Page 52 - How We Lead Matters

The Dance

I ate very little for several days before my meeting with the choreographer
Bob Jani. Bob had helped save Radio City Music Hall by “re-energizing” the
Rockettes. Part of his strategy was to put them on a strict diet. I needed every
advantage.
My goal was to persuade Bob to choreograph a United Way of
Minneapolis halftime event at a Vikings football game. I thought I had an
idea that could engage volunteers and the community more deeply in raising
money for the city’s growing needs. Bob politely pointed out that his fee
would take a serious bite out of the campaign goal. Yes, but I explained that
this was something he had never done before. He was skeptical.
“If you’ve done it,” I said, “I’ll consider us friends and go home. If you
haven’t done it, I’ll ask that you give me a good price.” He agreed.
“Have you ever choreographed wheelchairs?” I asked. He smiled. I
knew we had a deal.
At halftime, a long, colorful line of wheelchairs entered the stadium.
flanked by 2,000 volunteers. The group moved in perfect unison, creating
beautifully shaped patterns to original music: “Love Makes the Difference.”
For the final movement, all the volunteers sequentially fell to their knees
alongside the wheelchairs, forming a gigantic heart. The crowd was on its
feet. The applause was thunderous.
From our places in the catbird seat high above the field, I turned to Bob
to congratulate him on his success. “Look, Marilyn!” he said, his eyes filled
with tears. “Everyone on the field has spontaneously joined hands at exactly
the same moment. I never told them to do that.”

Marilyn Carlson Nelson 35