Bombshell Resignations

A press release from the German Ballet and Dance Theater Directors Conference (BBTK) messed up the start of the year at the Dachverband Tanz e.V. (Dance Umbrella Association) in Berlin: It was reported on 7 January, that the BBTK executive committee had unanimously decided to "withdraw from the Dachverband Tanz Deutschland at the end of this calendar year". A bombshell that caused considerable irritation. Rightly so. First of all, it is noticeable that the BBTK, the association of all department heads at city and state theaters, terminates its membership months in advance (a three-month notice period at the end of the year is required). And it does so publicly. This creates pressure. Other players, apparently the dance medicine association ta.med e.V., have left quietly — this too is a bitter loss for the umbrella organization, whose ethics committee no longer includes any medical professionals. Absurd.

Anyone who speaks to those directly or indirectly involved gets the impression that the BBTK is using an announced change to the statutes, which will reduce its voting share in resolutions at the general meeting, as a reason for its resignation. There is more to it than that. What has clearly not taken place is a negotiation process that balances the interests of all sides. And all sides means more and more members in recent years, with the BBTK being an important and weighty player. This should sensibly be reflected in the design of future association structures and norms.

However, the umbrella organization rightly sees itself as the representative of all dance professionals — whether permanently employed or freelance, whether they are individuals, institutions or members of an association. Quantitative and qualitative diversity is the strength of dance and can be brought into the political balance for the benefit of all. In view of massive cuts and upcoming coalition negotiations at the federal level, dance can’t afford to be fragmented. Anyone who does that will cause damage. In this respect, it is about building bridges. There is still an unproductive camp formation in significant parts of dance: here the professionals, there the amateurs, here the permanently employed, there the freelancers. This is how insiders and artists who have worked in several spheres describe it. The constraints and needs are different in each case, but they exist on all sides. At this point, the umbrella organization has the task of moderator, getting the parties to listen to each other, to stand up for each other and to open up to each other. Then a lot would already be gained.

Of course, the events also show what happens when an organization grows continuously while the structures — for financial reasons alone — can’t grow accordingly. After all, even the critics agree that the interest group has done an excellent job during the pandemic. The way it is run is controversial, however. However, if you consider the multitude of requirements and tasks that the Berlin office, which has now been downsized again, has to deal with, you can imagine that at one point or another there can be frustration, accusations of a lack of transparency and a lack of democracy. There is only one thing that helps: talking to each other, in a friendly tone. Even in more difficult cases. The prerequisites are respect and honest self-criticism when it comes to the distribution of power, money and influence.

The BBTK has created facts, although a more discreet approach would not have hurt. The umbrella organization will react, all sides must move. Where can this succeed if not in dance?


Background photo: picture alliance / Amazing Aerial Agency | Matthew Borowick