Studio to Service
The Honing of Passions seen through the team at Ballet Bridges
Passion is the fuel of action. In the focused, technical, nature of a dance studio, it’s what carries, and pushes a dancer through the lengthy hours spent during rehearsals. It’s an invisible force, yet though its presence is unseen, it still acts as a shared string through the diverse group of ambassadors and leadership within Ballet Bridges. At Ballet Bridges, the identification of such passion, which shouldn’t just exist on the marley, is critical to creating a foundation for change. The capabilities of honing such a strong energy is powerful: accessibility within the dance community can be widened, love for an art can be shared, and overall, “what is” will be changed to an image of “what could be”.
Because passion, when truly honed, can lead to such fulfilling outcomes, one of the strongest ways forward is through developing a diverse team. This March, 21 ambassadors were added to the Ballet Bridges team to serve and represent the values of which are foundational to the nonprofit. Each is taking on a passion project in order to expand the reach of Ballet Bridges. We’re diverse from perspective: a team expanding through numerous states all with a background in dance unique to their own circumstances. When you bring together individuals who care for an array of reasons, who’s “why’s” for joining the mission are true to their heart, impact isn’t diluted, yet it’s able to be multiplied. A wide range of voices strengthens a mission, allowing solutions to emerge that are more creative, responsive, applicable, and real.
Each member of the team holds a distinct set of interests, shaped by experiences both inside and out of the studio. When such passion is given room to lead, outcomes naturally become more personal, more thoughtful, and more meaningful. No two paths through involvement in Ballet Bridges are the same- and that’s the point. One dancer may be drawn to writing, to sharing out all that we are advocating for. Another to teaching, to reaching a different community of growing artists. Though different, all of these efforts grow from a shared foundation and a belief in a more inclusive and compassionate dance world.
Though the work we take on may be different, it all weaves together into something cohesive and powerful. At Ballet Bridges, the service we take on doesn’t have a focus on fitting a certain mold, a structure of which has been set, yet it’s genuinely focused in extending accessibility of art into the world, guided by the very passions that make each dancer unique.