ABSTRACT
THE FEMALE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE IN PRE-PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BALLET
By
Jill Grundstrom
The purpose of this qualitative, narrative research study was to explore the experiences of current female leaders in pre-professional and professional ballet. These stories often remain untold, as leadership in ballet has been largely male-dominated. The study examined the stories of four female leaders in ballet, including their journey to leadership, leadership philosophy and protocol, and thoughts regarding the future of female leadership in ballet. This study collected data using in-person, phone, and email interviews. The collected data was analyzed and coded for themes and conclusions using deductive and inductive approaches.
From the data, four conclusions emerged. First, it was determined that a particular training was common among the participants and directly influenced their career development. Second, similar female leadership philosophies, qualities and traits were recognized, indicating that a successful leadership protocol could be identified from the data. Third, extensive leadership responsibilities were prevalent in each participant’s story. Fourth, the significance of mentorship was acknowledged; the participants both having and being strong mentors.
","abstract_html":"<p>ABSTRACT</p> <p>THE FEMALE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE IN PRE-PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BALLET</p> <p>By</p> <p>Jill Grundstrom</p> <p>The purpose of this qualitative, narrative research study was to explore the experiences of current female leaders in pre-professional and professional ballet. These stories often remain untold, as leadership in ballet has been largely male-dominated. The study examined the stories of four female leaders in ballet, including their journey to leadership, leadership philosophy and protocol, and thoughts regarding the future of female leadership in ballet. This study collected data using in-person, phone, and email interviews. The collected data was analyzed and coded for themes and conclusions using deductive and inductive approaches.</p> <p>From the data, four conclusions emerged. First, it was determined that a particular training was common among the participants and directly influenced their career development. Second, similar female leadership philosophies, qualities and traits were recognized, indicating that a successful leadership protocol could be identified from the data. Third, extensive leadership responsibilities were prevalent in each participant’s story. Fourth, the significance of mentorship was acknowledged; the participants both having and being strong mentors.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Grundstrom, Jill"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Education Specialist","degree_level":"Education Specialist","degree_discipline":"Education, Leadership and Public Service","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dr. Bethney Bergh"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2020,"date_issued":"2020-08-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2020-08-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:24:17Z","subjects":["female leadership","ballet","female leadership qualities","leadership responsibilities","choreographer","dancer","artistic director","arts administration","entrepreneur","mentor","Dance","Educational Leadership"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/633","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dr. Bethney Bergh"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Grundstrom, Jill"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2020-04-23T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Education, Leadership and Public Service"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Education Specialist"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Education Specialist"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["female leadership","ballet","female leadership qualities","leadership responsibilities","choreographer","dancer","artistic director","arts administration","entrepreneur","mentor","Dance","Educational Leadership"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/633"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["ABSTRACT
THE FEMALE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE IN PRE-PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BALLET
By
Jill Grundstrom
The purpose of this qualitative, narrative research study was to explore the experiences of current female leaders in pre-professional and professional ballet. These stories often remain untold, as leadership in ballet has been largely male-dominated. The study examined the stories of four female leaders in ballet, including their journey to leadership, leadership philosophy and protocol, and thoughts regarding the future of female leadership in ballet. This study collected data using in-person, phone, and email interviews. The collected data was analyzed and coded for themes and conclusions using deductive and inductive approaches.
From the data, four conclusions emerged. First, it was determined that a particular training was common among the participants and directly influenced their career development. Second, similar female leadership philosophies, qualities and traits were recognized, indicating that a successful leadership protocol could be identified from the data. Third, extensive leadership responsibilities were prevalent in each participant’s story. Fourth, the significance of mentorship was acknowledged; the participants both having and being strong mentors.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Female Leadership Experience in Pre-Professional and Professional Ballet"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Dr. Bethney Bergh"],"dc:creator":["Grundstrom, Jill"],"dc:date.available":["2020-04-23T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["ABSTRACT
THE FEMALE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE IN PRE-PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BALLET
By
Jill Grundstrom
The purpose of this qualitative, narrative research study was to explore the experiences of current female leaders in pre-professional and professional ballet. These stories often remain untold, as leadership in ballet has been largely male-dominated. The study examined the stories of four female leaders in ballet, including their journey to leadership, leadership philosophy and protocol, and thoughts regarding the future of female leadership in ballet. This study collected data using in-person, phone, and email interviews. The collected data was analyzed and coded for themes and conclusions using deductive and inductive approaches.
From the data, four conclusions emerged. First, it was determined that a particular training was common among the participants and directly influenced their career development. Second, similar female leadership philosophies, qualities and traits were recognized, indicating that a successful leadership protocol could be identified from the data. Third, extensive leadership responsibilities were prevalent in each participant’s story. Fourth, the significance of mentorship was acknowledged; the participants both having and being strong mentors.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/633"],"dc:subject":["female leadership","ballet","female leadership qualities","leadership responsibilities","choreographer","dancer","artistic director","arts administration","entrepreneur","mentor","Dance","Educational Leadership"],"dc:title":["The Female Leadership Experience in Pre-Professional and Professional Ballet"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Education, Leadership and Public Service"],"thesis:degree_level":["Education Specialist"],"thesis:degree_name":["Education Specialist"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:24:17Z"}