Organizational Culture
The essence of our art form is rooted in human connection, synergy and togetherness. In every single Atlanta Ballet class, rehearsal, performance, meeting or event we witness the magic that occurs when a group of individuals with different backgrounds, complexions and mindsets comes together to create art. To see this kind of magic reach its full potential throughout the entire organization, Atlanta Ballet strives to achieve the following:
· For the composition of the Atlanta Ballet community to more fully reflect the diversity of our great region
· For our performances to attract and resonate with Atlanta’s diverse communities
· For everyone who works at Atlanta Ballet to feel valued for their contributions and competencies
· For everyone in the Atlanta Ballet community, including students and their families at the Centre, to have a sense of belonging, regardless of race, color, gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic background, religion, or sexual orientation
As the State Ballet of Georgia and the largest professional ballet company in the region, we understand the importance of better reflecting the demographics of our community and providing our young audiences with opportunities to see people who look like them on-stage and behind-the-scenes. While Atlanta Ballet is proud to attract an international and diverse company of professional dancers, we acknowledge that, on stage, we aspire to better reflect the racial diversity of the region our company represents.
To these ends, Atlanta Ballet has been working systematically and with resolve for quite some time. In 2018, Atlanta Ballet commissioned an independent assessment to examine areas in which the overall organizational culture might be improved. Among the initiatives taken by Atlanta Ballet are the following:
· Atlanta Ballet participated in the first cohort of The Equity Project - a three-year national partnership program to support the advancement of racial equity in professional ballet companies.
· Atlanta Ballet also established a Transformation Team, which evolved into a task force and eventually a standing committee of the Board to help plan and monitor internal culture and community impact.
· In 2017 Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education restructured its pre-professional training program as a way to bridge the gap between education and opportunities for employment. A primary focus of the Academy is to proactively recruit and train qualified students of all backgrounds and to provide support and guidance for young dancers.
· Those dancers who have the talent, mindset and commitment required to become a professional dancer will receive invitations to the training program, starting with Academy and continuing beyond the Academy levels.
· The Centre for Dance Education provides merit scholarships, financial aid, as well as developmental and social support for these dancers, as appropriate.
· The Centre for Dance Education trains these select young dancers with the ultimate goal of nurturing dancers for the professional Company at Atlanta Ballet and the worldwide stage.
· By heightening the quality of training and offering a balanced repertoire featuring classical, neoclassical and contemporary dance styles, Atlanta Ballet’s profile will continue to rise, making it even more attractive to a diverse corps of dancers.
Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education’s “Decade 2 Dance” Initiative
· Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education has also prioritized a groundbreaking initiative, entitled “Decade 2 Dance,” ensuring that dancers from under-represented communities have the opportunity to participate alongside their peers.
· On average, it takes 10 years for a ballet student to become a classically trained, professional dancer. With those statistics in mind, this new initiative offers dancers as young as eight years old the training, mentorship and academic support required to sustain a professional dancer’s decade-long journey to success.
Expanding Auditioning and Recruitment Events
· In a concerted effort to discover talented and more diverse dancers, Atlanta Ballet and its Centre for Dance Education regularly host and attend top auditions and competitions for the professional and training companies on a local, national and international level.
Diverse Artistic Programming
· Atlanta Ballet aims to pursue artistic programming that resonates with the diverse communities of Atlanta by commissioning choreographers, designers and artists who represent different backgrounds and dance styles.
· Atlanta Ballet also has a goal to regularly collaborate with other Atlanta-based artists and organizations, bringing other talents, voices and perspectives to the stage.
Peer Mentorship Program
· Atlanta Ballet welcomes each new employee with a peer mentor to support their onboarding experience, foster open communication, and facilitate training and access to organizational resources.
Employee Hiring & Board Recruiting Practices
· All open positions are posted to encourage a diverse applicant pool. Practicing inclusive recruitment will help the Atlanta Ballet team grow efficiently, create happier employees, build stronger and more effective teams, and forge a more innovative environment.
· All positions are advertised with a salary range to ensure transparency in compensation equity.
· Atlanta Ballet continues to build a diverse Board of Trustees and diverse Advisory Council that reflect the Atlanta community.