André Solomon’s Post

🚀 How New York City Ballet is Winning Over Young Audiences! New York City Ballet has had some clear success in attracting a younger crowd to performances. Here’s some of the key strategies they've been using: 🔹 Affordable Tickets: With the 30-for-30 program, anyone under 30 can snag any seat for just $30. They seem to be making ballet more accessible and more affordable for, well, more people. 🔹 Social Events for Young Professionals: Fun, post-show receptions and special evenings are turning ballet nights into social hotspots, perfect for networking and a great night out. 🔹 Cool Collaborations: Teaming up with artists like Solange has brought a fresh, youthful vibe to their performances, drawing in folks who might not have considered ballet before. 🔹 Engaging on Social Media: Dancers like Tiler Peck are sharing their lives on Instagram, making ballet dancers relatable and their art form more approachable. 🔹 Diverse and Inclusive Performances: By showcasing works from choreographers of color and featuring a diverse cast, they’re ensuring more people can see themselves represented on stage. 🔹 Focus on Wellness: Highlighting the importance of physical and mental health resonates with young audiences who prioritize well-being. The results? A big jump in younger ticket buyers, especially those in their 30s. New York City Ballet is not just reaching a younger audience—they’re winning over new fans who never thought they’d love ballet. Kudos to Jonathan Stafford, Wendy Whelan, and their whole team for opening the doors of ballet to a new generation! 🌟 The arts - yes, even ballet - are a place where everyone can feel welcome and excited to explore. #Ballet #AudienceDevelopment #PerformingArts #YouthEngagement #NYCB #InnovationInArts #CulturalDiversity #SocialMediaSuccess

🌟 50 stories for 50 years 🌟 Ruth Mair Howard-Jones is a visionary choreographer, award-winning educator and producer recognised for her pioneering work in ballet and dedication to promoting gender equity within the arts. Her advice for dancers considering their career development: “Don’t let anyone define you or stop you. Your happiest moments will be when your dreams and reality meet, so hang on to that dream and make it happen.” Ruth Mair’s journey began at age 11 with ballet training at Tring Park (Arts Educational), followed by scholarships to Central School of Ballet, London Studio Centre, RADA and Italy’s Academia Teatro alla Scala. She holds the RAD Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma (DCD supported) and certifications in Pilates and soft tissue therapy. Ruth Mair has established a diverse career that bridges classical ballet, musicals and commercial media, with credits spanning live TV, major films and stage shows. A versatile artist, she has carved out a niche by blending rigorous classical form with contemporary and socially relevant themes. Ruth Mair’s teaching has been foundational at Pineapple Dance Studios, where she co-created the Pineapple Master Class series with Debbie Moore OBE, and continues to produce, choreograph and stage events. She also inspires students internationally through private coaching and The Jones Academy, with students advancing to top institutions and prestigious competitions including The Fonteyn and Prix de Lausanne. Ruth Mair’s work with The Jones Ballet fuses her classical and modern expertise to create choreographies that blend powerful social commentary with the strengths of ballet’s formal disciplines. Her dance film Sono Con Te, featuring Mayara Magri, and her work on dance films and musicals has garnered several awards, and critical acclaim. Ruth Mair’s commitment to expanding women’s roles in ballet companies and advocating for gender balance is woven into her work. She is the Founder Director and Producer of the “Women’s international festival of choreography WIFC” and has collaborated with producer Yuki Zemba on initiatives including the British Ballet Extravaganza, bringing British ballet to audiences in Japan. Upcoming projects include a choreographic residency in Italy, a summer school for graduates, professionals and adults, and company tours in Japan, the UK and Europe. 50 stories for 50 years: sharing the career development stories of 50 incredible individuals supported by DCD during our first 50 years. #WhatNextWednesdays #50StoriesFor50Years

What do Mariinsky Ballet’s Kimin Kim, Paris Opéra Ballet’s Sae Eun Park, Dutch National Ballet principal Young Gyu Choi, and American Ballet Theatre’s Joo Won Ahn, Sung Woo Han, and SunMi Park have in common? All are alumni of South Korea’s Korea National University of the Arts and/or the affiliated Korea National Institute for Gifted in Arts, collectively known as K-Arts. We spoke to Professor Sun Hee Kim about the school’s method of establishing a foundation for dancers and a typical day for students. Head to the link below for the full article! 🌟 https://lnkd.in/deArAQKw

🎭 Communication Takes Centre Stage at Queensland Ballet 🩰 Queensland Ballet's announcement of the departure of Artistic Director Leanne Benjamin was a MASTERCLASS in effective communication. Ms Benjamin had only recently been appointed, so her early departure was not great news. 👏 Here’s how Queensland Ballet got it right in 5 steps: 1. CLARITY & DIRECTNESS: They delivered the news with respect, grace and consideration. 2. CONTENT & REASONING: They explained the situation transparently and with clarity, leaving the audience in no doubt about what happened and how it was being addressed. 3. EMPATHY & IMPACT: The announcement recognised the impact on Queensland Ballet’s staff and the ballet community. 4. FORWARD-LOOKING & PROCESS: The roadmap to a solution and next steps were outlined. Certainty comes from clarity and planning. 5. ENGAGEMENT & OPENNESS: A positive and open-ended statement to close off the communication keeps the channel open, respecting staff and fan voices. I get frustrated 😩😡 by the instinct of many leaders to shy away from delivering bad news, opting to sugarcoat or obscure the facts. Queensland Ballet made the brave, intentional choice to acknowledge the issue, transparently share the impact, and proactively define a pathway forward. Nailed in 1! 🏆 Read the announcement here.👇🏾 🔍 Does your organisation have a plan for effectively, empathetically and respectfully communicating news - good and bad? #courageousleadership #communications #strategiccommunications #transparency #QueenslandBallet https://lnkd.in/gAf8dwR6

🌟 50 stories for 50 years 🌟 Ruth Mair Howard-Jones is a visionary choreographer, award-winning educator and producer recognised for her pioneering work in ballet and dedication to promoting gender equity within the arts. Her advice for dancers considering their career development: “Don’t let anyone define you or stop you. Your happiest moments will be when your dreams and reality meet, so hang on to that dream and make it happen.” Ruth Mair’s journey began at age 11 with ballet training at Tring Park (Arts Educational), followed by scholarships to Central School of Ballet, London Studio Centre, RADA and Italy’s Academia Teatro alla Scala. She holds the RAD Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma (DCD supported) and certifications in Pilates and soft tissue therapy. Ruth Mair has established a diverse career that bridges classical ballet, musicals and commercial media, with credits spanning live TV, major films and stage shows. A versatile artist, she has carved out a niche by blending rigorous classical form with contemporary and socially relevant themes. Ruth Mair’s teaching has been foundational at Pineapple Dance Studios, where she co-created the Pineapple Master Class series with Debbie Moore OBE, and continues to produce, choreograph and stage events. She also inspires students internationally through private coaching and The Jones Academy, with students advancing to top institutions and prestigious competitions including The Fonteyn and Prix de Lausanne. Ruth Mair’s work with The Jones Ballet fuses her classical and modern expertise to create choreographies that blend powerful social commentary with the strengths of ballet’s formal disciplines. Her dance film Sono Con Te, featuring Mayara Magri, and her work on dance films and musicals has garnered several awards, and critical acclaim. Ruth Mair’s commitment to expanding women’s roles in ballet companies and advocating for gender balance is woven into her work. She is the Founder Director and Producer of the “Women’s international festival of choreography WIFC” and has collaborated with producer Yuki Zemba on initiatives including the British Ballet Extravaganza, bringing British ballet to audiences in Japan. Upcoming projects include a choreographic residency in Italy, a summer school for graduates, professionals and adults, and company tours in Japan, the UK and Europe. 50 stories for 50 years: sharing the career development stories of 50 incredible individuals supported by DCD during our first 50 years. #WhatNextWednesdays #50StoriesFor50Years

Central School of Ballet has been invited to join the World Dance Education Alliance. The WDEA, founded by Beijing Dance Academy, aims to create a collaborative platform for leading dance and arts education institutions from around the world. Nearly 70 institutions were invited to join, and Central was thrilled to attend the establishment ceremony in Beijing. Dr Jamieson Dryburgh, Director of Higher Education, presented on behalf of the school with an overview of Central entitled 'Nurturing Passion and Talent into Excellence.' We are proud to be collaborating with Beijing Dance Academy. The alliance will afford Central new international relationships with similar dance institutions. Beijing Dance Academy

How Ballet Austin is Turning New Ticket Buyers Into Longtime Fans: IDENTIFY NEWBIES. Ticket scanners play a doorbell sound when a newcomer’s ticket is scanned. It’s an easy way for team members to identify who needs an extra welcome. SURPRISE AND DELIGHT. A designated “social ambassador” offers newcomers a small welcome gift (usually a piece of chocolate) and helps curate their hour before curtain. CREATE UNIQUE TOUCHPOINTS. They offer a series of lobby experiences that allow patrons to connect with the art in whatever ways are most enriching for them. SET THE MOOD WITH MUSIC. A good playlist has the power to significantly enhance the pre-show and post-show atmosphere. The music even follows guests into the parking lot. GIVE PLENTY OF NOTICE. Use real-time texting to notify audiences if there’s heavy traffic or if the parking lot is likely to fill. EMPOWER YOUR STAFF TO PROBLEM SOLVE. If a ticket didn’t print correctly, a Ballet rep goes down the stairs to get the ticket reprinted—not the guest. Read more on Capacity Interactive’s blog: https://lnkd.in/e8VdrMUr

Dancing to the rhythm of leadership (the ballet of consulting)   Consulting seems like a solo journey. But true success lies in continuous collaboration and engaging deeply with various teams.   A ballerina seems alone on stage, under the spotlight. Yet, it’s her role to lead with grace and purpose, supported by an ensemble that echoes her movements. She makes each entrance unique, transferring emotion and captivating the audience.   Isn’t consulting the same art?   The first pitch, the kick off meeting, the Go Live: All depends on your ability to engage the client and transfer the right emotion at the right time.   To make the entrance that counts and becomes unforgettable.   Ballerinas express through elegant movements. Consultants rely on the power of words to create a lasting impact.   The essence is in communication - inspiring others to unite in the dance of collaboration.   Recommendations for leaders in consulting:   ✅ Choreograph your communication ↳ Just as a ballerina plans each movement to tell a story, carefully design your interactions. ↳ Build a narrative that guides your team towards a common goal.   ✅ Practice the Pas de deux of partnership ↳ In ballet, a duet requires trust and coordination. ↳ Institute a similar partnership with your team, relying on each other and working in harmony.   ✅ Cultivate a company of soloists ↳ Every dancer in a ballet has the potential to shine. ↳ Encourage individual strengths within your team. ↳ Allow each member to take the lead when their expertise can spotlight success.   I'm glad that I've had a chance to be on both stages: ballet and consulting. And the best advice I can give is: 🩰 take the stage, embrace the spotlight and let the dance of leadership evolve. -----   If you found this post useful, like 💜 or repost ♻️ to help others grow. -----   P.S. If you like this – you'll enjoy my newsletter, Consulting Bits and Pieces.   Subscribe now, link in my featured section.   Practical tips to propel your consulting career, every Saturday.

When it comes to running a ballet school, you make decisions every. single. day. But it’s easy to get lost in all the small decisions, and accidentally loose sight of the long-term goals you have set as the Artistic Director. All too often, you can get caught up in the quick wins. The things that are going to make an impression “now” but might not last for a long time. When you focus on short-term wins, you can miss out on long-term opportunities. Luckily, there are things you can do to avoid this: 1. Frequently remind yourself of you long-term goals: 🔹 Plan ahead 🔹 Keep your goals in focus 🔹 Don’t let the discomfort of growing deter you from moving forward 2. Get ready to be uncomfortable: 🔹 Don’t let fear hold you back 🔹 Take action before you think you are ready 🔹 Step out of your comfort zone - growth can’t happen when your comfortable 3. Always remember: Hard things are worth achieving 🔹 Be mentally prepared 🔹 Fully understand, the path won’t always be easy 🔹 Anticipate obstacles and learn to course correct to get back on track When you are running a ballet school, some things will be an easy win and others will take time before you see the results you want. But make no mistake: with consistent action towards your goals, you will create the ballet school you always dreamed it could be. 🔹 🔹 🔹 🔹 If your long-term goals include enrolling more students, it would be beneficial to look into ways a copywriter can help you. Hello there, I’m Isabella 👋 a ballet copywriter who help Artistic Directors like you achieve their long-term goals. When we work together, we will look at your goals and develop a strategy to achieve them. We’ll optimize your website to speak directly to the parents, bringing in organic traffic from Google. To learn more about copywriting and how it’ll help your school grow, DM me “Copy” I’m excited to hear about your goals!