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"Running a dance company is a fairly solitary experience, particularly when trying to juggle the artistic and administrative aspects on a small budget. Usually so much energy and time is spent on the artistic part of the company that there is little left over to work on the administrative side. Working with Help Desk/L.A. has made me feel like I can take a deep, long breath."
-Donna Sternberg, Help Desk/L.A. Particpant; AD, Donna Sterrnberg & Dancers
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"Our participation was powerful for the organization at this moment in our growth. "
-Ana Maria Alvarez, Help Desk/L.A. participant, AD of
Contra-Tiempo
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"By bringing together the most inspired artists and the most experienced mentors every month, we have an incredible resource of support. The one-on-one exchange with our mentor helps us navigate the complex choices that are a part of being a viable performing arts company today. "
-Nehara Kalev, Help Desk.L.A. participant, AD of Catch Me Bird
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Photos by:
Donna Sternberg, Tyrone Domingo, Robert Salas, and Jesse Alson-Milkman
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BACK OFFICE a new management model How can minimally institutionalized performing arts companies and independent artists achieve effective organizational behavior? No matter how well organized the Artistic Director might be, the entity can only develop so far when there is neither time nor personnel to support the creative practice, never mind to implement any long-term plans. This conundrum has a negative impact on the company's ability to grow organizationally, but more importantly it prevents the Artistic Director from engaging in and growing his/her creative process. The conception and choreography of work itself becomes stymied and suffers. Pentacle addresses this challenge head-on with Back Office, a pilot program currently under the auspices of Help Desk/L.A. Companies participating in Back Office this year share a "Managing Director" who works part-time directly with each group. By providing on-going support at this executive level, the Back Office companies now have more time in the studio! Each company pays a fee to participate in Back Office, but this covers only a fraction of the total program costs. By supporting Back Office, you directly help "buy" time for Back Office companies in the studio. This holiday season consider a gift of $25, $50, $100 to help choreographers do what they do best...CREATE DANCE!. Your contribution will match the fees paid by Back Office artists and go towards underwriting personnel costs for the program.
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Help Desk supports the professional infrastructure of contemporary dance companies and independent choreographers. The program works with participants to develop a strong sense of empowerment. At the heart of Help Desk are two equally important relationships: the one between artist and mentor and the one between artist and the Help Desk community. The mentor relationship provides the participants with personalized strategic planning, guidance and infrastructure support over a sustained period of time. Artists and non-performing partners attend regular meetings sharing challenges and solutions. Through the process, participants build a more supportive, empowered community.
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Pentacle is a non-profit service organization for the performing arts. For more than 35 years, Pentacle has functioned as a resource and voice for emerging, minority, experimental, non-mainstream dance artists and companies. Pentacle's mission is to support artists so that they can do what they do best . . . create works of art.
Mara Greenberg & Ivan Sygoda
Directors
Help Desk, a program of Pentacle, is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and donations from individuals. |
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