Compared to a mere decade ago, we are now seeing contemporary dance festivals galore in literally every corner of the world! Such is the booming level of finances available as well as the burning desire for members of the community to continue permeating new establishments, whether for against the establishments. So, how do you do it then? What goes on behind the scenes?
In Johannes Wieland and Evangelos Poulinas, you have a team and match made in heaven. From individuals traversing across the world as scintillating creators in their own right, their synthesis into festival co-directors has been nothing short of remarkable. the b12 festival for contemporary dance and performance art in Berlin has quickly grown into a top 5 international dance platform globally. Let's dive into some of the biggest lessons I've learned in our conversation.
1. Find people that can support you and your ideas
“Ideas are a dime a dozen, but people who implement them are priceless.” What a great quote by Mary Kay Ash, and so true! The world is full of incredible ideas that never go anywhere because great ideas are useless without someone full of passion to implement them. (Will Johnson’s book of the same name).
It starts with the project team and the various expertise that each individual brings to the table. Be it social media, administration, programming, community building etc. And let’s not forget the official partners that provide not only valuable networking opportunities but also institutional resources such as the aforementioned Dock 11 Eden, NYU Tisch and Muda Africa. B12 is composed of a web of talented minds brimming with passion and confidence to undergo such a gargantuan task year after year, because where’s the fun in a great idea when you don’t get to share it?
Where ideas were once a crucial commodity, the age of information has relegated them to something mostly attainable with a few clicks of a button, but only secondary to people themselves. Hence, why many successful organizations depend highly on the collective spirit and camaraderie to foster long-term sustainability. I mean, even most contemporary choreographers use co-collaboration as a means of creating nowadays. Meaning, try not to overvalue your ideas but learn to find ways and people to help realize them. People are just as important as ideas, so identify the right people that can support you and your ideas.
2. Stay positive and retry
When you get locked out of class for being late, stay positive. When you can’t keep up with the movement phrases all morning, stay positive. And when you can’t seem to complete even one pirouette after countless tries, stay positive and retry! Is your glass half-empty or half-full? How you answer this age-old question about positive thinking may reflect your outlook on life, your attitude towards yourself, and whether you ultimately succeed or fail.
Despite B12 being born recently in 2015, attempts of staging what has become one of the biggest dance festivals in the world had surely occurred way beforehand. In the words of Evangelos, perhaps the biggest challenge for dance practitioners today remains achieving a long professional life. Maintaining a career in dance after the age of 30 requires more effort than in any other profession; especially when starting a family. The profession of a dancer is comparable to the profession of an elite athlete — short lifespan and fraught with physical and psychological demands. Which foregrounds mental health and positivity as absolute necessities while navigating through this industry.
However, positive thinking doesn't mean that you ignore life's less pleasant situations. It just means that you approach unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way. You think the best is going to happen, not the worst. Remember the phrase “If at first you don't succeed, try, try again?” We don’t often read about failures, instead focusing only on the success stories of winners and the ones who beat the system. But you know what? Life doesn’t work that way. So when you fail, and you will at some point…Stay positive and retry!
3. Think big and know that you are able to do many things
As one Olawale Daniel puts it - “It costs nothing to think bigger than you are, BUT it costs a fortune to think less of yourself.” To achieve something big, you need to think bigger. People from all over the globe search for the best ways to accomplish their goals. But, the secret behind success is within yourself, and all you need to do is believe. I mean, How can Someone Believe You, If You Don’t Believe in Yourself? Cliché? Yes. But harshly True.
When brainstorming about the title of the platform, the co-founders agreed that it should be deliberately abstract so as to be interpreted individually. It may be Berlin’s “b” or the state of “being” in the 12 initial days of the festival, which have multiplied to events through all 12 months of the year. Yes, it is also vitamin b12. Or the name of an unknown planet. A festival has to be big enough to encompass all the hundreds and thousands of participants onsite, or to magnetize star names to teach there, or simply to support the continuous fight for dance and the arts as a whole.
One of my favorite books is Sofi Bahcall’s Loonshots: How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas That Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries. And his premise is to understand that true innovation comes about when people bank on a “loonshot,” a “widely dismissed idea whose champions are often written off as crazy.” How can leaders take these crazy ideas and translate them into technologies that produce transformative products or services? As illustrated in Lesson 1, ideas are everywhere and nowhere at the same time. A seed still needs to be planted, and a tree grown. It takes both the idea and person to realize seemingly impossible feats, so don’t ever scoff at your tiny seeds of imagination, but think big and know that you are indeed able to do many things.
As thought and action leaders of contemporary dance, Johannes and Evangelos with their team, have consolidated one of the best and most nurturing dance platforms in the world. If they can do it, so can you! Don't forget to catch our newest episode of a brand new season!😁
| 05.03.2024 |
