On Business and Ballet
I read almost everything Seth Godin puts his name on. Today, I finished the “The Big Moo,” a follow up to Seth’s remarkable book, “The Purple Cow.” Here are key excerpts from a chapter entitled, “What Business Can Learn From Dancers.”
…While some dancers are driven to become brilliant interpreters of others’ work, they are not unique. Remarkable dancers are always trying to find a way to put their own signature on their work.
…An award-winning dancer, choreographer, and director for Broadway and film, [Bob] Fosse was not known for his stellar dance technique. He was often accused of having “bad feet” (feet that turned in instead of out), terrible posture (he hunched) and poor flexibility. But Fosse used his awkward, atypical style to his advantage. Instead of forcing himself in to these positions that were just too foreign for his body, he incorporated his bad habits into an original style that became his trademark.
None of these artists followed the form’s artistic norms. They were the misfits and the oddballs. Each, in his or her own way, set out to do something brand new and timeless, utilizing what was inherently unique inside. And each of them was uniquely qualified to do just that…No carbon copies allowed!
The chapter goes on to profile Jack Cole, Isadora Duncan and Jose Limon. In each case, including Fosse’s, the dancer was looking to create their brand and leave a legacy. As with any business looking to do the same, they were left with the risky choice to perform unlike everyone else or fail.