Shaping the Future of Ballet

Following the success of Dracula, Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer Suzanne Haag traveled to Amsterdam to attend the Positioning Ballet – Future Leaders Conference, an international gathering dedicated to shaping the next generation of artistic leadership in ballet and dance. Hosted by the Positioning Ballet Foundation under the direction of Ted Brandsen, Assis Carreiro, and Susannah Burke, the conference brought together 35 emerging dance leaders from 14 countries around the globe for a weekend of discussion, collaborative learning, and forward-thinking exploration of the challenges and possibilities facing the future of ballet.

The Foundation’s goals include supporting the professional development of current and future Artistic Directors, building stronger and more confident leaders. Throughout the weekend, participants examined key topics surrounding leadership within a dance organization. Topics included; how to onboard oneself into a company, leadership structures, team building through communication, and burning issues facing the art form as identified by the participants. Sessions were guided by Brandsen and Carreiro as well as distinguished keynote speakers and facilitators Tom Bates, Christina Barandun, Emily Molnar, Samuel Wuersten, and Peggy Olislaegers , each offering perspectives from both within and beyond the dance world.

Suzanne’s participation in this conference is deeply meaningful for the future of Eugene Ballet. As the Company grows its artistic vision and community impact, her engagement with international leaders provides fresh insight into modern audience expectations, people-centered leadership, and new approaches to choreography and artistic development. The tools and connections she brings home help Eugene Ballet remain relevant, inclusive, and forward-looking while staying true to its artistic values. Suzanne shared that the experience was both inspiring and affirming, saying, “Thrilled to be one of 35 new ballet and dance leaders selected to be a part of this forum and looking forward to conversation and exchange about keeping our art form creative, relevant, and forward-looking.” She added, “Right now, I am feeling grateful that I work in a field that brings people together in real time to share live experiences. I am looking forward to finding even more impactful ways to bring audiences and artists together and to continue to challenge how I see, create, and foster change for the better within my corner of the ballet world.”

She also reflected on the long-standing conversations surrounding the future of ballet. “When I was a very young dancer, I remember reading Dance Magazine and seeing an urgent and slightly alarming article along the lines of: ‘Is ballet a dying art form and who will save it?’ This was over 35 years ago and yet we are still asking this question today. There is something comforting in that repetition. We keep asking, and we are still here, still supporting the art form we love and creating new work. It is also a great reminder that we can always be doing better, in any field, to meet the times and consider the people and world we are serving.”

Suzanne returned to Eugene “filled with so much hope and gratitude” after engaging with compassionate, thoughtful peers who are deeply invested in the future of ballet. Despite coming from organizations of many different sizes, Suzanne found the conversations immediately relevant to her work at Eugene Ballet, particularly in areas such as people management, artistic development, leadership structure, and the role of ballet in contemporary society.

The Positioning Ballet – Future Leaders Conference underscored a powerful message. Ballet continually reinvents itself, guided by dedicated artists, leaders, and advocates who work to ensure its relevance, accessibility, and vitality for generations to come.