Snap Facts April 2004:
Hard Data from Big Cities

From Chicago:

• The Chicago dance community is extensive, embracing at least 258 dance-making entities, 217 studios and dance schools, and 156 K–12 schools and colleges offering dance. Dance performances have taken place at over 250 studios, theaters, churches, festivals and other sites.
• The combined expense budgets of the 258 dance-making entities generated over $23 million of direct economic activity in a recent year.

From San Francisco:

• The Bay Area dance community is mature and experienced. The average length of “professional experience” for dance artists is over 20 years.
• The most common source of support for dance-making entities is “paid some of the costs from own pocket” (66%). The next highest is ticket sales (64%).

From Washington, DC:

• Culturally specific companies make up 41% of the 186 dance-making entities in the area. Modern dance is second most common, with 30%.
• 61% of Washington, DC, dance-making organizations are 501(c)3 corporations. This compares with 41% in San Francisco and 68% in Chicago.

From all three communities:

• All three communities report that artists lead complex, multitasking lives. Artists were asked what roles they had in the dance community (e.g., performer, teacher) and whether they also had employment outside the dance field. In Chicago, 78% of artists reported three or more roles (or forms of employment). In San Francisco, 71% reported two or more, and in Washington, 91% reported three or more.
• Very few dance companies can afford to pay dancers as salaried employees. In Chicago, 12 out of 258 (5%) reported salaries. In Washington, DC, 11 out of 186 (6%) indicated salaries, and in San Francisco, the figure was 9%.