Creating a Gender Equity Index requires longitudinal data substantiated through extensive analysis of financial and programming records. DDP utilizes proprietary software to obtain additional data from the IRS website for detailed company financials, a laborious (but necessary) process to execute alongside recording company season programming. DDP uses company financial information to rank the Largest 150 companies by expenditure. Rankings are then grouped into the Largest 50 (#1-50), the Next 50 (#51-100), and the Additional 50 (#101-150).
In Fiscal Year 2020, the Largest 50 companies operated with combined expenditures of $586,724,176, representing 91% of the Largest 150 companies’ expenditures. Furthermore, DDP determined that the Next 50’s aggregate expenditures represent approximately 8% of the Largest 50’s aggregate expenditures in FY 2020, and only 2.5% for the Additional 50 companies (Largest 150 U.S. Ballet & Classically Based Companies & Financial Scope of the Industry). Because the Largest 50 ballet and classically inspired companies represent the overwhelming percentage of the dance economy, this year’s GEI focuses on these highly influential, resource-laden organizations. As DDP continues to expand its datasets, the GEI will grow to encompass more organizations than just the Largest 50. Currently, the inclusion of companies from the Next and Additional 50 is not possible due to the lack of longitudinal data for these smaller companies and would create an unfair disadvantage for these organizations.