When her mother died, Alessia Gaetana Santoro became the owner and artistic director of New York Academy of Ballet, the school her mom had founded. Here, Santoro discusses the challenges she’s overcome—and how she has expanded on her mother’s vision.
What happens when a founder dies just before opening his dance school? At the late Kabby Mitchell III’s Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center, a new leader was born in Klair Ethridge, who has grown the school threefold since its opening in 2017 and demonstrated what a mission-driven dance organization looks like today.
Start well in advance, because not only will you be seeking new executive leadership, you’ll want to lay the groundwork for them to be successful. Here’s how Dance Place in Washington, DC, did it.
Whatever second (or third) act you’re ready to embark on, your legacy and financial security will be affected by the successor you choose—and the deal you make. Here’s how two dance studio owners navigated the passage.
