There are works you create, complete, and eventually leave behind. Then there are works that remain with you because you know, somewhere beneath what made it to the stage, there is still something unresolved. Gatsby has always been that kind of work for me. Revisiting it at the top of my 10th anniversary season with Ballet Arkansas feels particularly meaningful because this production is not simply a return to something we have done before. It is an opportunity to confront th

The physical demands placed on professional dancers today are extraordinary. Ballet has always required strength, stamina, flexibility, coordination, and tremendous discipline, but the vocabulary dancers are being asked to perform continues to expand. Classical work has become increasingly athletic, contemporary choreography often pushes the body in entirely different ways, and dancers may move between those worlds repeatedly within a single season. We ask for greater range o

Across the country, some of our most important performing arts institutions occupy buildings conceived for a particular idea of cultural life. The architecture varies, but the basic experience is remarkably consistent. Audiences arrive through a formal entrance, gather in a lobby, enter an auditorium, take their assigned seats, watch a performance, and leave. Artists and audiences occupy largely separate worlds. Rehearsal rooms are hidden backstage or elsewhere entirely. Admi

There is a peculiar habit in the performing arts: before inviting someone to experience something unfamiliar, we often feel compelled to explain it to them. We provide the synopsis, introduce the choreographer, explain the historical context, define the vocabulary, and offer program notes, pre-performance talks, educational materials, and an increasing assortment of resources intended to help audiences understand what they are about to see. There is considerable value in all

Leading a dance organization requires a constant awareness of what I think of as the four P’s: performers, programming, patrons, and policy. Each plays a different role in the health of an organization, but none can operate successfully for very long without the others. The balance among them is delicate. In the arts, it can be tempting to allow whichever need is most immediate to become the most important. A production demands attention, a dancer needs support, ticket sales

Rethinking Governance in a Changing Arts Sector A short consulting engagement this year began with a relatively straightforward conversation about organizational structure and eventually became a much broader discussion about the state of governance in the arts. The initial questions were familiar ones: Is the board structured appropriately? Are committees working? Are responsibilities clear? Does the board understand where governance ends and management begins? Are the right

As the 26|27 season begins, I believe the most useful conversation for arts leaders is neither that the industry is in crisis nor that it has finally recovered from the disruption of the last several years. Both descriptions are too simple. What we are experiencing is a significant financial and consumer recalibration, and some of the most important indicators remain unresolved. From the perspective of an Executive Artistic Director, I find this moment particularly interestin

In today’s United States economy, volatility has perhaps become a familiar headline. Persistent inflationary pressure reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, elevated interest rates maintained by the Federal Reserve to cool demand, and continued market fluctuations tracked by major indices such as the S&P 500 have shaped consumer psychology in tangible ways. While unemployment remains comparatively stable, household purchasing behavior has shifted toward caution. Dis

The art of teaching ballet in today’s world has never been more important—or more complex. As educators, we carry a responsibility that...

Ballet Arkansas Company Artists, Meredith Loy and Aldrin Vendt in the titles roles of Romeo & Juliet. A year ago, we made history at...

In times of political and socioeconomic uncertainty, the arts—particularly dance—have the unique ability to bring people together,...

The Importance of Early and Consistent Training in Allegro Jumps for Classical Ballet In the demanding world of classical ballet,...

Community vs. Capitalism: Keeping the Arts Accessible in a Monetized World In today’s world, where nearly every aspect of life seems to...

As artistic directors and CEOs, it’s common to concentrate on your own company’s objectives, mission, and challenges. Nevertheless,...