(RE) WRITING THE FUTURE
The MoBBallet Dance Writers Convening will be the first of its kind to gather scribes in the industry to
have in-depth conversations about the “relevance” of “the dance writer” in 2024. The 2021 racial
reckoning illuminated the systemic exclusion of voices and perspectives of writers of color. This, in
conjunction with the truncation or elimination of dancer writer positions from publications, calls for an
examination of their role and responsibility to the evolving field. This gathering is an opportunity to
collaboratively reimagine the role of the writer in keeping the ecosystem of dance robust and healthy.
Who is this for?
The convening is designed for dance writers and editors at institutional and leading national publications, as well as dance writers of color (both established and emerging) working in the field but whose work may not have mainstream platforms. We intend to underwrite the participation of five publications while extending a broader invitation to attend to others including those outside the United States.
What is our desired outcome?
Participants should walk away with a clear understanding of what implicit and explicit biases are and where they are present in dance criticism both historically and in their own contemporary writing. In addition to considering how to address inequality in the newsroom and editorial space, we will interrogate the impact of cultural bias in criticism on funders, donors, presenters, and the larger dance ecosystem. Through the process, we will emerge with a set of guidelines and best practices for writers and editors that helps identify implicit bias in their own writing and editorial process, serving as a proactive tool for participants upon their return to their communities.
Structure
- 2.5 day summit followed by a second session (via Zoom) within 6 months.
- 5 sessions (first session: June 30th 5-8pm)
- Pathways to Performance opening night
As part of the Convening, you will receive:
- 5 sessions spread throughout the two-and-a-half days
- A detailed schedule will be shared closer to
- In addition, a comp ticket (1) to Pathways to Performance opening night on July 2, 2024 will be included for each participant
WHERE TO STAY
ARC HOTEL D.C.
824 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20037
Booking Link
ARC Hotel Direct Contact:
Chanyia Hughes, Sales Coordinator
[email protected]
T: (202) 333-5625
THERESA RUTH HOWARD
The New York Times has hailed Theresa Ruth Howard as a "force for change." In 2015, she founded MoBBallet (Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet), a dedicated initiative preserving the contributions of Black artists in ballet. Theresa is a visionary in the realm of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism (IDEA), and she has played a pivotal role in reshaping the ballet landscape.
With a background as a ballet dancer, educator, journalist, and scholar, Theresa is a sought-after international organizational consultant and diversity strategist. Her comprehensive 360° approach allows her to address the entire ecosystem of the field, with a central focus on organizational culture reform.
In 2021, she introduced the Cultural Competence and Equity Coalition (C²EC), a membership-based organization providing organization-wide education through cohort learning. Theresa's Pathways to Performance initiative, aimed at cultivating Black Ballet choreographers, will make its performance debut in July 2024 at the Kennedy Center and Jacob’s Pillow. Both institutions have made a multi-year commitment to support this program.
Theresa Howard's motto, "If you want the world to be a better place, be a better person in it. Be the change you want to see!" encapsulates her profound dedication to positive transformation.
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