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Artistic Director
Ballet Hispanico
New York, New York
Background
Founded by Tina Ramirez in 1970, Ballet Hispanico is among the most respected and accomplished dance institutions in the United States, and it is the premier institution exploring and advancing the passion and theatricality of Hispanic dance and culture. Established first as a small community-based organization, Ms. Ramirez has led the visionary expansion of the organization over its nearly four decades. To date, the Company has performed for over 2 million people on three continents, bringing the richness of contemporary Latino culture to a broad international audience with an original repertory from established Latino choreographers as well as that of emerging and established choreographic artists of varied nationalities. Of the total of 95 works in the Company’s repertoire, fully 77 were commissioned by Ballet Hispanico and originally staged on the Company. Further, the Ballet Hispanico School has trained thousands of students and launched the careers of a number of luminary performers, while both the Company and School have supported a diverse array of educational programming throughout the life of the organization.
Education in all of its forms was a fundamental motivator for the establishment of Ballet Hispanico; indeed, education remains a core value of the institution and is deeply embedded in its programming and in the mindset of the staff, dancers and board. Ballet Hispanico’s programmatic activity falls into three principal areas: 1) the professional Company;
2) The School of Dance; and 3) Primeros Pasos, its community outreach / education initiative. At the conclusion of this profile, please find an addendum with more detailed information on Ballet Hispanico’s three program areas.
Located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Ballet Hispanico occupies a uniquely important place, both geographically and artistically, in the New York cultural landscape. The purpose of this document is to provide both the specifics of Ballet Hispanico’s current context and impending transition to its next artistic director and the profile to inform the search for that director.
The Founder
Tina Ramirez has combined her incomparable artistic vision with years of performance and teaching experience to create and sustain the nation's premiere Hispanic-American dance company and school, Ballet Hispanico. Ms. Ramirez is first and foremost a teacher. Her tenacious drive and clear vision have allowed Ballet Hispanico and its School to thrive for nearly four decades. Following an international performance career, Ms. Ramirez was drawn back to New York to direct a thriving Spanish dance studio, where she began to work with inner city children. At a time when there were no dance organizations for Latinos, she was encouraged both by the skill of her pupils and increasing requests for performances to establish Ballet Hispanico and has served as its sole artistic director during its 38-year history.
This remarkable, four-decade tenure has established her as an iconic figure in the international dance field and in the Hispanic community as well as her home community of New York.
In June of this year, Ms. Ramirez announced that she would retire as the organization’s artistic director at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season. She has worked closely with the board of trustees to insure that this critical transition be implemented as smoothly as possible. Following her retirement, Ms. Ramirez will remain as an advisor to and an ambassador for the institution.
Her recognitions and awards are voluminous. She is a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, the nation’s highest cultural honor, as well as the Dance Magazine Award, Hispanic Heritage Award, and the New York State Governor's Arts Award among many others. Volunteer contributions include serving on the board of trustees for The New 42nd Street, Inc., serving as a co-chair for the New York City Department of Education Dance Curriculum Blueprint Committee, the New York City Advisory Commission for Cultural Affairs, and panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts. A full bio of Ms. Ramirez may be accessed on the Ballet Hispanico website: www.ballethispanico.org - The Company.
The Facility
Ballet Hispanico is headquartered on Manhattan 's Upper West Side, where a recent expansion has provided a total of six bright, spacious dance studios and dressing rooms. While certain studios and dressing rooms have been designated specifically for the professional Company and others for the school, students have the special opportunity to study in close proximity to the superbly talented dancers of the main Company. Located in a quiet, residential area, the facility is the realization of the commonly held vision of Ballet Hispanico leadership: a beautiful, permanent home for future generations of professional dancers, aspiring students and a center devoted to comprehensive dance education. The facility spans two historic carriage houses (still in need of renovation) and four floors in a connected ten-story building. The facilities include public areas and administrative offices in addition to the rehearsal studios.
Current Environment
Ballet Hispanico operates on an annual budget of just under $5 million; approximately 35% of this budget is devoted to the main Company. There are 41 full-time artistic, administrative and production employees and approximately 44 part-time employees. After its recent expansion, operating costs have significantly escalated. This has put a significant drain on organizational resources, and the organization is currently in the process of retiring approximately $1 million in debt (primarily mortgage debt). The staff and board have developed a plan including both enhanced revenue focused on school expansion and contributed revenue as well as reduced operating expenses. The next artistic director will be a key partner in the continuation of the execution of this operational plan. The executive director, Verdery Roosevelt, has been with Ballet Hispanico for 30 years and general manager Derek Munson has been in place for seven years. Many others have also been with the organization for long tenures, although in recent months some key positions have been strengthened with new personnel. These include the school director, Jose Costas, who began in May 2008 and the development director, Marie-Louise Stegall, who joined in 2006. Additionally, a search for a director of education is underway currently; it is anticipated that this position will be filled this winter.
Position Description
This is an extraordinary opportunity for a dynamic, high-energy individual committed to the legacy, values and future of Ballet Hispanico. The artistic director is responsible for advancing the founding vision of the institution and building and sustaining high artistic standards in the organization’s performing, training and education activities. In this capacity, s/he is responsible for all artistic aspects of Ballet Hispanico’s Company, School, and education programs. The artistic director is directly responsible for all artistic matters in the organization; the school director and director of education report to the artistic director on all artistic matters in their division. The artistic director reports to the board of trustees (as does the executive director). The hiring process for the next artistic director will be accomplished by a search committee consisting of seven trustees, with final approval of the decision by the board of trustees.
Core Responsibilities
Artistic
- Codify and articulate the artistic vision for the entire organization – Company, school and education – which will resonate with Ballet Hispanico’s core mission and values.
- Select, train and motivate the Company’s dancers and shape its aesthetic.
- Serve as the artistic producer of all works presented by the Company, including working collaboratively with choreographers, musicians, designers and production personnel.
- Choose the repertoire to be performed, including commissions which may occur.
- Provide a broad view of Ballet Hispanico’s artistic operations and provide leadership on how to most effectively position Ballet Hispanico in the dance field.
Institutional Responsibilities, Fund Raising and Community Involvement
- Be involved in high-level development solicitations and work closely with the trustees and senior staff in this regard.
- Act as a very public presence, becoming the principal voice for Ballet Hispanico.
- Take a leadership role in long range planning for the institution in order to assure that artistic objectives can be achieved on a sustainable basis.
- Engage effectively with the trustees and staff. The artistic director reports directly to the board of trustees (as does the executive director).
- Serve as a primary liaison to Tina Ramirez, Founder of Ballet Hispanico, to support her continued engagement with the institution in a meaningful way.
Management
- Hire, train and motivate the Company dancers and other artistic staff.
- Have supervisory responsibility for the school director and director of education, who each have supervisory responsibility for their respective staffs. The directors of these areas will report to the artistic director, although the board retains some flexibility on the reporting structure, contingent on the candidate’s qualifications.
Qualifications
Professional Skills:
- A teacher, producer and coach with skills commensurate with the artistic and professional status of Ballet Hispanico.
- Significant background in artistic leadership, including producing, commissioning, directing and scheduling.
- The new artistic director may or may not be a choreographer. The trustees are open to engaging a new director who is actively engaged in making work. However, organization’s intent is to remain a repertory company as it moves into this important post-founder phase.
- Comprehensive understanding of the sophisticated management needs in a dance company of significant scale and scope.
- An extremely high level of professional dance training and performance experience in ballet, modern, and, ideally, Spanish dance.
- Ideally and preferably, a college degree.
- Culturally competent in relating to the diverse populations Ballet Hispanico serves.
- A command of both the English and the Spanish language is ideal and preferable, but not required.
- Proven success in collaborative work with a team of highly skilled professionals.
- Strong knowledge of the ballet / dance world and the professional companies operating in the U.S.
Personal attributes:
- An artistic and entrepreneurial force capable of guiding this institution into its next life phase.
- A profound commitment to Latino culture.
- Very strong communication, social and interpersonal skills, enthusiastically representing the organization in multiple social, artistic and business contexts.
- A passion for education and a deep commitment to the education of all ages, particularly children.
- An active and energetic mind and demeanor.
- A desire to be a part of and to enrich the dynamic relationship between Ballet Hispanico and the New York City community.
Compensation, Application Procedure
and Start Date
The artistic director’s salary will be extremely competitive with those within major dance companies of comparable stature and size. The position is a full-time, 52 week position. Ballet Hispanico is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply for this position. Recommendations of qualified candidates are welcomed. Benefits will include the following:
- HMO health insurance plan
- Dental plan (employee funded)
- 403(b) retirement savings plan
- Paid vacation, sick time and holidays
The target date for a hiring decision is spring 2009, with the expectation that the new artistic director will be in place full time soon thereafter. Interested candidates should send a cover letter, résumé or CV and four professional references to the consulting firm retained to support Ballet Hispanico in this search:
Management Consultants for the Arts
Attn: Ballet Hispanico Artistic Director Search
Gregory Kandel or David Mallette
By Email: Preferred Method: MgtConArts2@aol.com
or Mail/Fax to:
132 East Putnam Ave.,
Cos Cob, CT 06807
FAX: 203-661-3938
ADDENDUM
This addendum provides more detail on Ballet Hispanico’s three programmatic emphases: the main performance Company, the School and Primeros Pasos, its outreach arm. There is a desire within the organization to more fully integrate the activities of these three components.
The Company
Since its inception, The Ballet Hispanico Company has energized audiences worldwide with its magnetic energy and vivacious choreography. Currently consisting of 13 members, its aesthetic is decidedly based in classical ballet but influenced by Latin, modern and contemporary dance styles. Performing works by the foremost Latino choreographers, Ms. Ramirez has also identified a number of talented emerging artists during the decades of her tenure. By fusing Latin sensibility with elements of classical and contemporary forms, Ballet Hispanico has created a new sphere of theatrical concert dance. The Company’s repertoire of 97 works represents no fewer than 50 choreographers. Its tradition as a repertory company is viewed as a strength and the board is committed to moving forward with this model. In addition to an annual home season in New York City , Ballet Hispanico tours regularly throughout the U.S. as well as taking part in occasional international tours. Many performances are accompanied by educational activities in the community, such as master classes, a Latin Social Dance class or a Performance For Young People. More detail on repertory can be found on the Ballet Hispanico website:
www.ballethispanico.org - Company-Current Repertory
The School of Dance
The Ballet Hispanico School has forged a reputation among the nation's leading professional training programs, offering a balanced curriculum in classical ballet, contemporary techniques, and ethnic dance forms – a practice unique among America 's dance training institutions. Its work with young people is at the core of Ballet Hispanico’s mission, and the School has been, from the beginning, the primary conduit through which the organization’s mission is realized. Indeed, education is a core value of the institution and is deeply embedded in the mindset of the staff, dancers and board. As a result, students receive not only a thorough grounding in the primary techniques required for a successful performing career but also specialized training in the rich and varied dance tradition which, for many, is their cultural heritage. Total enrollment for the School Year Program (from September through June) has grown to 700 in a six-day-a-week schedule, which includes children ages 2 through 6 enrolled in Adventures in Dance; older students taking one or two classes per week as part of the Enrichment program; evening classes for adults; and the Pre-Professional training program, which annually provides approximately 100 students with graduated levels of training in classical ballet, traditional Spanish dance forms and modern dance. To supplement the curriculum for intermediate and advanced-level students, the schedule also includes workshops in ethnic techniques and repertory. Each summer, the School hosts a four-week Summer Intensive for 80 students who are admitted by audition. An additional 200+ students participate in the summer term through the Adventures in Dance, Enrichment, or Adult programs. Performance is considered a critical component of training, including fully costumed and choreographed concerts for student performers. The School Ensemble – consisting of its most advanced students, recent graduates and invited dancers – presents numerous community performances annually, having appeared at such events as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, CityParks Dance Festival and Fiesta Familia. Faculty members are among some of the most respected professionals in the field. Most classes are given to live musical accompaniment to inspire musicality and provide instructors with the freedom to focus their full attention on their students' progress. Students come from throughout the United States and several countries, although the School retains an important connection to New York and especially to its own neighborhood in the Upper West Side . Each year, following rigorous auditions and a thorough evaluation of all applicants, more than $100,000 in scholarship support is awarded based on talent and dedication or need.
Primeros Pasos
Primeros Pasos conducts up to 80 in-depth residencies in public school classrooms around the New York City area each year, each ranging in length from several weeks to a full year. Working closely with classroom teachers and administrators, Primeros Pasos staff members develop programs which include school curriculum goals while bringing Hispanic culture to vibrant life for their students. Fundamental components of each residency include weekly planning sessions, skills-based classroom instruction in an appropriate dance style and a fully-costumed culminating performance by student participants.
Ballet Hispanico's in-school programs also include several after school residencies. These classes provide skills-based instruction in creative movement and Hispanic and ethnic dance forms, set in the context of the language arts and social studies curriculum. Primeros Pasos staff collaborates with school personnel in planning and monitoring the programs, which also end with a costumed culminating performance.
Interested candidates should send a cover letter, résumé or CV and four professional references to the consulting firm retained to support Ballet Hispanico in this search:
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