Executive Director | Ballet Idaho

Ballet Idaho's mission is to engage with Idaho communities to
create immersive dance performances and educational experiences that
are accessible to all.

For over 50 years, Ballet Idaho has pursued its mission through a broad array of offerings that create transformative experiences, enrich lives, and celebrate the human spirit. As the only professional ballet company in the states of Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming, Ballet Idaho provides important artistic opportunities and experiences that significantly enhance the creative life of the entire region.

Led by Artistic Director Garrett Anderson, Ballet Idaho performs much of its season at the Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Boise State University. The current season opened in October 2023 with a mixed repertory program entitled The Gathering Dark , which featured new works from Penny Saunders and Joseph Hernandez as well as the revival of Dreamland , a work created on Ballet Idaho in 2018 by Danielle Rowe. In addition to the company’s annual performances of The Nutcracker in Boise and an abbreviated version in Caldwell, the season also featured Anthology (performed at the intimate SPEC Theater at Boise State), which included a world premiere co-choreographed by Anderson and Associate Artistic Director Anne Mueller, along with works by James Kudelka and Alejandro Cerrudo. The season will conclude in May 2024 with a program featuring a full production of Carmen by Ricardo Amarante as well as Johan Inger’s acclaimed Walking Mad .

Ballet Idaho currently operates on an annual budget of approximately $3.7M (including in-kind donations of $720K) with 30% of revenue coming from ticket sales, 9% from tuition, 21% from other revenue sources (including in-kind support), and 40% from contributed revenue, including special event income. There are 23 dancers, including apprentices, in the professional company (who are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists for the purpose of collective bargaining; the current contract, which is the first between Ballet Idaho and AGMA, was negotiated in 2023). The organization also employs 16 full-time administrative, artistic, and production personnel.

Musicians from the Boise Philharmonic provide musical accompaniment for many Ballet Idaho performances.

The Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy
Located in the heart of downtown Boise, the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy (ESPAA) encompasses four buildings that serve as the home to the Boise Philharmonic, Opera Idaho, Ballet Idaho, and their respective youth training programs, including the Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the Opera Idaho Children’s Chorus, the Ballet Idaho Academy, and the Ballet Idaho Trainee Program. ESPAA provides rent-free space to these organizations for offices, meeting and reception rooms, recital halls, rehearsal rooms, teaching and dance studios, as well as costume shops and storage space. ESPAA celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2022.

Ballet Idaho Trainee Program
Established in 2020, the Ballet Idaho Trainee Program offers a comprehensive one- to two-year pre-professional pathway, aiming to equip dancers with the necessary skills for successful careers in the field. Departing from the conventional conservatory-style approach, this program supplements students’ academy coursework with tailored studio instruction, active participation in Ballet Idaho’s company class, immersive company observation and shadowing experiences, personalized coaching and mentorship, and multiple opportunities for performance. A total of 19 trainees participated in the 2022-23 Trainee Program. Two were selected to join Ballet Idaho's Company for the 2023-24 season as apprentices. The company currently employs 7 former trainees.

Ballet Idaho Academy
Currently under the direction of Dex Honea, Ballet Idaho Academy provides students with a unique opportunity to learn, observe, and be inspired by a professional company of dancers, choreographers, and highly skilled instructors. Sharing studio space at ESPAA, the Academy serves approximately 225 students, including adults and summer academy students.

Educational and Outreach Programs
Ballet Idaho offers various educational and outreach initiatives, all provided free of charge to schools, students, and community members. One such program, Learning Through Dance, aims to empower children through interactive and performance-based arts activities. These programs nurture confidence, creative thinking, and communication skills essential for future educational and career pursuits. Last season, this initiative delivered a comprehensive 10-week residency to six schools, benefiting over 300 students.

In collaboration with the Boise Independent School District and the Morrison Center Arts Education Programs, Ballet Idaho brings students from 1st to 12th grade to Student Matinees. In conjunction, teachers receive detailed study guides enriching students' understanding of the performing arts and the historical contexts of each production. Last season, more than 500 students attended.

Through the By Special Invitation program, Ballet Idaho extends an exclusive invitation to individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, facilitated by nearly 40 local organizations. These invitees are granted complimentary tickets to experience full productions of Ballet Idaho's mainstage performances. Sponsored blocks of tickets are allocated to partner social service organizations and individuals who may not otherwise have access to live performances. Approximately 1,000 tickets are distributed through this inclusive program each season.

Leadership
Garrett Anderson, Artistic Director
After training on full scholarship with some of the country’s premier academies (including those at San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Pacific Northwest Ballet), Garrett enjoyed a 20-year professional career as a dancer in both classical ballet and contemporary dance companies from San Francisco Ballet to the Royal Ballet of Flanders, Trey McIntyre Project, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Throughout his illustrious 20-year professional career, Garrett collaborated with and danced works by renowned choreographers and directors including William Forsythe, Jiri Kylían, Mark Morris, Christopher Wheeldon, Mats Ek, Nacho Duato, Ohad Naharin, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, Twyla Tharp, Trey McIntyre, and many more on stages worldwide.

Following his performance career, Garrett assumed the role of Chair of the Dance Department at the New Mexico School for the Arts before relocating to Boise to take on the position of Artistic Director at Ballet Idaho, a role he has held since 2018. In this capacity, Garrett not only leads the company but also oversees the Ballet Idaho Academy and Ballet Idaho Trainee Program, ensuring the cultivation of the next generation of dancers and artists.

Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of Ballet Idaho consists of 15 members including business leaders, lawyers, philanthropists, community leaders, and volunteers. The search committee, consisting of 5 members, is led by Mary Beth Chandler, vice president of the board and incoming board president.

Boise, ID
Boise, Idaho, a burgeoning city nestled amidst picturesque natural landscapes, effortlessly blends urban allure with a bucolic natural setting. The Boise metropolitan area, known as the Treasure Valley, includes five counties with a combined population of 824,657, the most populous metropolitan area in Idaho. Downtown Boise is the cultural center and home to many small businesses and a number of high-rise buildings. The area has a variety of shops and restaurants. Centrally, 8th Street contains a pedestrian zone with sidewalk cafes and restaurants. The neighborhood has many local restaurants, bars, and boutiques.

Boise’s arts and culture community is impressive for a city its size. In addition to Ballet Idaho, organizations such as Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Opera Idaho, Boise Contemporary Theatre, and the Boise Philharmonic offer local citizens a diverse range of cultural experiences.

Opportunities and Challenges
The next Executive Director will join an ambitious organization with an exceptional artistic ensemble and repertoire. Among the opportunities for the next Executive Director are:

1. Building a strong and collaborative administrative team and strengthening systems and processes to ensure clear communication, efficiency, and support throughout the organization.
2. In concert with the Artistic Director and Board, conceiving, developing, and implementing the vision and focus of Ballet Idaho and articulating this vision internally and more broadly to the Ballet Idaho community.
3. Expanding performance opportunities for the professional company across the state of Idaho and through expanded community engagement efforts.
4. Embracing an inclusive, diverse, and equitable work culture and working with the Board and senior team to reinforce these values throughout the organization.
5. Nurturing existing relationships and securing new resources, while serving as a representative of Ballet Idaho to the greater community.

Along with these opportunities, there are challenges the next Executive Director must embrace in concert with the Artistic Director and Board, including:

1. Enticing patrons back to live performances in a time of quickly changing buying trends and ever widening competition.
2. Leading a committed and talented administrative staff that has been challenged by recent turnover.
3. Balancing the ongoing challenge of artistic ambition and fiscal stability.
4. Building a stronger organizational brand and expanding messaging to boost audiences and Academy enrollment.

Position and Responsibilities
The Executive Director will work in a shared leadership relationship with the Artistic Director with both positions reporting to and working collaboratively with the Board of Directors. It is critically important that the individuals in these two positions work in a cohesive, productive, and supportive manner. The central roles of the Executive Director are as follows:

1. Forge and maintain important external local/regional/national relationships and serve as an external voice and advocate of Ballet Idaho.
2. Build a productive partnership with the Artistic Director and Board to complete and implement the Company’s strategic plan and develop future strategies.
3. Align all human and financial resources beneficially, ensuring the artistic/business model is solid, and sustaining the fiscal viability of the organization.
4. Develop and manage a high-functioning administrative team. Direct reports include the Development Director, Marketing Director, Creative Director, Patron Services Manager, and Finance Director, and any other positions that fall under the administrative functions of the Company.
5. Serve as a principal in fundraising, especially with major donors, and continue the nurturing and growth of long-held partnerships.
6. Ensure that Ballet Idaho has effective communication and marketing efforts, with a focus on increasing ticket sales, audience engagement, and Academy enrollment.
7. In concert with the Artistic Director, strive to create a positive and productive culture, providing leadership that will generate innovation throughout the team.
8. Forge and maintain important external relationships in the community and act as an external voice and advocate of Ballet Idaho.
9. Oversee all financial matters, including the annual budgeting process, and review monthly reports to monitor alignment with budget goals.
10. Implement strategic direction to effectively execute the vision collaboratively set with Board and Artistic Director.

Qualifications
The chosen candidate will be someone likely to establish strong and productive working partnerships with the Artistic Director and the Board. Successful candidates will also have the following skill sets and experience:

1. Strong passion for building a great cultural institution fully rooted in its community.
2. Demonstrated success in building meaningful relationships, internally and externally, including with donors, business partners, and civic leaders.
3. Strong experience in and knowledge of the economics of arts organizations and the ability to align artistic ambition and resources strategically.
4. A commitment to a positive and inclusive work culture, evidenced in current and previous leadership roles.
5. An open, flexible and innovative spirit, desirous of finding creative solutions.
6. Dance experience is not required, but serious candidates will have enthusiasm for arts, culture, and the work for which Ballet Idaho is known.
7. Demonstrated ability to motivate and lead a team.
8. Superlative social and interpersonal skills in social and business contexts.

The following personal attributes are also important to the Committee:

1. A well-developed leadership style with a collaborative spirit - someone who gains energy working with groups and breaking down silos.
2. Satisfaction in mentoring others to perform at their best and find new ways to express their talents.
3. Ability to make hard decisions in a practical but kind way, with awareness of their impact on individuals and the organization as a whole.
4. A desire to fully engage with the Boise community.

COMPENSATION AND START DATE
The salary ($110K+) and benefits will be competitive with other ballet companies of comparable size and stature. The Company hopes to make its decision by Fall 2024 with the selected candidate joining soon after.

Ballet Idaho has engaged Management Consultants for the Arts to facilitate this search, with the project led by Jason Palmquist and Shruti Adhar. Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply in complete confidence by providing materials requested below with these guidelines:

1. A cover letter of no more than 1.5 pages describing why this post is attractive to the applicant and what will make them a potentially strong administrative leader for Ballet Idaho.
2. Resumé or CV.
3. Names of four professional references, including email and phone contact information (recommendation letters are not required).

Each file should have the applicant’s name included as part of the file name and submitted as separate .pdf documents. Once all materials have been submitted online, the applicant will receive a confirmation of their submission via the email address provided in the application. For clarification on any of this information, please contact Christy Wall at