It’s become a meme: “You can’t make this stuff up.”
That was my reaction to American Ballet Theatre’s late-in-the-day scramble, yesterday, onto the #metoo bandwagon. The company’s bumbling response to being called out for nearly 30 years of institutional sexism resulting in the marginalization — if not exclusion — of women from the artistic and managerial ranks of our national ballet company is to launch a “multi-year initiative” called “ABT Women’s Movement.”
Per the press release,
American Ballet Theatre announced the formation of the ABT Women’s Movement, a multi-year initiative to support the creation, exploration and staging of new works by female choreographers for ABT and the ABT Studio Company. The initiative was announced today by ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.
The ABT Women’s Movement will support at least three female choreographers each season to create new works for American Ballet Theatre. In most years, one work will be designated for ABT’s main company, one for the ABT Studio Company and one will be a work-in-process workshop for ABT or Studio Company dancers. Each choreographer will work with her respective group of dancers for a two-to-five week period, receiving guidance and feedback from ABT’s artistic staff.
Hold onto your bloomers, girls. Let’s make like Michael Avenatti and read that fine print. “In most years” the works will be produced. That leaves ABT the option to relegate choreography by women to the dreaded dead-end of ‘work-in-progress.’ What a hollow promise. Either hire choreographers or don’t. Ostensibly the production decision (yea or nay) will arise from an assessment by ABT’s “artistic staff” (none of whom is a choreographer) who will provide the women with “guidance and feedback.”
Would they dare to put that in writing for a male choreographer? So belittling!
The selected few (this whole thing feels like women are Martians visiting from Planet X) includes Michelle Dorrance and Jessica Lang, both creating new works, and a restaging by Lauren Lovette. In addition, there will be a restaging of Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room. That seminal work first entered ABT’s repertory in 1986 as an exciting new ballet by a cutting-edge choreographer working in an unprecedented genre-mix (following her Deuce Coupe for the Joffrey). Now it belongs in the ‘woman’ bin. This perception matters in dance history and in the eyes of the public. I object.
It also begs the question: Will Tharp, as well, receive ABT’s guidance and feedback? That’s laughable.
McKenzie told the New York Times: “I realized at the beginning of last year that my future plans for the next three years included a majority of women … I thought, we’re doing this anyway — why don’t we formalize it?”
May I offer guidance and feedback? Why don’t you not formalize it, Mr. McKenzie. Another way to go would be to act with some humility and rectify this wrong, rather than promulgate empty, really unconscionable, self-praise. This imperiousness, typical of the corporate dance world (we can now safely call ABT that), is how we got to this point in the first place. Next up: ABT’s ‘initiative’ toward black choreographers.
Did Dorrance, Lang, and Lovette agree to be used as pawns and tokens by ABT? (Also wondering if Tharp signed off for In the Upper Room as part of it.) Because that kind of approval is what you get when you actually have power, rather than having power conferred upon you by men.
I am guessing the choreographers simply want a job — and to be treated the same as men.
Thanks Debra for this to the point article. Having lived (and worked) during the period of male dominated ballet, I applaud your forthrightness as it has needed to be said. Too many were fearful to rock the boat.
Debra,
Bravo for saying what you’ve said. Many of us “female choreographers” have been fighting the good fight for so long…. and this ABT news just adds to the realization that the good fight must continue. (It’s exhausting sometimes.) Let me know if you and others on this list plan to continue with this particular ABT issue–send your letter to NY Times, Dance Mag, etc., as suggested by Gina Buntz, perhaps signed by a plethora of voices.
What a great article Debra. Thank you.
Gina. It seems that the infantilization that is so part of early dance training is a lifelong condition. You, and the way you instruct, are an exception to this rule. It is for our generation to speak out. But so many in the dance world are mute and afraid — like children.
You’ve written an extremely important article that needs to be published in the NY Times, Dance Magazine, etc. Why so much of the dance world is mute about this is beyond me yet typical of a field where silence is perceived as not only golden but necessary for survival. Time to kick it up a notch and you, Debra, just did that. Keep it going!
Oh Mr. Man, guide me and feedback me. I am so unworthy.
Flies eat popcorn and they also take cellphone photos.
Oh, my. I want to be a fly on the wall the minute some man tries to give Twyla Tharp “guidance and feedback.” Wait…. Can flies eat popcorn?
Ah, the guidance and feedback. We women are so un-tutored in dance (especially ballet) that we need someone to tell us when we are doing it well… and when we are not. So insulting.
Thanks for your note, Tom. I agree that these nuances matter very much at this moment in our cultural history. If ABT had just kept its head down rather than crowing like this, it would not have begged your very relevant questions. Debra
Thanks so much for this insightful response. The article does not mention who the mentors will be. I wonder how many will be women, will they be of stature? Was this initiative created and led by women? So many questions….thanks for putting all these thoughts in my head!