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What I Learned These Week About Being Scary - November 16th, 2011
By Christine Jowers/Follow @cmmjowers on Instagram
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Published on November 16, 2011
A Response to Michael Kaiser, president of The John F. Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts
A Response to The Kaiser
Christine Jowers, Scary and Frustrated in NYC for The Dance Enthusiast
Last night, while picking up my son from a play date on the Upper West Side, I was forwarded this article by Michael Kaiser, president of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. I had to respond. Do you have anything to add? Read here.
I am thrilled to be part of the "scary trend" to get more people involved in a conversation about my art, dance.
I am sad that professional dance critics aren't being paid and respected. I respect them and read them.
Still, I deeply believe that anyone who can write about dance or dance issues and do it well, be it in traditional or "experimental" ways, should be encouraged: blogs, chat rooms, and so on.
The dance world can be a mighty insular place. We are hurt by the rarity of it all.
Get in new voices and new audiences. Hurrah. Don't be afraid.
I created a user review section on The Dance Enthusiast and I am working hard with my team to get more people speaking "intelligently" about what they see. It is an experiment in communication. Some of the audience feedback re dance has been lovely/insightful.
Not everyone who is "not a professional arts critic" is someone to be feared, or for that matter, a representative of the lowest common denominator.
The arts are hurt by snobbery, elitism and cliques. The model of a handful of powerful commentators does not work.
Who knows what great possibilities the future holds for arts communication unless we take a brave step into it.
I say Mr. Kaiser, in your position, you have the power to do something constructive with this "problem".
"What are you prepared to do?"
An excellent piece by Jeremy Barker on culturebot
NationalPerformingArtsConvention Brian James McCormick
