Dear DDP Family,
As the 2021-22 performance season nears an end, the world of dance in general and ballet in specific are beginning to release their 2022-2023 season announcements. We will be reporting on these in our upcoming "First Look” report. To date, I have been disappointed that women are marginalized into creating studio/second company works, or are awarded, for the most part, smaller mixed rep commissions instead of the full evening and world premieres that continue to be the golden ring claimed almost exclusively by a small group of (white) men.
Apparently a “return to normal” means…(sigh, yawn) “More of the Same." There is some wonderful news, however, that clearly demonstrates the impact of DDP’s research and influence since our first Report in February 2019.
We are delighted by the recent appointment of longtime DDP friend, Susan Jaffe, to artistic director of American Ballet Theatre. An ally/supporter of our work, Susan Jaffe invited me to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 2021 to meet Aszure Barton for our 20th Listening Tour visit. There, I was lucky to witness firsthand the work Jaffe has done to highlight female choreography, support female dancers, and advocate for company members who are mothers and caregivers. With this new appointment, she will be leading the third largest-budgeted ballet company in the United States and will have a far-reaching impact on the distribution of opportunities in the ballet world.
With Tamara Rojo poised to take over as artistic director of San Francisco Ballet and Lourdes Lopez continuing at Miami City Ballet, the number of female artistic directors at the largest 10 U.S. ballet companies will jump from one to three by the end of 2022. Let’s watch how Rojo and Jaffe elevate female voices and hope Ms. Lopez at Miami City Ballet opens her mind to new artistic voices.
This edition of our newsletter highlights our recent research, our major feature in the New York Times, upcoming commissions by female choreographers, and interviews with leading creative voices in dance.
In this issue, we have the following features:
- Company Profile
- Ballez
- Choreographer Profile
- Natasha Adorlee
- News from the Field
- Resources from Sexual Assault Awareness Month
- Women’s History Month Partner Organizations
- Board Member Features
For now, I look forward to seeing what this summer and next season have in store. We have HUGE plans for Dance Data Project® in 2022-2023, so stay tuned!
Yours,
Liza
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The Latest in DDP Research |
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Since the beginning of 2022, DDP has investigated the experiences of female dance professors as well as the gender distribution of resident choreographers at companies around the world.
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- 66% of the deans studied were men and 34% were women.
- At the lower-ranking position of program director/coordinator, 21% were men and 79% were women.
- Only 12% of deans with jurisdiction over dance departments have a background in dance.
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- Of the 79 resident choreographers studied, 68% were men and 32% were women.
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While female choreographers are outnumbered in both global and U.S. ballet companies, within the Largest 50 U.S. Contemporary & Modern Dance Companies 50% of resident choreographers are female.
- This group operates with approximately 23% of the operating expenses of the Largest 50 U.S. Ballet Companies.
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The following breakdown shows how resident choreographers are distributed within the categories of dance companies: |
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In our third annual report of dance festival leadership and programming, DDP focused on expanding the range of our research to incorporate global festivals as well as new modes of dance performances, such as dance film. |
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- 69% of the festivals we studied were led by women and 31% were led by men.
- On average, festivals studied in 2021 programmed 45% works by women.
- Female-led festivals program 49% works choreographed by women.
- Male-led festivals program only 38% works choreographed by women.
- 36% of world premieres at festivals studied in 2021 were choreographed by women, compared to 47% choreographed by men.
- Festivals sampled in 2021 programmed 15% more choreographic work by women than the festivals sampled in 2019.
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In these first few months of 2022, Dance Data Project® has been cited in numerous important publications. The most notable of these was our feature in The New York Times this January in which Margaret Fuhrer profiled DDP Founder & President Elizabeth “Liza” Yntema.
The article discusses the “red-pill moment” that prompted Ms. Yntema's decision to found Dance Data Project® in 2015. It also considers the important work we have done since then, the significance of our research, and the future ambitions of DDP.
Take a look below at some of the other publications that have featured DDP so far this year.
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Observer article profiled Lourdes Lopez, artistic director of Miami City Ballet.
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette piece highlighted Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's performance "Here + Now," which featured work by five female choreographers.
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Fortune Magazine's daily newsletter, the Broadsheet, cited DDP to demonstrate that "not being able to find" female directors is a bad excuse for poor board diversity.
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Sightlines article spotlighted Ballet Austin's "Her Story" production, which showcased works by Jennifer Archibald, Jennifer Hart, and Amy Seiwert.
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Jezebel piece on Tamara Rojo's appointment as artistic director of San Francisco Ballet.
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Katy Pyle founded Ballez in 2011 to insert the lineage of lesbian, queer, and transgender people into the ballet canon through the creation of large-scale story ballets, open classes, and public engagement. We had the opportunity to speak with Katy and learn more about their work, the role of gender, sexuality, and identity in ballet, and some upcoming plans for Ballez.
Katy shares: "I am definitely not interested in limiting people to dancing ballet steps only in the way that they were socialized to. I spend a lot of time coaching (even out gender non-conforming and trans) dancers to embrace aspects of their gender that were punished in ballet classes as a youth. It is thrilling to get to see dancers embrace a fuller range of technical and emotional communication through that process."
Read the full interview with Katy here.
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Current Artistic Fellow with Amy Seiwert's Imagery, Natasha Adorlee is a creator based out of San Francisco, CA. Natasha spoke with DDP about her company, Concept o4, her experiences working for Imagery, and her previous work in dance, choreography, filmmaking, and music composition.
Click here to read our full interview with Natasha.
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News from the Field
As we seek to highlight recent and upcoming commissions and performance updates featuring female choreographers at major companies around the world, we are highlighting the following. If you wish to be featured in the next edition of the newsletter, email lwirth@dancedataproject.com.
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From Ballet Hispanico
Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's Doña Perón was presented at New York City Center April 1-3. As the final program honoring Ballet Hispánico's extended celebration of their 50th anniversary, this piece retold the emotional and powerful story of Argentinian actress turned first lady Eva "Evita" Perón. This brilliant portrayal of this legendary historical feature was awarded a New York Times Critic's Pick and Broadway World describes the ballet not just as a performance, but as "an entire universe." Learn more about Ballet Hispánico's upcoming performances here.
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From Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
PBT debuted Artistic Director Susan Jaffe's new production of Swan Lake this May 6. Performances will run until May 15. Jaffe's own dance career included countless performances as Odette-Odile, including ABT performances alongside Mikhail Baryshnikov and guesting performances with companies in Sweden, England, and Vienna. She first performed the role at age 19 and went on to dance in the role every year of her 22-year career.
Only the second female artistic director in the history of PBT, Jaffe has made important strides to uplift and highlight female choreographers, as evidenced by last month's production Here + Now which exclusively featured work by female choreographers. For tickets and more information visit their website here.
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From Carolina Ballet
Carolina Ballet recently presented a program of works choreographed to music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Cécile Chaminade and Philip Glass. The performance featured Lynne Taylor-Corbett’s Nine By Twelve, Zalman Raffael’s 2016 In the Gray to Glass’ “Violin Concerto No.1,” and a new work to Chaminade by Adriana Pierce.
Carolina Ballet's 2021-2022 season featured several female choreographers, including Mariana Oliviera, Adriana Pierce, and Lynne Taylor-Corbett. Next year's season will follow suit, highlighting work by Heather Maloy, Amy Hall Garner, and a returning Lynne Taylor-Corbett.
For more information, visit their website here.
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From Boston Ballet
Co-founder, Artistic Director, and Principal Conductor of the Boston Festival Orchestra, Conductor Alyssa Wang will be conducting Boston Ballet's upcoming performance of Swan Lake. Learn more and get tickets here.
Boston Ballet also recently published this fascinating article on their site, featuring profiles on Stage Manager, Heather Olcott, Desk Electrician, Lauren Scattolini, and Assistant Carpenter/Flyman, Devin Higgins.
Additionally, the company's recent ChoreograpHER program featured both all-female choreographers and costume designers. These designers included Erica Desautels, Lisa Dezmelyk, Harriet Jung, Reid Bartelme, and Sara Marhamo Kirk. Choreographers included Tiler Peck, Claudia Schreier, Shantell Martin, Lia Cirio, and Melissa Toogood.
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From Dallas Black Dance Theatre
During Dallas Black Dance Theatre's 45th season, 36% of works were choreographed by female artists. These women included Nycole Ray, Christen Reyes, Elisa Monte, Hope Boykin, Madison Olandt, and Nejla Y. Yatkin.
The company also recently began initiatives to advance the accessibility of arts education in a post-pandemic world and to make virtual performance viewing options a permanent part of its business model. To learn more about their work and purchase tickets for their upcoming performances, visit their website here.
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From Didy Veldman
Natalia Osipova stars in the upcoming contemporary production of CARMEN, choreographed by Didy Veldman and produced by Bird&Carrot. This reworking of a classic story fuses dramatic choreography and a creative narrative while showcasing the world-class dancing of Ospiva as well as Isaac Hernández, Jason Kittelberger, Hannah Ekholm, and Eryck Brahmania. The performance will open in London on May 27 and 28 at the Southbank Centre. Tickets and more information are available here.
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From Tallahassee Ballet
In June of 2021, The Tallahassee Ballet moved into a new 14,000-square-feet facility in response to the City's plans to demolish the complex they had previously called home. Amid financial difficulties caused by the pandemic, CEO Janet Pichard found a new location for the company. Artistic Director Tyrone Brooks says that the new facility has given the company "renewed energy toward a future bright with innovation.” We cannot wait to see what's next for this ever-growing and innovating company. Learn more here.
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From Eva Stone
Choreographer, curator, and teaching artist Eva Stone will be setting her work F O I L on Eugene Ballet for their 2022/2023 season.
Additionally, together with StoneDance Productions, Stone will present WANDER/WONDER: a sculptured dance happening at the Price Sculpture Park on Whidbey Island, WA in August of 2022. Learn more about her previous and upcoming work here.
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From Hubbard Street
Wrapping up their 2021/2022 season, Hubbard Street will be presenting their Summer Series: RE/UNION this May 12-15. They will be premiering two programs, the first with an evening-length work by Ohad Naharin’s titled Decadance/Chicago and featuring excerpts from some of his most celebrated pieces.
The second program will feature the premiere of Ne Me Quitte Pas by Spenser Theberge, Aszure Barton’s BUSK, Ohad Naharin's George & Zalman, and Amy Hall Garner’s latest work for Hubbard Street, As the Wind Blows. Learn more about both programs and purchase tickets here.
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From Ballet Idaho
In March, Ballet Idaho presented "Anthology," which featured 5 world premieres and highlighted work by Nicole Haskins, Robyn Mineko Williams, Alice Klock with Florian Lochner, and Yusha-Marie Sorzano. A work by Garrett Anderson in that program also featured costume design by Elizabeth Barreto, with support from Wardrobe Director Keri Fitch.
Led by Nicole Haskins, Ballet Idaho's Trainee Program also recently presented their annual performance with choreography by Haskins, alongside female company members Anissa Bailis, Megumi Nishimori, Kaelyn Lefferts. Click here for tickets and more information
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From Oklahoma City Ballet
Oklahoma City Ballet principal dancer and choreographer DaYoung Jung premiered a piece entitled Composition as part of Oklahoma City Ballet's "Future Voices" choreographic showcase. This performance gave 8 different choreographers the opportunity to create world premieres on the company. Learn more about DaYoung and her work here.
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From A&A Ballet
Anna Reznik, Founder and Director of A&A BALLET, has been awarded the Outstanding Teacher Award at YAGP in 2007, 2017, and 2018. For her work, she has also received Achievement Award in Culture from the Chicago Sister Cities International. From 2009 to 2016, Reznik was also a Founding Artistic Director of the Joffrey Academy of Dance and the Joffrey Studio Company.
Under both her leadership and that of Artistic Director Alexei Kremnev, students of A&A BALLET have been accepted into companies around the world, including American Ballet Theater, Houston Ballet, Princess Grace Academy of Monaco, Bolshoi Ballet, Colorado Ballet, BalletMet and Sarasota Ballet. This upcoming May 14, A&A BALLET will be presenting The Carnival of the Animals and The Firebird as part of a new Family Dance Series at the Athenaeum. Click here for tickets and more information.
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From Jacob's Pillow
This coming August, Liz Lerman's Wicked Bodies will be performed as part of Jacob's Pillow Festival 2022. Developed in a Pillow Lab residency, this is a multidisciplinary piece designed specifically for a unique setting on the grounds of Jacob's Pillow.
The work creates a world of old crones, shape-shifters, familiars, and imps and explores how bodies become sources of evil and power. Jacob's Pillow Festival 2022 takes place from June 22 to August 28 and Lerman's work will run from August 10-13. Head here to learn more and purchase tickets.
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From Anna Mueller
This May 6-8, Ballet Idaho's Associate Artistic Director Anne Mueller premiered Peter and the Wolf alongside Bruce Wells' Beauty and the Beast. Featuring new scenic design by Andrew Boyd and costume design by Mark Zappone, Mueller's Peter and the Wolf showcased both technical detail and whimsical creativity. Head here for more information about Mueller and this work.
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DDP is proud to offer a compilation of online resources focused on student and professional dancer safety in regard to sexual harassment and assault. In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April, we've highlighted a few of the guidelines for ballet and dance schools related to student safety, reporting, and policy.
When at the studio, best practices include, but are not limited to:
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Keep separate restrooms and dressing rooms for staff and students. Never permit an opposite gendered student or teacher/administrator or faculty member to enter the dressing room for any reason. |
No teacher or person in power should provide any services such as “therapy” or massage, except designated trained personnel. |
Establish a system in which at least two staff members are present when meeting privately with students.
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Ask for consent before correcting a student with touch in classes, rehearsals, and/or coaching sessions. |
Institute a Code of Conduct that is required to be signed annually by staff and students and anyone teaching or working with students or company members. |
Create a ”Sexual Harassment” reporting protocol that is simple and clear for students, parents, trainees, and company members that does not include faculty or administrator on staff with direct supervision of students or company members. |
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The complete Sexual Assault Awareness and Safety Checklist is available here.
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Women's History Month Partner Organizations |
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AWA DANCE, Advancing Women’s Aspirations with Dance
Advancing Women's Aspirations with Dance is a UK-based charity whose mission is to advance the leadership of all women and girls through the transformative power of dance, to ignite the change they want to see in the world. Founder and Director Avatâra Ayuso is a choreographer, cultural leader and activist with a belief in the power of dance and a commitment to creating opportunities for the female voice to be heard.
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Black Girls Dance®
Black Girls Dance® is committed to cultivating, empowering, and supporting women as they pursue their dream of performing, while also granting monetary scholarships to pre-professionals so they can train at the studio or institution of their choice!
Erine Barnett, Founder and Director of Black Girls Dance®, is a teacher, choreographer, and former professional dancer as well as an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Northwestern University. The 5th annual Black Girls Dance Conference is taking this coming June and will provide workshop experiences and the chance to win a $1000 scholarship for a dancer continuing their studies. Learn more about this amazing opportunity and the other work being done by this incredible organization here. |
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The Lost Women of Science Initiative
The Lost Women of Science Initiative is a non-profit educational organization with an overarching goal of inspiring girls and young women -- especially those from communities chronically underrepresented in the STEM professions -- to embark on careers in STEM.
A long-time reporter for The New York Times, Katie Hafner is the Host and Executive Producer of The Lost Women of Science podcast. Having written about women in STEM for the past 30 years, Hafner is the author of six works of non-fiction and the host of Our Mothers Ourselves. The Lost Women of Science podcast produces four multi-episode seasons per year, with each season focusing on a different heroic woman of science. Check out the podcast and learn more about this amazing organization here. |
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We are excited to feature the incredible members of our Board of Directors! |
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Patrick Crocker
Board President
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Erica Edwards
Vice President
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Margaret "Lisa" Shanahan
Treasurer
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Click here to learn more about our amazing board of directors!
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Upcoming Research
May 2022
"First Look" New Season Report
June 2022
Largest 50 U.S. Ballet Companies & Scope of the Industry
Artistic and Executive Director Salary Increases Data Byte
Artistic & Executive Leadership Report
Upcoming Resources
Lauren Cramer's Company In a Box: A Checklist of Documents for Forming and Operating a Dance Company
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Created by Lydia Wirth
Header Artwork by Elliana Given
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