TWSB Nutcracker 2023!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread has certainly taken a turn...

Can we start over with Nutcracker Warm Fuzzies?

Go ahead, we're used to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread has certainly taken a turn...

Can we start over with Nutcracker Warm Fuzzies?

What's stopping you?

[Anonymous]

Less than 2 weeks until casts will be announced!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just remember school is not company. The company is quite diverse, they have worked hard to make it that way.

The school is voluntary sign up, and no mid level ballet school is going to go recruiting students (except for PTP - and I don’t know the demographic breakdown of PTP) - promoting the SE campus is probably the most you should expect.

They have the numbers in the school, even NW is pretty diverse. If no POC kids are auditioning, maybe it's because they're not being seen in the better roles?

Or maybe because they don’t want to make the commitment to Nutcracker? So many families opt out of Nutcracker because it requires such a huge time commitment — this is all families. You start with fewer families of color in general, then you take away all of those families who opt out of Nutcracker then you’re left with way fewer families compared to white families. It’s a numbers game. I disagree with PP about 50% of dancers in “major” student roles needing to be dancers of color. How do you define that exactly? Are you talking about just Black dancers? Or Black and brown dancers? And if brown, which groups — south Asian, too? And what about kids who are mixed race, but don’t present as Black and/Brown? Do they count? Or just kids who are visibly of color? You can see the slippery slope here….

Doing nothing about it is not the answer.

Please tell us exactly what you would do (instead of criticizing)

Look at who is behind the scenes in the audition room, how many people of color are decision makers? It should be at least half. I think Julie made great gains and was a progressive thinker, but maybe they need to find a black Artistic Director. And then do what Hollywood claims to do. Make a clear goal of what you want the cast to look like in an ideal world and look for that during the auditions. I guarantee they'll find what they're looking for, there are plenty of talented black and brown dancers do are being overlooked at both the NW and SE school.

that's not happening in the world of ballet. That many talented black decision-makers with ballet backgrounds and decision-making experience do not exist. What black artistic director (must be a full-on ballet person plus management skills and proven track record at running a company both from a human point and a financial one) would you suggest they hire?

What was Julie Kent's experience before coming on board as the Artistic Director of Washington Ballet? Why can't Ashley Murphy and Nardia Boodoo be a part of the casting team? If TWSB never lifts up their black students, how will we ever get to the point where this is possible in the world of ballet? Even if you're white, don't do you want your child to be a part of a more equitable school and company?

None, except to dance. Which is why the school had financial problems then. Go google it. Not everyone is suited for management. Especially ballet dancers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just remember school is not company. The company is quite diverse, they have worked hard to make it that way.

The school is voluntary sign up, and no mid level ballet school is going to go recruiting students (except for PTP - and I don’t know the demographic breakdown of PTP) - promoting the SE campus is probably the most you should expect.

They have the numbers in the school, even NW is pretty diverse. If no POC kids are auditioning, maybe it's because they're not being seen in the better roles?

Or maybe because they don’t want to make the commitment to Nutcracker? So many families opt out of Nutcracker because it requires such a huge time commitment — this is all families. You start with fewer families of color in general, then you take away all of those families who opt out of Nutcracker then you’re left with way fewer families compared to white families. It’s a numbers game. I disagree with PP about 50% of dancers in “major” student roles needing to be dancers of color. How do you define that exactly? Are you talking about just Black dancers? Or Black and brown dancers? And if brown, which groups — south Asian, too? And what about kids who are mixed race, but don’t present as Black and/Brown? Do they count? Or just kids who are visibly of color? You can see the slippery slope here….

Doing nothing about it is not the answer.

Please tell us exactly what you would do (instead of criticizing)

Look at who is behind the scenes in the audition room, how many people of color are decision makers? It should be at least half. I think Julie made great gains and was a progressive thinker, but maybe they need to find a black Artistic Director. And then do what Hollywood claims to do. Make a clear goal of what you want the cast to look like in an ideal world and look for that during the auditions. I guarantee they'll find what they're looking for, there are plenty of talented black and brown dancers do are being overlooked at both the NW and SE school.

that's not happening in the world of ballet. That many talented black decision-makers with ballet backgrounds and decision-making experience do not exist. What black artistic director (must be a full-on ballet person plus management skills and proven track record at running a company both from a human point and a financial one) would you suggest they hire?

What was Julie Kent's experience before coming on board as the Artistic Director of Washington Ballet? Why can't Ashley Murphy and Nardia Boodoo be a part of the casting team? If TWSB never lifts up their black students, how will we ever get to the point where this is possible in the world of ballet? Even if you're white, don't do you want your child to be a part of a more equitable school and company?

None, except to dance. Which is why the school had financial problems then. Go google it. Not everyone is suited for management. Especially ballet dancers

She acquired the role after Septime put TWB in millions of dollars in debt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just remember school is not company. The company is quite diverse, they have worked hard to make it that way.

The school is voluntary sign up, and no mid level ballet school is going to go recruiting students (except for PTP - and I don’t know the demographic breakdown of PTP) - promoting the SE campus is probably the most you should expect.

They have the numbers in the school, even NW is pretty diverse. If no POC kids are auditioning, maybe it's because they're not being seen in the better roles?

Or maybe because they don’t want to make the commitment to Nutcracker? So many families opt out of Nutcracker because it requires such a huge time commitment — this is all families. You start with fewer families of color in general, then you take away all of those families who opt out of Nutcracker then you’re left with way fewer families compared to white families. It’s a numbers game. I disagree with PP about 50% of dancers in “major” student roles needing to be dancers of color. How do you define that exactly? Are you talking about just Black dancers? Or Black and brown dancers? And if brown, which groups — south Asian, too? And what about kids who are mixed race, but don’t present as Black and/Brown? Do they count? Or just kids who are visibly of color? You can see the slippery slope here….

Doing nothing about it is not the answer.

Please tell us exactly what you would do (instead of criticizing)

Look at who is behind the scenes in the audition room, how many people of color are decision makers? It should be at least half. I think Julie made great gains and was a progressive thinker, but maybe they need to find a black Artistic Director. And then do what Hollywood claims to do. Make a clear goal of what you want the cast to look like in an ideal world and look for that during the auditions. I guarantee they'll find what they're looking for, there are plenty of talented black and brown dancers do are being overlooked at both the NW and SE school.

that's not happening in the world of ballet. That many talented black decision-makers with ballet backgrounds and decision-making experience do not exist. What black artistic director (must be a full-on ballet person plus management skills and proven track record at running a company both from a human point and a financial one) would you suggest they hire?

You really did say the quiet part out loud here, didn't you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If anyone finds a place with high-level ballet training for black dancers please post. We will drive for it.

http://akhmedovaballet.org/

You must be joking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If anyone finds a place with high-level ballet training for black dancers please post. We will drive for it.

http://akhmedovaballet.org/

You must be joking

If you have information that ABA is not a safe space for black and brown dancers. Please share it because I would not want my daughter in that environment. It’s our first year there after moving from TWSB. (One daughter remains at TWSB). The only other place I can recommend is MYB — a black friend of mine who does her research thoroughly is making the move. I trust her. For the record ABA is intense and compassionate and has been great for my child who needed more challenge than TWSB, definitely not for everyone. They had a parent meeting after summer intensive, you should see the list of training and flexibility corrections we got, after just two weeks there her dancing improved and her LOVE of dance grew. I’m just getting to know the other families. Their best students are dancers of color. Good luck to the person who asked the question.

[Anonymous]

It’s a revolving door. 30% turnover every year.
Cult like. Draw you in with a lot of attention in the beginning. Then the pressure for more and more privates, costume fees, etc starts. Their preferred dancers are Asian with parents who are happy to pay whatever Madame asks for. It’s never ending.
Check their outplacement. It is not impressive for the amount of $ and time invested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a revolving door. 30% turnover every year.
Cult like. Draw you in with a lot of attention in the beginning. Then the pressure for more and more privates, costume fees, etc starts. Their preferred dancers are Asian with parents who are happy to pay whatever Madame asks for. It’s never ending.
Check their outplacement. It is not impressive for the amount of $ and time invested.

Their tuition is lower than TWSB. Privates are a fraction of TWSB rates. (And I still have a child in TWSB she doesn’t need the serious route). ABA competing is optional, but the PTP starts at level 1 for traditional Vagonova ballet.

To the point of the person who asked, I wish they had more options for black dancers like DTH. I remember one other school here Jones Haywood Dance School. I remember attending the Misty Copeland book signing with Smithsonian and Julie Kent conversation. Jones Haywood AD was in attendance. https://www.joneshaywooddanceschool.com/

[Anonymous]

I missed Donnas meeting tonight, can anyone recap?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I missed Donnas meeting tonight, can anyone recap?

Have you volunteered before? If yes, nothing new except we have a few shows at the ARC again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I missed Donnas meeting tonight, can anyone recap?

Have you volunteered before? If yes, nothing new except we have a few shows at the ARC again.

Did she go over total number of shows including the arc shows? That commute is killer I won’t be sad if dad gets passed over for those

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I missed Donnas meeting tonight, can anyone recap?

Have you volunteered before? If yes, nothing new except we have a few shows at the ARC again.

Did she go over total number of shows including the arc shows? That commute is killer I won’t be sad if dad gets passed over for those

35 total shows with 3 at the ARC, I believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I missed Donnas meeting tonight, can anyone recap?

Have you volunteered before? If yes, nothing new except we have a few shows at the ARC again.

Did she go over total number of shows including the arc shows? That commute is killer I won’t be sad if dad gets passed over for those

35 total shows with 3 at the ARC, I believe.

I see on the schedule now that the 3 ARC shows are spread over all 3 gem pairings, so looks like there will be no escaping it this year