How We’re Working to Raise the Bar(re)
Emerging from the pandemic, ballet companies will struggle to find funding and audiences in an increasingly competitive atmosphere which requires a strong set of skills to move past the traditional markers of success; a well-known dancing career or profile and being of a certain “lineage” or groomed by a departing Artistic Director.
Historically, women are reluctant to even apply for Artistic Director positions due to their lack of access to pipeline jobs that create a compelling resume for leadership roles. Additionally, Boards of Directors, often older donors, are oblivious of their unconscious bias that equates competency with being male, and search firms are unaware of many talented, potential candidates as they refer to the same sources repeatedly.
While the performing arts, and dance in particular, has recently been focused on race, the industry needs to recognize that women, particularly women of color, face extraordinary obstacles to leadership. They continue to be primary care takers for elders and children, while affordable high quality day care has always been scarce, during the global pandemic, the lack of access has become acute, especially difficult at a time when many school age children were not able to attend in person classes.
Raising the Barre: Curriculum for the Next Generation of Leadership in Dance offers creative solutions to properly equip female dance leaders of the future with vital skills to strengthen their careers. This free series will be accessible on the DDP website with each session accompanied by a tangible resource. Viewers can watch, and rewatch each episode and utilize the assets to compile a robust toolkit to build their careers.
Current Faculty
Kacie Sassano
Dance Data ProjectDanni Gee
Dance Data ProjectRachel S. Moore
Dance Data ProjectAdam W. McKinney
Dance Data ProjectLinda-Denise Fisher-Harrell
Dance Data ProjectJawole Willa Jo Zollar
Dance Data ProjectShane Jewell
Dance Data ProjectAnne Kavanagh
Dance Data ProjectGeoff Chang
Dance Data ProjectShannon Riggs
Dance Data ProjectJacqueline Gerrald
Dance Data ProjectHelen Pickett & Kristopher McDowell
Dance Data ProjectJodie Gates & Victoria Morgan
Dance Data ProjectSusan Jaffe
Dance Data ProjectDacquiri Baptiste & Harris Ferris
Dance Data ProjectDavid Mallette
Dance Data ProjectLauren Cramer
Dance Data Project
Raising the Barre: Year 2
This second season of Raising the Barre: Curriculum for the Next Generation of Leadership in Dance expands upon the robust toolkit of resources, interviews, and deliverables that we offer our viewers. To develop a second season that builds on the successes of the first, we have implemented feedback received from candidates, search firms, boards, and others in the dance economy to develop a second season that builds on the successes of the first. This input has encouraged DDP to open the aperture of the equity lens to include the role of boards of directors in searches. DDP will also offer advice/support for the administrative needs of smaller companies, without the need for an (often unavailable) infusion of funding. View this year’s currently available episodes below.
Navigating the Art of Donor Relations
With Kacie Sassano
Building meaningful relationships with donors is key to successful fundraising, but it takes skill, empathy, and strategy. In this video, we are joined by Kacie Sassano, Co-Founder and President of The Proper Group, to dive into the art of donor relations—exploring techniques for building trust, maintaining transparent communication, and creating lasting partnerships that go beyond just a single gift.
BIGGEST DOS & DON’TS FOR FUNDRAISERS
From Katie Grogan, Kacie Sassano, and Elizabeth “Liza” Yntema
Embracing the Zigzag: The Nonlinear Path of an Arts Career
With Danni Gee
In this episode of Raising the Barre, we’re thrilled to present an insightful interview with Danni Gee, the Director of Programming at the renowned Joyce Theater. Throughout our conversation, Danni shares her journey, shedding light on the triumphs and trials she has encountered in her personal life and professional career. She offers listeners invaluable perspectives on how to stay motivated and persevere, even when faced with significant challenges.
Top Ten Ways To Survive the Zigzag
From Danni Gee
Creating the Performing Arts Center of the 21st Century with Rachel S. Moore
With Rachel S. Moore
On this episode of Raising the Barre, Rachel S. Moore, President and CEO of The Music Center, discusses the complexities of venue programming, including performance curation and audience engagement.
Creating the Performing Arts Center of the 21st Century
From Rachel S. Moore
Creating an Effective Community Engagement Program
With Adam W. McKinney
On this episode of Raising the Barre, Adam W. McKinney, the Artistic Director of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, joins us to discuss ways to create community engagement programs and the importance of identifying the needs of the greater ecosystem.
Creating an Effective Community Engagement Program
From Adam W. McKinney
Rescue, Recovery & Re-Birth:
Reimagining a Company
With Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell
In this two-part interview, Liza speaks with Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, about reimagining the company model and the art of the turnaround.
The Art of the Turnaround:
Rescue, Recovery, and Re-Birth – Reimagining a Company
Dream Big:
Realizing a Vision by Founding a Company and Choreographing an Opera
With Jawole Willa Jo Zollar
This special edition episode of Raising the Barre features a conversation with Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, pioneering company founder of Urban Bush Women and recent director/choreographer of the Houston Grand Opera’s production of “Intelligence.” Jawole shares her path to success with a production of an opera’s grand scale, her work alongside female production staff, and things to look out for when breaking into the opera scene.
Point by Pointe
This special edition of the newsletter celebrates the choreographers, directors, and musicians who incorporate dance into operas, musicals, and other multi-disciplinary performances.
Raising the Barre:
Creating an Open Door Policy: A Revolutionary Approach to Building Trust and Community
With Shane Jewell
In this next episode of Season 2 of Raising the Barre, Oregon Ballet Theatre Executive Director Shane Jewell discusses his actions to build transparency and relationships within the community while supporting the artistic director’s creative vision.
How an Open Door Policy Fosters an Effective Work Culture
from Shane Jewell
Raising the Barre:
Importance of Having a Media Plan/Media Training for Team/Board
With Anne Kavanagh
In this episode, Anne and Liza discuss the importance of media training for your team and board and how a media plan can impact your organization.
MEDIA TRAINING INTERVIEW TIPS
from Anne Kavanagh
Raising the Barre:
Working with Boards to Diversify Searches and Overcome Unconscious Bias
With Geoff Chang
Welcome to Season Two of Raising the Barre. Joining us is Geoff Chang, Vice-President and Executive Search Practice Leader of Arts Consulting Group to kick off our latest round of programming. In this episode, Geoff and Liza discuss ways Boards of Directors can diversify their searches and work to overcome unconscious bias.
E. Andrew Taylor, Associate Professor of Arts Management, American University, Washington, DC.
A Road Map To
Equity
from Geoff Chang
Raising the Barre: Year 1
Raising the Barre:
The Importance of Crisis Communications and Strategy
With Shannon Riggs of FINN Partners
In this edition of Raising the Barre, Dance Data Project® founder Elizabeth Yntema speaks with Shannon Riggs about crisis communication strategies and the importance of having a plan in place.
Communicating Through a Crisis
Respond – Reassure – Resolve – Recover
with Shannon Riggs of FINN Partners
Raising the Barre:
So You Got the Offer, Now What?
With Jacqueline Gerrald
In this edition of Raising the Barre , Dance Data Project® founder Elizabeth Yntema speaks with Jacqueline Gerrald about what to do after you get an offer.
So You Got the Offer, Now What?
10 Dos and Don’ts
from Jacqueline Gerrald
Raising the Barre:
Building a Successful Choreographer and Manager Relationship
With Helen Pickett and Kristopher McDowell
In this special edition Raising the Barre interview, Dance Data Project® Research Lead & Programming Consultant Rebecca Ferrell speaks with Helen Pickett and Kristopher McDowell about building a successful choreographer and manager relationship.
Building a Successful Choreographer and Manager Relationship
With Helen Pickett and Kristopher McDowell
Raising the Barre:
Collaborative Approaches to Leadership Transitions
With Jodie Gates and Victoria Morgan
In this interview, Dance Data Project® President and Founder, Elizabeth Yntema speaks with Jodie Gates and Victoria Morgan about collaborative approaches to leadership transitions.
Collaborative Approaches to Leadership Transitions
With Jodie Gates and Victoria Morgan
Raising the Barre:
The Art of Programming a Season
With Susan Jaffe
In this interview, Dance Data Project® President and Founder, Elizabeth Yntema and Susan Jaffe, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre, discuss the art of programming a season.
The Art of Programming a Season
With Susan Jaffe
Raising the Barre:
Interview with Dacquiri Baptiste and Harris Ferris
In this interview, Dance Data Project® President and Founder, Elizabeth Yntema sits down with Dacquiri Baptiste, Vice President and COO of the Orpheum Theatre Group and Harris Ferris, former Executive Director of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and consultant, to discuss running the budgets of large arts organizations.
How to Navigate the Budget Rapids
Raising the Barre:
Interview with David Mallette
In this interview, Dance Data Project® President and Founder, Elizabeth Yntema and David Mallette, President of Management Consultants for the Arts, discuss the “Dos” and “Don’ts” of the search process, from preparing your materials, interviewing, and following up post-interview.
Ten Search Dos and Don’ts
Raising the Barre: Interview with Lauren Cramer
Raising the Barre: Curriculum for the Next Generation of Leadership in Dance offers creative solutions to properly equip female dance leaders of the future with vital skills to strengthen their careers. This free series will be accessible on the DDP website with each session accompanied by a tangible resource. Viewers can watch, and rewatch each episode and utilize the assets to compile a robust toolkit to build their careers.
In this first interview, Dance Data Project® President and Founder, Elizabeth Yntema and Lauren B. Cramer, partner at the New York law firm of McLaughlin & Stern, discuss the processes and documents vital to starting a dance company, a festival, or a touring production.
Dance Company In A Box
The following suite of documents were created by Lauren Cramer to assist in starting a company, a festival, or a touring production.
- Certificate of Incorporation: The document issued by the state government which provides authorization to form a corporation.
- Bylaws: Those rules that determine the nonprofit company’s structure to help guide and regulate its activities.
- SS-4: The form submitted to the IRS providing the basic makeup of the newly formed corporation. The IRS uses the form to grant an Employer Identification Number.
- Conflicts of Interest Policy: Mandatory state and IRS policy for the company to navigate potential conflicts of interest for its Directors, Officers and key decision making persons. This is to ensure that that the mission is number one and not personal benefit.
- Annual Disclosure: Best practices and mandatory in some states. Individual company board directors, officers and key persons provide list of business and volunteer relationships for transparency which ensure that potential conflicts of interest are made known in writing (comply with the conflict of interest policy).
- Code of Conduct: A set of rules which outlines the rules, responsibilities and proper practices of the Company.
- Independent Contractor Agreements: A contract that lays out the terms of a person hired, (not as an employee) but as an independent contractor which spells outlines their obligations, scope, and deadlines of the work which has been agreed by everyone.
- Covid Agreement: A contract that releases the Company of liability and waives a participant’s right to seek or take legal action from all claims, demands, and losses which might relate to COVID-19.
- Mutual Non-Disclosure: A confidentiality agreement between two or more people (including the Company, dancers, artists or other participants) to share and receive private information relating to the Company’s operations, work, or relationships.
- Additional Company COI Language: When you complete a standard form provided by any state, often there is no space on the form for the language you need; here is an example of further descriptive mission language (or later in this form for the mandatory IRS language).
Another wonderful resource can be found from Exponent Philanthropy, Foundation Recordkeeping: A Quick Guide.
Conversations from Raising the Barre
