By Mary Jennings, Executive Director
January invites us into a different rhythm. Outside, the world slows; The snow softens the landscape, the days are shorter, and growth feels paused. Winter can look like stillness, even dormancy. But we know better. This season is not about stopping entirely; it is about attending to the deeper, more intentional work that allows what comes next to flourish.
As we return to the office after the holidays, I feel that tension clearly. My instinct is always to rush back in, to pick up exactly where I left off, to move quickly, to check boxes and gain momentum. Yet I know that when I am more paced, focused and deliberate, my work feels more purposeful and I end up feeling caught up without feeling frazzled.
At Grand Rapids Ballet, we are using this time to think carefully about strategy, about who we are, who we want to become, and how we want this company to grow. That kind of thinking cannot be rushed. It requires space. It requires listening. It requires patience.
Winter reminds me of the seeds that are started indoors long before spring arrives. They don’t burst through the soil overnight. They are nurtured quietly, tended with care, given exactly what they need to develop strong roots. Their success depends not on speed, but on intention. The work is subtle, but it is essential. That is where we are right now.
Behind the scenes, we are asking meaningful questions about our future: How do we best support our artists? How do we deepen our connection to our community? How do we honor our legacy while continuing to evolve? How do we ensure that Grand Rapids Ballet remains strong, relevant, and vibrant for generations to come?
These conversations, thoughtful, sometimes challenging, always hopeful, are the seeds we are planting this winter.
January gives us permission to slow down just enough to do this work well. Not to pause progress, but to strengthen it. It is a reminder that growth does not always look like motion; sometimes it looks like focus.
As we move through the winter months, I am filled with optimism. The future for Grand Rapids Ballet is bright. The care, patience, and intentionality we are investing now will give our ideas, our plans, and our aspirations the best possible chance to thrive and realize their full potential.
Spring will come. And when it does, the work we are doing now, quietly, deliberately, beneath the surface, will begin to show itself in powerful and beautiful ways.
Thank you for being part of this season with us,
Mary
