• Three Week Countdown to the Conference!
• Join Dance/USA in a Field-Wide Study of Dance Audiences
• Advocacy Update

Three Week Countdown to the Conference!
We look forward to welcoming everyone to Washington, DC in just three short weeks for the Dance/USA 2010 Annual Conference! Haven't registered yet? It's not too late. Register today!

Don't miss this opportunity to spend four days immersed in the dance field -- learning, sharing, networking, and exploring. We've lined up a great set of speakers who'll lead break-out sessions in management, artistry, audience engagement, and international exchange, plus an inspiring set of plenary speakers, including Congresswoman Louise Slaughter!

If you're an emerging leader in the field, we have several great resources for you at the Conference. Many of our speakers and other participants are also emerging leaders, and best of all, we have a special late-night event just for you! On Friday, June 18 you can take a run at "speed dating" with established leaders -- it's your chance to pick the brains of experts in a low-key, no-pressure environment.

Bring your Board! Our special Trustees Day will provide board members with a range of vital information relevant to their work as stewards of dance organizations — the state of the national dance field, the national funding climate, and board-related issues — plus offer the opportunity to talk with and learn from experienced professionals in the arts fields.

DON'T MISS THESE UPCOMING DEADLINES!
Hotel Reservations
Many of you have registered for the conference, but not at the hotel! Please book your room at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City before May 31, so that you can lock in our great group rate (just $149 for single, double, triple, or quadruple occupancy).

Alternate Accommodations at George Washington University
If you're planning to stay at the George Washington University residence halls, all reservations must be made by June 1 at 12 noon (EST). To reserve a room at George Washington University, please call the Dance/USA office at 202.833.1717. Payment must be received to guarantee your reservation.

Ballet Across America Tickets
If you plan to attend Ballet Across America with other Conference attendees on Wednesday, June 16, your $25 tickets need to be purchased by June 1 at 12 noon (EST). What a deal! You can include these tickets as part of your online registration. If you've already registered and still need tickets, please call the Dance/USA office at 202.833.1717.

REGISTER NOW!
Reserve your place at the 2010 Annual Conference today!

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Join Dance/USA in a Field-Wide Study of Dance Audiences
Wondering how dance audiences want to engage? So does Dance/USA.

That’s why we are working with WolfBrown on a field-wide study of dance audiences—the first, large-scale study of its kind. Any Dance/USA member who presents or produces dance and has an email list of at least 500 recent ticket buyers is eligible to join the study as a partner at no cost.

Register for the study now!

Each study partner will assist with the research by sending three email messages to recent ticket buyers. In exchange, partners will receive a confidential, topline report (i.e. counts and percentages for each question) on their own data, as well as an advance copy of the research report based on aggregated results. For more detailed information, please read the FAQ, available online.

This field research study is part of the Engaging Dance Audiences (EDA) pilot initiative underwritten by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the James Irvine Foundation. Please submit any questions to Victoria Smith (research@danceusa.org or 202.833.1717).

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Advocacy Update
Dance Advocacy on the Hill, June 17, Washington DC
As part of the Dance/USA Annual Conference in Washington DC, attendees can choose to participate in Dance Advocacy on the Hill. The session will bring dance advocates to Capitol Hill to discuss public policies that support dance in America. The deadline to register for this session was April 15. If you are still interested in conducting legislative visits, contact the Government Affairs Department at advocacy@danceusa.org. Though we may not be able to confirm meetings with legislators for those of you that register late, we welcome you to join others on their meetings and to speak in support of the arts.

IRS Update on the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act)
The Internal Revenue Service has issued the newly revised payroll tax form that most eligible employers can use to claim the special payroll tax exemption that applies to many new workers hired during 2010. Designed to encourage non-profit and for-profit employers to hire and retain new workers, the payroll tax exemption and the related new hire retention credit were created by the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act signed by President Obama on March 18. Employers who hire unemployed workers this year (after Feb. 3, 2010, and before Jan. 1, 2011) may qualify for a 6.2% payroll tax incentive, in effect exempting them from the employer’s share of Social Security tax on wages paid to these workers after March 18. This reduction will have no effect on the employee’s future Social Security benefits. The employee’s 6.2% share of Social Security tax and the employer and employee’s shares of Medicare tax still apply to all wages. In addition, for each qualified employee retained for at least a year whose wages did not significantly decrease in the second half of the year, businesses may claim a new hire retention credit of up to $1,000 per worker on their income tax return. Source: IRS
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=223606,00.html

Estate Tax
The federal Estate Tax serves as a strong incentive for individuals to donate from their estates to charitable organizations to reduce estate tax liability. The Estate Tax expired on December 31, 2009. Senator Baucus (D-MT), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, believes that the Estate Tax can be reinstated retroactively. And, President Obama has proposed reinstating the Estate Tax at 2009 levels ($3.5 million individual exemption, 45% rate). The Senate continues to debate ways to reinstate the estate tax and proposals are on the table to lower the tax rate and have a higher exemption level (above $3.5 million). For more information and talking points, visit Independent Sector at: http://www.independentsector.org/estate_tax

Future of Music Policy Summit
On Tuesday, May 25, the Future of Music Coalition hosted their annual Policy Day in Washington, DC. The program included discussions on health care reform for musicians, spectrum issues at the FCC, and music related issues in Congress. Remarks of particular interest were made by FCC General Counsel Austin Schlick on Net Neutrality and advocacy advice for artists by key hill staffers. To watch video excerpts from the panels, visit the Future of Music website at: http://futureofmusic.org/events/dc-policy-day-2010

Dance/USA’s Advocacy website is continually updated with legislative news and resources. Visit our site often to learn about federal advocacy news affecting dance organizations in America. https://www.danceusa.org/newsactionalerts

Questions about the Advocacy Update? Email Dance/USA Government Affairs Director, Amy Fitterer, at afitterer@danceusa.org.

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