Dance, specifically ballet, has historically been a female-dominated field with 76.6% women (Data USA). Despite this, men typically hold more prestigious and higher-paying positions, such as artistic and executive directors, and receive the most lucrative, high-profile artistic commissions as choreographers. DDP found that for the Largest 50 U.S. ballet and classically influenced companies, only 30% of Artistic Directors were female (as of July 2022; Artistic & Executive Leadership Report). Amongst the Largest 50, women choreographed only 29% of the works programmed in the 2021-2022 season, and 46% of world premieres were choreographed by women (Season Overview 2021-2022). In the current 2022-2023 season, the percentage of works choreographed by women amongst the Largest 50 has decreased to 27% (First Look 2022-2023). Additionally, between 2018 and 2023, the Largest 50 commissioned 14 full-length premieres by women compared to 60 by men (Full-Length World and United States Premieres Data Byte).
Even in the collegiate setting, only 34% of deans overseeing dance programs are female, while the percentage of the lowest-ranking faculty is 69% women (Collegiate Dance Programs Faculty & Administration Report).
DDP’s GEI highlights companies that are making strides to provide leadership and choreographic opportunities for women in ballet. This provides, in line with DDP’s #AskB4UGive campaign, a strong tool, very similar to ESG rankings, that can guide foundations or individual donors interested in supporting classically based dance without reinforcing – and frankly, continuing to fund systematic inequity.