CI to Eye with Monica Holt Jane Raleigh on Curatorial Vision and Bridging Tradition with Innovation
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Oct 2, 2025 Jane Raleigh, former Director of Dance Programming at the Kennedy Center and founder of DC Dance Network, discusses her journey in transforming dance to include both classical and contemporary art forms. She shares insights on engaging diverse audiences while bridging traditional divides, emphasizing local artist support and community-driven initiatives. Jane highlights the importance of resilient arts infrastructure and the need for incremental change in programming, all while fostering deep connections within the dance community.
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Dance As A Continuum
- The Kennedy Center taught audiences for decades that ballet and contemporary dance are separate categories.
- Jane argues dance is a spectrum and programming should present that continuum to expand audience understanding.
Use Familiar Titles To Take Artistic Risks
- Make incremental programming shifts to bring audiences to new forms rather than sudden change.
- Use known repertory (like Swan Lake) to introduce unfamiliar companies or contemporary works with lower risk.
Match Communication To Your Audience
- Tailor your change-management communication to how each stakeholder wants to receive information.
- Provide data, narrative, or comparisons depending on the person to align them to your vision.