Dance and Business

This qualitative research aims to investigate the interaction between artistic and managerial directors in dual leadership structures within Dutch dance companies and its effect on the assessment of organizational performance. The interaction between the dual leaders is defined in terms of shared values, discussion/conversation, division of tasks and contribution to each other’s field of work. This interaction is related to the assessment of organizational performance. It was investigated how tensions between the artistic and managerial director can be decreased and how this can influence the definition of organizational performance. The actual research question is How does the interaction between the artistic director and the managerial director in Dutch dance companies influence their definition of organizational performance? Five Dutch dance companies were used as case studies for this research: Dutch National Ballet, Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, Introdans, Conny Janssen Danst and NB Projects. The research results were found by obtaining in-depth interviews with the artistic and managerial directors and by researching the website and year reports of the companies. The results of this study indicate a hierarchy between the dual leaders. Arts is considered as the leading factor of the organization, which makes the artistic leader the most influential director. The management and the managerial director play a supportive and condition-creating role. Although the companies daily struggle with tensions between the artistic ambitions and the financial limitations, there are no tensions indicated between the artistic and managerial directors. Tensions between the two directors are diminished by three success factors: shared values, a personal connection and mutual understanding. These factors also cause that the dual leaders assess the organizational performance in the same way, which will decrease tensions regarding this subject. This research is relevant for dance companies and other cultural organizations because it shows the factors that are needed to succeed within a dual leadership structure. Furthermore, this research is scientifically relevant because it adds understanding on dual leadership structures and it contributes to the previous studies into this topic, which were all done in a quantitative way.