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Women on top: eight artistic directors talk about what it takes.

Article Excerpt
When an American ballerina hangs up her toe shoes, she may step out of the limelight forever. While her male colleagues might move from the studio into the executive suite, women ballet dancers more commonly continue their careers behind the scenes. They may teach, coach, or choreograph. But rarely do they become artistic directors of a company.

In the last 30 years, American women have progressed into leadership positions in certain professions like politics and business. But in some others they lag behind. Women film directors, for instance, are as rare as women symphony conductors--and women artistic directors of ballet companies. Although women have started ballet companies all over the country, when boards of directors seek to fill a vacancy, they most commonly opt to hire a man. While some might suggest that this is because the male-dominated boards are more comfortable hiring men, others ask if it is the women themselves who are reluctant or ill-prepared to take on this leadership role.

Dance Magazine spoke to eight American women who lead major ballet organizations today about how they came into their positions and what it takes to do their jobs. Some built their ensembles from the ground up, some inherited jobs from predecessors, and some were voted in by boards of directors. Regardless of how they came into their responsibilities, these women tackle the same duties and face the same challenges as their male counterparts. Not only do they make the case that women are...