Hi fellow organizers,

I just came across the below excerpt online.  It reminded me of one of my own strong opinions about dance leadership and dance organization -- namely, that there are many paths to Nirvana, with Nirvana being in this case a successful dance series.  The essential thing organizers should do is examine and articulate their own vision(s) and work very hard to create/adapt their dance series to express that vision as beautifully as they can.

The quote itself may not resonate for you, but perhaps it will inspire you to pick up both of Larry's books (Zesty Contras and Give & Take) and pore through the bits about dance administration. Such juicy food for thought!

Yours, with strong feelings about the objectives and techniques appropriate to my own local situation,

Chrissy Fowler

Belfast ME

“I believe that administrators and leaders should have strong feelings about the objectives and techniques appropriate to their local situation.I certainly do, and I hope you will too. Thus I have scattered my own opinions throughout the book, but I fully expect you to display a healthy skepticism toward these opinions. Indeed, I request such skepticism! So, if my subjective style riles you up—sets you pondering about your local needs—gives you a few ideas to adapt—clarifies your own thinking, no matter how different from mine—I’ll be well satisfied that my work has borne fruit.”

~ Larry Jennings in the “Author’s Preface” to Zesty Contras