistic Director: “Our immediate priorities remain funding-based. Now that we have had a successful first performance with positive feedback from our audience, we need to keep the momentum going. This begins with having the funding to produce more projects. I am prioritizing finding funding not just for one project at a time, but for the long term, so that after each performance we are not starting over from scratch. We plan to continue in realistic ways, like using a black box theater for our performances as opposed to a larger theater. We are also currently running two different performance periods and increasing the number of work weeks in subsequent seasons. In addition to dancing with the company, I will also do a majority of the choreography myself to avoid the high costs that come from bringing in repertoire. However, it is important that the dancers have the opportunity to learn from different artists, so one of my priorities is strategically using funds to bring in outside choreographers. There is a wealth of amazing artists and people in the Chicago area, and so we are working to find grants that would allow us to collaborate with musicians to bring in live music. We want to keep dreaming big because you never know what opportunity might come our way!”
DDP: You mentioned that Ballet Harmony Chicago “collaborates with other not-for-profit organizations” during performances. Can you share how this process will work?
Jennifer Holoubek: “One of the main missions of Ballet Harmony Chicago is to help shine a light on worthy causes. With our collaborations, we will partner with one local nonprofit for each run of performances. Through partnered marketing, we will bring attention to the work they do, as well as set up a table for them at our performances. For our next performances, we will partner with a local food bank and host a food drive. When audiences come, they will have the opportunity to support our partner organization and bring a nonperishable food item to the show. Each organization we partner with will also have the opportunity to speak to our audience and share about the important work that they do. We hope that our audiences will be able to learn more, get involved, and become active participants in helping us uplift our community.”
DDP: Funding for the arts is notoriously difficult. How do you hope to create financial sustainability for your company?
Jennifer Holoubek: “It is important to work within our means while also keeping focused on our non-negotiables, one of which is paying dancers fairly. This tenet must remain at the top of our list, and we don’t use that money for other things. We want our dancers to know they are valued and our highest priority when we measure our company’s success, and we will not back down on this. We are focused on diversifying our funding sources as we don’t want to have all our eggs in one basket. We are working to have a balance of individual donations, business sponsorships, grants, and foundations. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a few mentors who have really guided me, taught me so much, and continue to show me the way when it comes to nonprofit finances. I will continue to rely on them as we make financial steps forward.”
DDP: How are you governing? Do you have a full team? A Board of Directors? An Executive Director? How, beyond cost-cutting measures, do you plan to create sustainability and longevity for BHC?
Jennifer Holoubek: “We have a board of directors consisting of passionate followers of the arts, as well as former dancers who have since retired and moved to other fields. One of the most important things for our board is to have transparency, especially given we do not have an Executive Director yet. Each board member has access to all finances and statements, and we begin every meeting with a treasury update so that we can remain transparent with our financial situation. Our longevity is going to come from finding consistent and diverse funding sources so that we can continually be planning for our next performances and growing with our long-term goals, including hiring administrative staff that will in turn help us continue moving forward financially.”
DDP: What does a supportive and equitable workplace culture look like within your company, and how are you modeling that as a leader?
Jennifer Holoubek: “A supportive and equitable workplace culture begins from the top. I strive to show each of my dancers how much I value them both as people and artists. In terms of creating an equitable workplace from a financial perspective, each dancer is paid the same hourly wage for every moment that they are at the studio, whether that is for class, rehearsal, performances, etc. As we are a pick-up company, I strive to be flexible with every dancer to work with their schedules so that they can work with us. A supportive environment is a positive one. Corrections and coaching are constructive, and I recognize the good just as much as the moments we work to grow and improve. I strive to create an environment where coaching elevates the dancers’ spirits, not pushes them down. Each dancer matters and brings so much to our organization. I feel so much gratitude to be in the room with them all working together.”
DDP: The ‘broken rung’ remains a significant barrier to women’s advancement (McKinsey, 2024) in so many industries. Did/do you experience this as you start Ballet Harmony Chicago?
Jennifer Holoubek: “My experience of the ‘broken rung’ was before starting Ballet Harmony Chicago. DDP has shown this very clear disparity regarding the number of women in ballet versus choreographers and directors. My founding of Ballet Harmony Chicago is a direct response to these experiences. In starting this company, I will have the opportunity to hire more women and artistically and financially respect these artists and individuals. My board is 100% female, and they have also experienced these discrepancies. Through our shared experiences, we want to be a part of the change that sees women standing up in the front of the room and leading the way.”
DDP: How should women support other women in their organizations?
Jennifer Holoubek: “I am a firm believer in the power of women supporting women. I have many examples of this in my life right now with so many women standing up, offering their skills to help grow Ballet Harmony Chicago. There are very simple ways we can support each other, like sharing a social media post or going to see a performance. When we think of supporting other women in their organizations, we need to ask ourselves, what abilities do I have, what areas of expertise can I offer that would help the work they are doing, and assist in bringing their organization to the next level? It may be editing, graphic design, helping with social media, or a wonderful example being this interview right here: DDP inviting me to talk about Ballet Harmony Chicago. Especially in the arts, we NEED each other. When one organization succeeds, it is a win for artists and women everywhere.”
