Dancing Your Way into the New Normal

In 2007 I facilitated a strategic planning retreat for the Board of Directors for the Kansas City Ballet. After resolving the operational issues that had stalled the organization from real progress, they realized they didn’t have a vision big enough for the new, world class performing arts center that had just started construction.

“We’ll never be New York.”

Duh. We’re in Kansas City, Dorothy.  Of course we aren’t New York.  But what CAN we be?

After some whining and lamenting about not being in the perceived hub of the dance-world, we started to focus on other ways we could make our mark in the world of ballet.

We landed on the concept that we could be a “dance destination point.”

We created a new vision that the Kansas City Ballet could be a place for new choreography, world premieres, a place of innovation for artistic direction, perhaps a museum for ballet… and the list went on.  The room became electric!  The ideas were exhilarating.

Sundance and Baryshnikov

Fast forward 2+ years and the Performing Arts Center and the Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity are well under way.  The new conversation is that Kansas City will be for dance what Sundance is for indie films.

In addition, the Baryshnikov Arts Center, created in 1979 by Mikhail Baryshnikov, has heard about the plans for the Bolender Center and they plan to come to the city to check it out.

Transforming conversations to create a new reality

We live in an era where there are many things that compete for our time, attention and money.  It would be easy for the performing arts community to say there isn’t enough money to support innovative dance… or we can’t compete with New York.

But when there is commitment to create a new vision and the courage to take action, we can create a whole new reality. In this case, the dance world, is looking to Kansas City for creativity!

Special thanks to Mark Sappington, President the Kansas City Ballet Board of Directors and all of the Board members at the time of the strategic planning retreat for their courage and commitment. It was an honor and privilege to facilitate the conversation that led to  this new vision.

If you think it’s time to create a new vision for your organization, give me a call: 816-822-4047 or use the contact form



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