Pressure to cut costs, find new revenue sources, rethink what doesn't make money, and increase repeat business are confronting all businesses during this tentative economic recovery. For Kathy Brown, executive director of the New York City Ballet, the issues are particularly acute. "Ballet tickets become an unjustifiable luxury to people without jobs, and donations dry up as traditional philanthropic sources also fall victim to a challenging economy," observes Brown, who assumed the newly minted position in December 2009.

Among the initiatives that the ballet has undertaken: forgoing costly, full-company tours unless they are underwritten; experimenting with a dramatically smaller ensemble touring group; and creating and opening a spring festival, "Architecture of Dance," which featured seven world-premiere ballets and four commissioned orchestral scores, interspersed with existing repertoire. "The festival allowed us to appeal both to NYCB's core audience--which appreciates new works, along with the familiar--and to new and younger audiences, who welcome the diversity of cultural attractions that the festival offers," Brown says, "from new music and dance to architecture and fashion."

Brown recently spoke with Businessweek.com Management Editor Patricia O'Connell about her role at New York City Ballet and her goal of " demystifying ballet to make it more accessible to more people."* For the full article, click here*