Dance Data Project

Dance Data Project
Scene from Dos Lados, Choreography by Stephanie Martinez
Courtesy of Kansas City Dance Festival and Moving Arts Cincinnati.
Photo by Hiromi Platt
Dance Data Project
Scene from Broken Wings, Choreography by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
Courtesy of English National Ballet
Photo by Laurent Liotardo
Dance Data Project
Scene from Her Notes, Choreography by Jessica Lang
Courtesy of American Ballet Theatre
Photo by Rosalie O’Connor.

Informing equity through data
analysis, advocacy and programming

Dance Data Project™ is a global resource for the study and analysis of major national and international dance companies, venues, and choreographic awards. In addition, DDP surveys ballet competitions, festivals and scholarship programs worldwide. We provide a resource for those seeking information about female choreographers, set, costume & lighting designers, as well composers of classically based dance music.

We also cover recent news (as you’ll see below) and provide an archive of articles related to issues surrounding classical dance, including pay transparency and equity, hiring and and harassment policies. Browse, have a look, and feel free to provide feedback by contacting us on our contact page. Many thanks for visiting.

About the Dance Data Project

Find out about our organization, mission, our methods, and the results of our decades of advocacy.

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Research & Data

We encourage you to complete our
Self Report Survey, but also to send us updates,
let us know about special initiatives or call our attention
to areas for study or a company, artist, festival, competition
or venue we haven’t discovered yet.

Find Out How

Scene from Bonzi, Choreography by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
Courtesy of BalletX, photo by Alexander Iziliaev

DDP Announcements

Feb 19, 2019

Just Released: EXECUTIVE & ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP REPORT

The Dance Data Project™ launched today with the first of a series of reports documenting gender inequity in leadership positions and pay among the 50 largest ballet companies in the United States. George Balanchine, the legendary Artistic Director and Founder of the New York City Ballet once said, “Everywhere else men are first. But in ballet, it’s the woman.” However in 2019, DDP™ found men are first in ballet when it comes to leadership positions and pay even though the ballet world is overwhelming populated by women and they are the economic drivers as well. Download the report here....

Meet a Choreographer: Penny Saunders

Our founder, Liza Yntema, recently sat down with Penny Saunders whose work she has supported through Hubbard Street Dance Company. Saunders is the choreographer-in residence at Grand Rapids Ballet and receives support from New York City Ballet Choreographic Commissions Initiative.

Full Interview

Lia Cirio with Desean Taber and María Álvarez; photo by Brooke Trisolini; courtesy of Boston Ballet

Meet a New Choreographer: Lia Cirio

Lia Cirio is taking on a new role: choreographer. Cirio has joined Boston Ballet's ChoreograpHER initiative, which gives female company members the opportunity to produce and present original works of choreography. Our Founder, Liza Yntema, recently signed on as Lead Sponsor of the program.

Full Interview

BalletX dancers Caili Quan, Chloe Perkes, and Andrea Yorita in Penny Saunders' Rock-a-Bye. Photo by Candice DeTore.

Meet a Company Director: Christine Cox

The absolute first thing to know about Christine Cox is that she is incredibly kind, and the second that she has huge reserves of energy. The enthusiasm, optimism and genuine joy she brings to even the smallest detail or the briefest encounter, do much to explain the extraordinary success and outsized impact of her influential company, BalletX, which over the last 13 years has survived and prospered as the second, smaller company in Philadelphia, growing a fantastically loyal and energized audience base. Artistic Director of BalletX, Christine Cox. Cox has managed to create a legacy of groundbreaking work: by the...

Full Interview

Resources

Women Who
Inspire Us

We are always looking for new women
leaders in dance to feature on our site. You can
see a list of some of the women who stand out to us
on our Research page.

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Our Book/Film List

Educate yourself on the dance world, past and present, with some of our favorite novels and films in the dance genre.

Learn More

Scene from Rock-a-Bye, Choreography by Penny Saunders, Courtesy of BalletX—Photographer: Candice DeTore