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NEWS ARCHIVESCan't find what you're looking for? Email Ann Norris at anorris@danceusa.org for assistanceDecember 19, 2007 Chicago Human Rhythm Project Hires Gail Kalver as Interim Executive Director Newly elected Board Chair Susan Oppenheimer announced that the Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), the world’s first year-round presenter of American tap dance and percussive rhythmic arts, has hired Gail Kalver as the organization’s interim executive director, effective December 10, 2007. Kalver, who served as executive director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) for 23 years, will work with CHRP half-time for six to nine months. She will work on board development and fundraising, oversee the staff and evaluate staffing needs, supervise the creation of a strategic plan and conduct the search for a permanent executive director. For more information, visit the website: http://www.chicagotap.org/index.htm
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Awarded $1 Million Grant The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation has awarded a two-year, $1 million grant to The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts to support the preservation of performing arts works and related oral histories through the audio and visual documentation of jazz, contemporary dance, and theater performances by artists or organizations previously funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; the creation of aural and video histories involving Foundation-supported artists and organizations; and the preservation of recently acquired, fragile, and deteriorating archival material related to the life and work of Martha Graham. The grant will enable the Library to record approximately 25 live jazz, contemporary dance, and theater performances by artists or organizations, and conduct and record approximately 45 oral histories with notable performing arts personalities responsible for or related to those performances. Additionally, the Library will preserve 70 hours of oral histories related to the life and work of dancer/choreographer Martha Graham. These tapes, which are already housed at the Library, are in extremely fragile and deteriorating condition. For more information visit: http://www.nypl.org/press/2007/LPA_duke_foundation.cfm
American Express Charitable Gift Survey American Express, in partnership with the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, recently announced the release of the American Express Charitable Gift Survey. This survey is the first nationally representative study to address two frequently-asked questions in the charity world: "How do people give online?" and "How much do they give per donation?" In an increasingly online world, the survey took a close look at how people give online versus offline and the motivations behind each. To download the survey, visit http://home3.americanexpress.com/corp/pc/2007/aecgs_print.asp
Business Committee for the Arts Seeks Nominations for THE BCA TEN honors businesses for their outstanding support of the arts. Selected by an independent panel of judges from the arts and business, the ten companies named to THE BCA TEN offer funding, professional expertise and innovative initiatives that advance the arts. THE BCA TEN - 2008 will be announced on Thursday, October 30, 2008. Three Cuban Ballet Dancers Defect Three dancers identified as principals in the National Ballet of Cuba defected Sunday [December 16], crossed into the United States at Buffalo, N.Y., and Monday night were headed to South Florida. The dancers -- Taras Domitro, Hayna Gutierrez and Miguel Angel Blanco -- defected after a double joint presentation of the Nutcracker Suite by The National Ballet of Cuba and the Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble at Hamilton Place in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Domitro is the son of Magaly Surez, co-artistic director of the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami, which was founded in January 2006 to showcase exiled principal Cuban dancers as well as those already residing in Miami.
December 5, 2007 Workshops at the Winter Forum The Dance/USA programming department has been hard at work to create unforgettable experiences at the 2008 Winter Forum happening January 17-19 in Los Angeles. Workshops will be centered around the following topics: Market Research and Segmentation; Demand-based Management; Social Networking; Next Generation Web-site Audit; Search Engine Marketing and Advertising; The Creation and Use of Videos on the Web. Check out the Dance/USA website for detailed descriptions. This will be no ordinary conference - prepare to roll up your sleeves and get to the nitty gritty of marketing in the technology age. Thanks to the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the LA County Arts Commission for sponsoring our Winter Forum activities! Click here to go straight to registration.
Government Affairs Update Professional Exchange and Cultural Grant Program U.S. Cuba Cultural Exchange Effort To view the full list of signatures or for further information on the U.S.- Cuba Cultural Exchange (USCCE), the national network of artists and presenters that initiated the letter to the President, visit http://www.cubaresearch.info/cubaletter. ARTS Act Passes House Judiciary Committee An identical provision, S. 2178, was introduced in October by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT). The American Arts Alliance http://www.americanartsalliance.org will be sending out more information regarding specific, strategic advocacy opportunities. Dance/USA Visits California Visa Service Center As a result of our visit, the news section of the Artists From Abroad website has been updated to reflect new tips that can help ensure that your visa petition is processed more quickly and reliably. Danspace Project Appoints Judy Hussie-Taylor Executive Director The Danspace Project Board of Directors today announced the appointment of Judy Hussie-Taylor as the organization’s new Executive Director. Ms. Hussie-Taylor will officially assume her post on January 2, 2008. In announcing the new leadership, Danspace Project Board President Erica Bunin stated, “We are both pleased and fortunate to welcome Judy Hussie-Taylor as the new Executive Director of Danspace Project. The depth and breadth of her experience, her forward thinking, and her knowledge about contemporary dance and arts made Judy the clear choice to lead Danspace Project into an exciting new era. The Board of Directors and staff have every confidence that Judy will continue to build on the organization’s strong legacy of stimulating, supporting, and presenting some of the most adventurous contemporary dance being made today. We expect great things for Danspace Project under her leadership.” For more information, visit: http://www.danspaceproject.org/home23.html National Endowment for the Arts Announces More Than $20 Million in Grants for the First Round of Fiscal Year 2008 Funding In its first major grant announcement of fiscal year 2008, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced today that it will award $20.2 million to fund 908 grants. The Arts Endowment will distribute $19,189,000 in this round of FY 2008 funding to nonprofit national, regional, state, and local organizations across the country through the NEA's Access to Artistic Excellence category. Forty-two Creative Writing Fellowships awarded to individual writers total more than $1 million. For the full press release plus grant lists by discipline and by state, go to http://www.arts.gov/news/news07/Announce12-07.html
Survey Reveals Business Gave $3.16 Billion to the Arts in 2006 Business support to the arts totaled $3.16 billion in 2006 according to the triennial national survey released by the Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. (BCA), a national not-for-profit organization established in 1967 to bring business and the arts together. Titled, The BCA Report: National Survey of Business Support to the Arts 2007, this survey revealed a 5% decline in support in comparison to the $3.32 billion business allocated to the arts in 2003. Conducted by Shugoll Research, Bethesda, MD, and supported by a grant from Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA, this survey is the only one in the United States that tracks support from small companies (less than $1 million in annual revenue), midsize companies ($1 million to $49.9 million in annual revenue) and large companies ($50 million and more in annual revenue). For more information on the research findings, visit: http://www.bcainc.org/research.html Doing Good the Hard-nosed Way By Rebecca Knight “This is not your father’s philanthropy; this is a whole new world of charitable giving,” says Eric Kessler, principal at Arabella Advisors, a philanthropic investment advisory firm in Washington, DC. These new philanthropists are practical, hands-on, and tend to have a Hard-nosed investment mentality. In many ways, the donors act as business consultants and the return on their investments is judged by measurable performance results rather than profits. “It’s about developing an investment strategy and taking an analytic approach to your time horizon, risk tolerance, goals, and outcomes,” says Kessler. Strategic philanthropy was once strictly the purview of the business world, combining a company’s marketing and charitable goals.
Ballet Companies Protest Nutcracker Screening By Grania Litwin Alberta Ballet artistic director Jean Grand-Maitre is not happy about the National Ballet of Canada's decision to stream a live performance of The Nutcracker to movie theatres across the country on Dec. 22. "I've talked to a lot of ballet companies and we all feel the same: Nutcracker is our bread and butter, it pays for the whole season, and the Saturday before Christmas is usually a sell-out," he said. The National Ballet and Cineplex Entertainment have announced they will stream the seasonal show in a live, high-definition show to 69 theatres. The 115-year-old Yuletide favourite, which features dancing mice, waltzing snowflakes and a sugar-plum fairy, will be broadcast from Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, using seven high-definition cameras.
By Rachel Howard ...Sure, ragged jumps, circus extensions and melodramatic flailing sometimes count more than control and line. And sure, a few contestants have allowed themselves to become trick ponies, especially Bay Area local Shauna Noland, who whipped out her patented turn-with-one-leg-overhead at every opportunity. But whether it was Dominic Sandoval spinning through B-boy head spins or Anya Garnis flinging herself across the stage in yet another Mia Michaels three-hankie special, these are dancers who move with precision and professionalism, not slickly produced reality TV personalities. As to whether they might inspire crowds to check out less commercial choreography, a highly unscientific crowd poll yields uncertain results. ...
October 24, 2007 The Sun Sets on Irvine Dance in California The following is a letter from Julie Carson, Program Director for the Irvine Dance in California re-granting program that Dance/USA has administered for the past nine years. Dance/USA members will receive the IDC journal referenced below with their Member Toolkits in January. Julie has been a valued member of the Dance/USA staff and her hard work and dedication on this project is much appreciated. Dear Grantees, Colleagues, and Friends, As many of you have heard, the curtain has closed on the Irvine Dance in California (IDC) program. The third year of Dance: Creation to Performance is complete, and most of the artists who were funded during that third year are in the process of finishing their projects. The James Irvine Foundation has decided to move forward with new priorities, and we are extremely grateful for the funding and support they have provided. Little did anyone suspect back in the days of the Irvine Fellowships in Dance, that the program would blossom into a 9-year, multi-million dollar grant program. In its life, IDC provided over $2,000,000 to nearly 100 professional choreographers of all levels. Indeed, we are truly grateful. It has been my pleasure and my privilege to administer this program. I’ve witnessed profound changes in the California dance community. Many dance artists have become educated grant writers exhibiting skill and savvy in their grant applications. New skills, insights, and ideas have developed into brilliant dance work. Dance artists from every boundary of the state have been brought together to share their wisdom and learning, their challenges and successes. I am honored to have been the chief administrator of such a rich and highly acclaimed program, and to witness these amazing changes in the California dance field. Soon a commemorative journal featuring all of the Irvine Dance in California grantees (including profiles of 10 selected grantees illustrating the depth of diversity and talent of dance artists who were funded) will be distributed throughout the California dance community and to the Dance/USA membership. The journal was created to commemorate the 9 years of support for California dance, and to celebrate those dance artists who were able to generate new dance work with IDC's help. I am blessed to have developed many wonderful relationships throughout this near-decade of working with IDC. To have shepherded many of the projects to completion, to have inspired and sometimes even pressured some of the artists to continue, and to have provided support whenever needed has truly been my pleasure. Cheers! Julie Carson Dance/USA and The National Endowment for the Arts Award $250,000 to Colleges for Dance Masterpieces Dance/USA, in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts, announced the second round of awards through the American Masterpieces: Dance – College Component (AMDCC), which will enable institutions of higher learning across the country to reconstruct dances by notable choreographers. An additional round of funding is also announced, and applications will be accepted in the spring of 2008 for the projects occurring during the following two academic years. A national panel of artists, historians and college faculty recommended 25 awards of $10,000 each to colleges, which will bring artists and ensembles to 25 cities in 22 states across the country to reconstruct works. Performances and residency activities are projected to reach at least 36 cities. A new round of funding for AMDCC is available to colleges. Applications will be accepted in the spring of 2008, for projects that take place from January 2009 to June 2010. Information about AMDCC can be found at www.danceusa.org and new funding guidelines will be available there by January, 2008. Questions about the application process should be directed to Callahan at 202-955-8325 or Callahan@ForTheArts.org. Read the full press release and list of awardees
Government Affairs Update Update on IRS 990 Revisions The IRS has announced that it is revising some of its original proposal based on the comments received: Fall Tax Package Could Contain IRA Charitable Rollover Provision Meanwhile, financial advisors have been encouraging people to use IRA rollovers to help their favorite charities in case the rollover provision expires without being renewed. The provision allows a 70 ½ or older donor to transfer as much as $100,000 directly from a qualified retirement account to a qualified charity without having to pay income tax on that money. Such a transfer also counts towards the minimum required annual distribution. Stephen Petronio Company Announces New Managing Director Stephen Petronio Company announced the appointment of June Poster as Managing Director. June has worked in the arts in New York since 1984, most recently as Managing Director of BRIC Arts.Media.Brooklyn, a multi-disciplinary cultural organization that presents programs in the performing arts, visual arts and media. She has also served as Director of Development for Meredith Monk/The House Foundation for the Arts; Director of Finance & Domestic Booking for the Cunningham Dance Foundation and Managing Director of the David Gordon/Pick Up Performance Company. Save the Date! New Orleans, February 24–26, 2008 For the second time, Dance/USA is collaborating with Theater Communications Group and the Institute for Cultural Policy and Practice at Virginia Tech to offer Dual Leadership: Partnering from the Inside Out. Created specifically for two-person artistic/management leadership teams, this program encourages participants to build a common understanding of the unique challenges involved in developing sustainable and effective dual leadership structures. The seminar focuses on the competencies and practices required to build strong team-based leadership models that support both the artistic vision and the institutional resilience required for long term impact. Details to come! Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. Announces the BCA TEN
THE BCA TEN is a national list created by the Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. (BCA) to recognize businesses of all sizes for their exceptional involvement with the arts that enrich the workplace, education and the community. These companies set the standard of excellence and serve as role models for others to follow. THE BCA TEN – 2007 was announced at a gala event at the New-York Historical Society, New York, NY, on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 For more information visit: www.bcainc.org Strict Visa Regulations Discourage Visiting Artists By Sarah Kaufman To perform in this country, foreign artists of all stripes -- punk rockers, ballet dancers, folk musicians, acrobats -- are funneled through a one-size-fits-all "nonimmigrant" visa process whose costs and complications have become prohibitive, according to booking agents, managers and presenters, such as the Kennedy Center, who program and market the performers. Visiting businesspeople face similar security hurdles put in place since Sept. 11, 2001. But artists' visa petitions also require substantial documentation to satisfy the "sustained international recognition" requirement for the type of visa (called a "P-1") issued to many performing artists. Arts organizations say they have become reluctant to book foreign performers because of the risk of bureaucratic snags. Advocates are lobbying Congress to pass a bill, called the ARTS Act (for "Arts Require Timely Service"), that would fast-track artists' visa petitions. Tentative Steps Into a Life After Dance By Abby Aguirre Love, death, loss, devastation: these are the terms dancers tend to apply to “transition,” dancer-speak for retirement since Career Transition for Dancers, a nonprofit service organization, was established in 1985. In that time more than 3,500 dancers (average age: 29), have gone to the organization’s cramped Midtown offices to “turn their minds toward being older,” in the words of one mentor. (A 2004 Teachers College report found the average retirement age for dancers to be just short of 34.) ...And here, in essence, was the pill that many retiring dancers find hardest to swallow, and that Career Transition is nearly alone in dispensing: the sober recognition that, at least momentarily, a dancer might need to stop expecting a new line of work to match the deep fulfillment of professional dance.
October 10, 2007 Luna Negra Names New Managing Director Luna Negra Dance Theater is pleased to announce the promotion of Brooke A.N. Manetti to Managing Director, from her position of Development Coordinator, effective immediately. With this promotion to Managing Director, Manetti, 34, continues a steady trajectory with the eight-year-old contemporary Latino dance company. Beginning in 2001, she served a four-month stint as Development and Special Events Consultant for the company’s first benefit gala, helping Luna Negra raise 58% more than budgeted. Manetti returned full-time to Luna Negra Dance Theater in April 2006, serving as the Assistant to then-Executive Director Phyllis Brzozowska. Within months, she was promoted to Development Coordinator, and now, in little more than a year, Manetti heads all business operations and management responsibilities for the rapidly growing company. For more information visit the Luna Negra Website. Altria Moves Out of New York and Takes the Money With Them Big chunk of arts budget up in smoke Or read an article from The New York Times: As a Company Leaves Town, Arts Grants Follow At first, some arts groups hesitated to take funds from a tobacco company. But most of them got over it, and now more than 200 organizations in New York, including many known for experimental work, receive a total of about $7 million every year from the company known for the last few years as the Altria Group. That money is about to go away as Altria prepares to move its headquarters out of New York because of a corporate reorganization of its tobacco business. An Important Message About Video Documentation Many in the dance community have been turning to DVDs to re-master their treasured videotapes, but beware! While it is true that DVDs have virtually supplanted VHS tapes at local video stores throughout the country and are even quickly becoming the format of choice for moving image materials housed in public libraries, the professional archival community, including members of the Dance Heritage Coalition, does not endorse the DVD format for archival purposes. DVDs provide a convenient way to easily access moving images, but they have numerous inherent problems. Until an archival-quality digital format becomes universally available, it is critical that you SAVE YOUR ORIGINAL TAPES if you are transferring materials to DVD. To download a PDF document regarding preservation of recorded material, click here or visit Dance Heritage Coalition.
You can't use the O-word By David Edgar; Monday October 8, 200; The Guardian Take care. In reading this article, you may be in receipt of stolen goods. In fact, the organising committee for a certain upcoming sporting event has decided it would be "disproportionate" to prosecute the author of a book called Olympic Mind Games for breach of copy-right. But, under no less than two acts of parliament, it could if it wanted to. When it discovered that Robert Ronson's children's science-fiction novel was to be published, the organising committee for the previously mentioned happening sent him an email asking that he should use neither the O-word nor the expressions "London 2012, or 2012 etc" in the title. The committee was able to do so under statutes passed in 1995 and 2006, which in effect turn all the elements of its title into a trademark. For the full article, visit: http://books.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2186092,00.html
September 26, 2007 Joffrey Names New Artistic Director Following a five-month international search, The Joffrey Ballet announced that Ashley Wheater, long-time ballet master of the San Francisco Ballet and former member of both The Joffrey Ballet and The Royal Ballet companies, has been named Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, effective immediately. Wheater becomes the Company’s first Artistic Director after Gerald Arpino and the late Robert Joffrey, who co-founded The Joffrey in 1956. Mr. Arpino became Artistic Director Emeritus in July 2007. Said Mr. Arpino, “I personally invited Ashley Wheater to join the Joffrey in 1984. His work has been known to me for years and he brings a very dedicated commitment to the art of ballet. I am delighted that Ashley has been selected to carry on the traditions of The Joffrey Ballet".
Mind and Body at Yale By Claudia La Rocco As an academic discipline, dance is relatively young, and it has had difficulty being recognized as a component of a liberal arts education, despite its many historical ties to higher education. The choreographers Tere O’Connor and David Dorfman say dance is academically integrated and thriving at the institutions where they teach: Mr. O’Connor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Mr. Dorfman at Connecticut College. But at many institutions — particularly those in the Ivy League, the most prestigious and sometimes the slowest to change — this is not the case. Dance scholars consistently cite challenges in being taken seriously by colleagues and administrators. Often, they said, dance is seen merely as an enjoyable break from rigorous courses, as “ornament instead of structure,” Professor Roach said. What’s more, some scholars said, many dance professionals working within academia reinforce the prejudice that there is nothing intellectual about dance, focusing too much on mechanics. TV Viewers Discover Dance, and the Debate Is Joined By Claudia La Rocco “I had a little resistance to watching some of the programs on television,” Linda Shelton, executive director of the Joyce, said this summer. She was stunned, she said, that television audiences were “going crazy” for contemporary dancers. “We’re starting to think of ways to harness it,” Ms. Shelton said. But others are less convinced that television can help concert dance, and less circumspect in voicing their disdain. This latest skirmish in the high art/low art war has played out most fiercely over Mr. Tidwell, who shocked balletomanes when he left American Ballet Theater in 2005, then added insult to injury by joining the third season of “So You Think You Can Dance.” He placed second on the show but was criticized as being arrogant. That perception hints at the gulf separating classical dance, often characterized as elitist and old-fashioned, and popular culture. While some on the show found him haughty, some ballet fans were incredulous that he would stoop so low.
September 19, 2007 Government Affairs Update IRS 990 Revisions In June, the IRS released a draft of a major revision of the Form 990. The draft proposes significant changes to the ways in which public charities and other exempt organizations will report information on finances, fundraising activities, governance, executive and board compensation, and program services. Dance/USA voiced its opinion on these proposed changes as a member of Independent Sector, a nonprofit organization which represents the charitable community. On September 14, Independent Sector submitted comments to the IRS regarding the proposed 990 revisions. To view these comments, click here. Dance/USA will keep you updated on the status of these proposed changes and their effect on your organization. AWARDS! The East Coast saw three award ceremonies in the past few weeks including The Bessies (NY), The Rocky Awards (Philadelphia) and the Metro DC Dance Awards. The West Coast held the Horton Awards (Los Angeles) and Izzie Awards (Bay Area) in May and April respectively and we close the season with the Sage Awards being held in the Twin Cities, Minnesota the first week of October. Click on any of the communities above to find out more about the award ceremonies and winners. Dance/USA congratulates all of the nominees and winners of this year's Awards. Did we miss an awards ceremony? If you have information about a community celebrating the accomplishments of dance professionals, please send us the info! Resources From Our Canadian Counterpart CHRC Presents Tools for Performing Arts Presenters The Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) continues to expand its suite of tools and resources for workers in the cultural sector with the release of a Competency Chart and Profile for Presenters. These valuable tools will assist Performing Arts Presenters and those with an interest in the field to evaluate their own skills and determine whether additional training is required. This material can also be applied in developing competency development programs, negotiating and customizing training programs, developing/reviewing career planning programs, creating recruitment profiles, and writing individual position descriptions. The chart and profile can be found on the CHRC website. CHRC has also conducted an extensive Training Gaps Analysis (TGA) based on the skills identified in the chart. Recommendations from the TGA include: For further information please contact Megan Guy - 613-562-1535 x 31; mguy@culturalhrc.ca Opening of nominations for the 2008 Molson Prizes in the Arts and in the Social Sciences and Humanities The Canada Council for the Arts and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada are pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the 2008 Molson Prizes in the Arts and in the Social Sciences and Humanities. We invite you to submit nominations for these prestigious prizes and also solicit your kind collaboration in publicizing this call for nominations throughout your institution. The two Molson Prizes are worth $50,000 each. One is awarded annually in the arts and the other in the humanities or social sciences. The eligibility criteria and nomination procedures are posted on our website. There is no nomination form. Important change: Only one nominator is now required to put forth a nomination (in previous years, three nominators were required); nominations and support documentation must be postmarked no later than the deadline date, 1 December 2007. You may also find the information sheet and form for the John G. Diefenbaker Award on our website.
Modern look of China By Cathy Yan, Special to The Times With the government loosening its grip, practitioners of the [modern dance] art form are finding opportunities to experiment and grow. But while its star rises abroad, Chinese modern dance also finds itself confronting commercial pressures and more subtle forms of government entanglement, as well as a struggle to build a quality audience at home. Modern dance made its debut in China in 1987 as an experimental collaboration with American artists at the Guangdong Dance Academy in the southeastern city of Guangzhou (formerly Canton).
September 12, 2007 Discounted Grantstation Membership GrantStation and TechSoup are pleased to present a special offer to the nonprofit community on September 19th from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time. During this limited-time offer, specially discounted GrantStation Memberships will be available to eligible nonprofits and public libraries for only $99. Learn more about this special offer. Please click here if you'd like to take an automated tour of GrantStation. Save the Date! The 2008 National Performing Arts Convention offers an important opportunity to address issues such as education, creativity and sustainability, artist training, audience development and diversification, the impact of new technologies and leadership development in ways that harness the collective energy and expertise of the entire nonprofit performing arts sector. For more information about the event in general, please click here and for details about the schedule, please click here. Traces of Light Loïe Fuller (1862-1928) is one of the most fascinating, yet seldom discussed, figures in early modern dance. Along with Colette, Eva Palmer, and Isadora Duncan, she challenged nineteenth-century gendered hierarchies and gave birth to visions of the "new" woman. Fuller first gained prominence in America for her serpentine dance, and then created an extraordinary sensation in Paris with her manipulations of hundreds of yards of silk and the use of dramatic stage lighting. In TRACES OF LIGHT: ABSENCE AND PRESENCE IN THE WORK OF LOÏE FULLER, author Ann Cooper Albright explores a variety of important themes surrounding Fuller's work. In addition to Fuller's role in the representation of the female body in dance, the book also explores the use of technology in dance, the paradox of dance as a representation of both abstract movement and a physical body, and the role of popular entertainment in early modern dance. The book is lavishly illustrated, in full color, with more than 60 paintings, drawings, and photographs. TRACES OF LIGHT places Fuller in the context of fin-de-siècle culture, taking readers into the circle of artists with whom she lived and worked. We see how Fuller was influenced by decorative themes of Art Nouveau and how she, in turn, inspired such artists as Toulouse-Lautrec, Auguste Rodin, and Stèphane Mallarmé For more information, visit: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~upne/0-8195-6842-2.htm
Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from Dr. Daly’s new book, Clarity: How to Accomplish What Matters Most. We’ve all had the experience. Remember? It was a time when life, or work, seemed to flow effortlessly. You knew what you wanted, and how to make it happen. You enjoyed each step of the way, and you loved the results. No stress, no struggle, no neurotic procrastination. When you’re clear, you can sort things out calmly, even playfully. Decision-making becomes easier. No wheel-spinning, no angsting. Clarity is the catalyst to action, because with clarity comes commitment. When you’re committed, action takes surprisingly little effort. Although we often think of clarity as an outcome, clarity is really a process. It is a habit of mind. What’s more, it is a habit of mind you can learn. What follows is a five-step process that will keep you thinking clearly, acting purposefully, and accomplishing what matters most. You can use this process to work out a particular issue, and you can use this process to change your whole approach to life. Either way, it will give you a way to get clear and get going! Want to learn more? Visit www.anndaly.com. Or email: transitions@anndaly.com.
September 5, 2007 New Membership Associate Dance/USA is happy to welcome Katherine Fabian as the new Membership Associate. Katherine will be working with membership recruitment and retention and will be the first line of contact with current and potential members. Ms. Fabian recently served as the Sales and Marketing Intern at Americans for the Arts where she worked with the membership staff on updating their database and communications staff to make plans for the National Arts and Humanities Month. She is currently completing her MA in Arts Management at The American University. Director of Membership and Communications, Ann Norris, remarked, “Katherine’s skills and experience will be a great asset to the membership department. We’re excited to add her to the Dance/USA team - I encourage our members to introduce themselves with a phone call or an email.” To renew your membership or to join Dance/USA, contact Katherine at kfabian@danceusa.org or call 202-833-1717 x107. Dance/USA Honor & "Ernie" Nominations Next Friday, September 14th, is the last opportunity to submit your nominations for the Dance/USA Honor and "Ernie" recognitions that will be given during the Honors Dinner at the 2008 National Performing Arts Convention in Denver this coming June. Visit our website to learn more about the recognitions, submit your nomination and view a list of past winners.
Charitable Giving Incentives Gain Momentum The IRA Charitable Rollover, a provision that has allowed for millions of dollars in new giving to nonprofit organizations since its passage in August of 2006, may expire at the end of this year. Currently, individuals aged 70½ and older can make charitable gifts from their IRAs tax-free, up to a total of $100,000 per year. House and Senate bills have been introduced to reduce the qualifying age to 59½, remove the $100,000 cap, and make this important charitable giving incentive permanent. The House bill has 70 cosponsors, while the Senate bill currently has 17 cosponsors. Learn how to make the most of this charitable giving incentive before the end of the 2007 calendar year by viewing resources available from Independent Sector. The artists' fair-market value deduction bill is also making progress in both the House and Senate in the form of two separate bills. The Artist-Museum Partnership Act, which would reinstate the fair-market value deduction, currently has 54 cosponsors of the House bill, while the Senate bill has 25 cosponsors. Learn more and take action to support the IRA Rollover and Artist Deduction by visiting the Alliance's charitable giving issue center.
Dance/USA members receive a significant discount to the Arts Reach National Arts Marketing Conference 2007 in San Francisco, October 27 - 30. Register before the September 21st deadline to get the most savings on conference registration. Also, the conference hotel, the Miyako, can only guarantee the special room rate if you make your reservation before September 21 - or until space runs out. This year's theme, "Cultural Entrepreneurship Best Practices: Building Bridges to New Audiences and Donors," is designed to help delegates take their organization to the next level of excellence. The gathering will begin on October 27 with a special Pre-Conference Day, "Focus on Fundraising", and continue through October 30 with Plenary Sessions, Keynote Luncheons, workshops, one-on-one consultations, and more. The "Focus on Fundraising" Day can be added to the regular Marketing Conference or you can register for it separately. For complete program and registration discount details, go to http://www.artsreach.com/conference.html
New England Foundation for the Arts Awards $455,000 in Grants to Support the Creation of Contemporary Dance Projects New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) announces that its National Dance Project (NDP), has awarded $455,000 in Production Grants to support the development of new dance projects during the 2007-2008 season. Sixteen contemporary dance artists and companies from Minnesota, Washington, California, Pennsylvania, New York, and Washington, DC, as well as Canada, the U.K., Finland and Australia will receive NDP Production Grants this year, ranging in amounts from $20,000-$32,000. Projects were selected from a highly competitive applicant pool. They demonstrate multi-disciplinary collaborations, serve diverse audiences, and pursue creative and innovative partnerships between artists and arts presenters. Once developed, the works will be available for national tours during the 2008-2009 or 2009-2010 performance season. A complete list of projects funded by NDP Production Grants this year is included below and available online at www.nefa.org/grantprog/ndp/ndp_ grantees.html. *Dance/USA Members
From our friends at the NEA: The National Endowment for the Arts' initiative, American Masterpieces - Presenting allows presenters the opportunity to do what they do best - design and create their own program for consideration as an American Masterpiece. Presenting organizations of all sizes, genres and aesthetics including: networks of presenters, college or university presenters, local/national/regional presenters, and national service organizations and their networks are encouraged to apply. This is a unique opportunity under the Presenting category and, if you already apply to Learning in the Arts, Challenge America - Fast Track, or Access to Artistic Excellence, this affords your organization an additional opportunity to receive project funding. The details of the program are located at www.arts.gov/grants/apply/AMPresenting. The deadline is October 1, 2007. We anticipate that between 30 and 40 grants will be recommended for funding. The grants will range from 10K to 100K.
Career Transition For Dancers will present its "NATIONAL OUTREACH PROJECT FOR DANCERS". The workshop will address Emotional Aspects of Change, Identification of Personal Interests and Skills, and Career Possibilities for the Future, even while you're still dancing, as well as, Grant and Scholarship Information. This event will be free of charge. Career Transition For Dancers, is a non profit organization that has been helping professional dancers for over 20 years in New York and over 10 in Los Angeles and now branching out to major dance cities around the U.S. It provides one-on-one counseling, grants for school and to start new businesses along with a counseling hotline. The National Outreach Project reflects its mission to help current and former dancers throughout the United States and is being made possible by a generous grant from the Bossak-Heilbron Charitable Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts; Sponsored by Dance Magazine and hosted by the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Please join us and let your dancer and choreographer friends know about this wonderful opportunity! Also check out our webpage for info on the organization at: www.careertransition.org. RSVP: Joanne DiVito – Administrator CTFD - 323-549-6660 or email at: jdivito@sag.org.
By Julie Bloom When the chosen stilettoed few crowd the tents at Bryant Park this morning for New York Fashion Week, careful observers may note that a few of this year’s models move more gracefully than others. This season, as the fashion industry becomes more competitive, a string of in-demand models with serious dance backgrounds literally have a leg up. At the same time, as the pages of this fall’s set of weighty magazines attest, professional dancers are influencing fashion in ways never seen before.
Control of Dances Is at Issue in Lawsuit By Daniel J. Wakin Choreographers associated with the New Dance Group, an activist-minded crucible of modern dance that flourished in the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, based works on Woody Guthrie’s songs, the struggles of the Depression and the Spanish Civil War. Now one of those choreographers and the children of two others are embroiled in a very modern court battle over who has the right to perform their dances. The three have sued New Dance, which now serves as a teaching studio and has a company, and its artistic director, Rick Schussel, seeking a legal ruling that only they can give permission for any performances. “My main concern is that my mom’s dances get reproduced the way she wanted them reproduced,” Abigail Blatt said of her mother, Sophie Maslow, a prominent figure in the early years of modern dance. “What would happen if anybody could just take whatever they saw and copy it?” Ms. Maslow, who died last year at 95, danced with Martha Graham in the 1930s, had her own company, choreographed for a number of groups and taught. While strictly a fight over control of the works, the lawsuit, filed in United States District Court in Manhattan, revives the tricky issues of a more famous legal battle in the dance world: the long struggle by Martha Graham’s heir, Ron Protas, for the rights to her work. The courts have ruled that Graham’s company owns most of her dances, finding that she either assigned the company the rights or choreographed them as “works for hire.”
August 1, 2007 Government Affairs Update Advocacy Action: Write to the FCC about White Spaces! Dance/USA and other members of the American Arts Alliance have already expressed concern to the FCC but the FCC needs to hear from you! Please take a moment and write to FCC and explain how the introduction of these new unlicensed devices could impact the dance community!
Wondering what's happening in the NYC dance scene? Take a look at an interview with Dance/NYC Director, Bob Yesselman as he talks about being a branch of Dance/USA, the NYC funding climate, health insurance and professional development opportunities. Visit www.greatdance.com
Dance/USA Director of Research and Information, John Munger, in conjunction with the Alabama Dance Council, recently completed an assessment of dance in Jefferson County, Alabama. The process was guided by an Advisory Group made up of representatives from the Birmingham dance community. The methodology included surveys and interviews to gather both quantitative and qualitative information. The Jefferson County study served as the pilot project for a statewide needs assessment planned by the Dance Council for 2008. To download a copy of the study, visit www.alabamadancecouncil.org
NEA Chairman Talks of the Value of the Arts at Commencement Dana Goia gave the commencement speech at Stanford University, 17 June 2007. To read the full speech, visit: www.stanford.edu "The loss of recognition for artists, thinkers, and scientists has impoverished our culture in innumerable ways, but let me mention one. When virtually all of a culture's celebrated figures are in sports or entertainment, how few possible role models we offer the young. There are so many other ways to lead a successful and meaningful life that are not denominated by money or fame. Adult life begins in a child's imagination, and we've relinquished that imagination to the marketplace. ...But we must remember that the marketplace does only one thing—it puts a price on everything. The role of culture, however, must go beyond economics. It is not focused on the price of things, but on their value. And, above all, culture should tell us what is beyond price, including what does not belong in the marketplace. A culture should also provide some cogent view of the good life beyond mass accumulation. In this respect, our culture is failing us. "
Comeback Kids The Bolshoi Ballet has risen again, leaving behind dark days of corruption and intrigue. In Moscow last April to attend the Bolshoi Theatre's new production of Boris Godunov, I witnessed one of those mysterious happenings that in Russia often turn out not to be coincidental. Just as Boris Yeltsin's body was lain in state at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour a mile down the road, the hammer and sickle adorning the old Bolshoi's portico landed in a heap of rubble on Theatre Square. Recently, as the theatre started to rise once again, the symbol was replaced by the double-headed imperial eagle. Yeltsin will be remembered by some for his erratic, drink-induced behaviour. To the Bolshoi, however, "Tsar" Boris was the hero who saved the company from the uncertainties of privati sation. "During the 1990s, there were those who fought to turn the Bolshoi into a corporation," Anatoly Iksanov, the company's general manager, explained over lunch. "It was Yeltsin who created the special law to protect our theatre as a national treasure; and it was under him that the £400m reconstruction began."
July 25, 2007 Honor, "Ernie" Nominations Open Historically selected by the Board of Trustees, the nomination process for Dance/USA’s Honor and Ernie is open to the entire membership. Both recognitions will be presented next June at the 2008 National Roundtable in conjunction with the National Performing Arts Convention in Denver, Colorado. The “Honor” is given out biennially in recognition of outstanding contributions in dance. The Honor goes to an individual in the eye of the dance-going public who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in the dance field by reason of artistic excellence and/or force of vision. The “Ernie,” named in honor of the late Ian (Ernie) Horvath, is a tribute to the “unsung heroes” of our field – those leading exemplary lives in dance. The Ernie goes to an individual working ‘behind the scenes’ within the infrastructure of the dance field whose achievements have significantly empowered artists and supported their creativity, individually or as a community. To see a list of past recipients, visit www.danceusa.org.
Visa Fee Increase Begins Next Week! Visa petitions postmarked on or after July 30 will face substantial fee increases: The fee for premium processing will remain the same. Please check the Artists from Abroad website for the most up-to-date information on artist visa processing! If you have an urgent visa question, please feel free to contact Haley Gordon, Dance/USA’s Government Affairs Director, at hgordon@danceusa.org or 202-833-1717 ext. 104.
Dance/USA is busy with preparations for the National Performing Arts Convention that will take place in Denver in June of 2008. As part of the preparations, we’d like your input about the topics to be offered. This is a chance to shape the decisions that are made about in-depth workshops, making sure you get the most of the event. Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey by July 31: click here to open the survey. Mark Morris Honored with 2007 Scripps Award Mark Morris ended his stay at this year's American Dance Festival as the newest recipient of the Samuel H. Scripps Award. Established in 1981 by Samuel H. Scripps, the annual award honors choreographers who have dedicated their lives and talent to the creation of modern dance.The inscription on the award (that also carries a $35,000 cash prize) made reference to Morris' imagination, musicality, wit and humor and his ability to challenge and reach new audiences with his work. Congratulations to Mr. Morris on the recognition of his contribution to the field of dance. Read more from the ADF website or Mark Morris Dance Group website
By Peter Panepento Nonprofit groups are costing the federal government more than $1-billion through unpaid payroll and other taxes, according to a government watchdog unit, prompting questions from lawmakers who worry that regulators are unable to keep up with the rate of abuse. The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight at a Congressional hearing today pressed officials at the Treasury Department and charity leaders on how to combat these abuses without placing unreasonable burdens on the vast majority of charities that are playing by the rules. Getting Into Charity Through Its Board By Pamela Ryckman Non-profit boards may have been cliquey in the past, as members were often tapped by personal friends. But now anecdotal evidence suggests demand for board members far exceeds supply, and organisations are increasingly seeking an infusion of “new blood” at affordable prices. Whether you are an empty nester eager to contribute, a retiree looking for a second act, or a Wall Street upstart who wants to use her bonus to serve her city and score a career boost in the process, there are strategies to navigating the non-profit world.
July 18, 2007 Government Affairs Update Dance/USA Urges Congressman and Senators to Support Artist Fair Market Deduction The Artist-Museum Partnership Act (otherwise known as the Artists Fair Market Deduction bill) was reintroduced this year in both the House and the Senate. This bi-partisan legislation would allow artists, writers, and composers to take the fair-market value deduction for their works donated to a museum, library, or archive. This legislation would directly affect the dance community and greatly benefit choreographers and designers of dance while helping to build the ever-growing collection of dance heritage and history. The House bill (H.R. 1524) introduced by Reps. John Lewis (D-GA) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN) now has 50 co-sponsors while the Senate bill (S. 548) introduced by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Robert Bennett (R-UT) has 23 co-sponsors. Currently, Dance/USA and our coalition partners are working to garner greater Congressional support in order to ensure that this bill is passed in both Houses this year! We will keep you updated on the bill’s progress and let you know whether your grassroots assistance is needed. National Performing Arts Convention Dance/USA is busy with preparations for the National Performing Arts Convention that will take place in Denver in June of 2008. As part of the preparations, we’d like your input about the topics to be offered. This is a chance to shape the decisions that are made about in-depth workshops, making sure you get the most of the event. Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey by July 31: click here to open the survey. Report Works on Leisure National Arts Strategies recently held a joint convening with the Getty Leadership Institute to look at the changing ways Americans spend their time. It was a gathering of a group of leaders from the nonprofit and commercial creative sectors, who generously gave two days of their time to examine the most up to date research in this area and then engaged in scenario planning. The gathering was facilitated by 2007 Spring Council Meeting keynote speaker, Steven Tepper. The changing use of free time for Americans is having a profound impact on our cultural institutions. Below is a link to the summary of work that occurred at the meeting. Download a PDF of the report summary Puristas vs. Innovators: Spain's Flamenco Scene Heats Up By Graham Keeley Though flamenco is a relatively "young" art, which people only started to pay to see about 160 years ago, arguments about the "purity" of the form are endless and typically stormy. On one side are the fundamentalists, or puris-tas, who admit no diversion from the path of what they see as the true faith. For them, those who mix flamenco with other forms, such as classical ballet, contemporary dance, jazz, or even pop, have diluted the art into a pastiche of the original only worthy of the tablaos, or tourist shows. On the other side are the innovators, who are constantly mixing - or, as they see it, enriching - this very Spanish art form with other different types of dance, music or singing in order to push back the boundaries. And even among those pioneers, rows blow up if one claims credit for an innovation that was the work of another maestro. The Commercial Appeal By Kate Taylor The company [Pilobolous] has done commercial work for some time, but in the last year, that work has attracted considerably more attention. ... In this context, one might expect to hear mutterings in the dance world about the company "selling out" or losing its focus. But while there have always been critics of Pilobolus's populist approach, the dance community has, for the most part, applauded its efforts to support itself and to broaden the audience for dance.
June 27, 2007 Dance Theater of Harlem Reminisces and Looks to the Future By Jennifer Dunning There were squeals of recognition, hugs and tears. There was a “soirée,” as the invitation put it, on Saturday night and a picnic on Sunday afternoon in Riverbank State Park in Hamilton Heights. But one theme persisted, beneath the laughing memories and the hopeful chatter at the Gathering, a weekend reunion of performers from Dance Theater of Harlem. How lucky they were, attendees told one another repeatedly in different ways, to have found a place where classically trained African-American dancers could perform. ... Karen Brown, a 22-year member of the company and the former director of the Oakland Ballet, talked of questions she had raised in a discussion with directors of ballet companies at a recent conference. Why were their troupes composed almost entirely of white dancers? The answers were familiar but still thought-provoking: Black dancers don’t audition, possibly because they see no black faces in the group. Black dancers stay only a year or two. Black parents can’t afford point shoes. Ms. Brown questioned some answers — there is, after all, a black middle class, she pointed out, that is fully capable of paying for shoes and classes — and talked of some practical remedies. For the full article, visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/26/arts/dance/26danc.html?ref=dance
By Stephanie Strom Although 2006 was heralded as the dawn of a golden age of philanthropy after Warren Buffett pledged his multibillion-dollar fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, charitable giving was almost flat last year. ... Universities, private schools and other educational institutions, which have some of the largest and most sophisticated fund-raising operations, saw the biggest gains. Donors gave $40.98 billion to educational charities in 2006, a 6.4 percent gain on an inflation-adjusted basis. But perhaps the most surprising winners last year were arts organizations. Contributions to groups working in the arts, culture and the humanities rose 6.5 percent on an inflation-adjusted basis to $12.51 billion, or 4.3 percent of the estimated total. For the full article, visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/25/us/25give.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
PennPAT Announces Travel Grants for U.S. Presenters Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour now offers Presenter Travel Grants that cover 100% of travel/lodging costs, up to $500. The grants are available to presenters based anywhere in the United States who are interested in attending a live performance by a PennPAT roster artist. Application deadline is 6 weeks prior to the performance. Any questions about this grant or about the PennPAT program, please contact Katie West, Director, by email katie@pennpat.org or phone (215) 496-9424.
Julie Fry and Marc Vogl Join Hewlett Foundation as Program Officers for Performing Arts Julie Fry, a veteran arts director, and Marc Vogl, the founder of a San Francisco sketch comedy group, will join the Performing Arts Program of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation as program officers, according to the program's director, Moy Eng. “I am delighted to welcome Julie and Marc to the Foundation,” Eng said. “I believe they will bring diverse and relevant experiences to the Performing Arts program. After a nationwide search, we are thrilled to have them join us.” As program officers, Vogl and Fry will research, identify, and analyze potential grantee organizations and, together with Eng, manage the program’s current grants. For more information, visit the Hewlett Foundation's website
Dance Theater Workshop Appoints Stephen Greco Executive Director Dance Theater Workshop announced last week that it has selected Stephen Greco as its new Executive Director. The appointment takes effect on July 2, 2007. In announcing Stephen Greco’s appointment, Virginia Millhiser, President of Dance Theater Workshop’s Board of Directors, stated, "We are pleased and excited to bring Stephen Greco on as Executive Director of Dance Theater Workshop. After conducting a national search that included several exceptional candidates, we believe Stephen Greco’s business background, visionary thinking, and passion for dance is a powerful combination for an exciting 21st century at Dance Theater Workshop. Moving into our 42nd year, we believe that Stephen Greco and our Artistic Director, Carla Peterson, will make a strong, dynamic team. With our dedicated staff, we are poised to continue the innovative work Dance Theater Workshop has always been known for. It is a great moment for us." For more information, visit the Dance Theater Workshop's website
To more effectively manage and coordinate the artistic activities of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) as an institution, Artistic Director Jim Vincent has announced that two highly respected individuals from the international dance community have been appointed to new positions: Glenn Edgerton, previously artistic director of Nederlands Dans Theater’s (NDT) main company, will become the new associate artistic director of the Hubbard Street Dance Center, effective August 2007, and Kristen D. Brogdon, most recently director of dance programming for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, will serve as artistic administrator of the Hubbard Street Dance Center, effective July 16.
June 6, 2007 Dance/USA Philadelphia Launches Website Dance/USA Philadelphia, the newest branch of Dance/USA, launched their website on June 5th. Visit www.danceusaphiladelphia.org for all the latest information on the Philadelphia dance community. In addition, Dance/USA Philadelphia got some great local coverage for a "Meet the Director" session recently held to provide the opportunity for the Philadelphia dance community to gather and discuss issues that the new service organization will address. Check it out: The Evening Bulletin
House Subcommittee Approves $35 million for NEA The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee approved a $35 million increase for the NEA for FY2008. This is the largest increase in NEA funds proposed by the Subcommittee since the NEA was cut by 40% more than a decade ago! The bill approved by the Subcommittee includes an increase in all categories of funding. If you haven’t done so already, please take a moment to thank the members of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee for supporting federal funding for the arts. Prepare for Fee Increases! U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a substantial increase in petition filing fees, effective for petitions postmarked on or after July 30, 2007. The Premium Processing fee remains $1,000. The fee for the regular I-129 petition for a nonimmigrant worker will increase from $190 to $320. The fee for the I-824 petition for action on an approved application or petition (usually used to request a duplicate I-797 notice of approval) will increase from $200 to $340.
The Joyce Theater announced the 25 dance companies that will be awarded $25,000 each in commissioning grants to help fund the creation of new work. The dance community has rarely experienced such an infusion of resources for the sole purpose of development of new work. Stephen Weinroth, Chair of The Joyce Theater foundation Board of Trustees, explained the selection process: “Although there are hundreds of talented and worthy companies which we would love to support, we had to narrow the scope. We chose companies with the deepest histories at The Joyce Theater that have yet to receive Joyce commissioning funds; companies we want to foster deeper relationships with; and companies doing great work that we want to encourage. We have already distributed commissioning grants to 103 recipients over the years. Now, with this 25th Anniversary Initiative, we are pleased to help add 25 more works to the world of dance.” The 25 Recipients are: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre*, Australian Dance Theatre, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company*, Eiko & Koma*, Elisa Monte Dance*, Emio Greco|PC, Evidence/A Dance Company, Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana*, Garth Fagan Dance*, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago*, Jazz Tap Ensemble, Jennifer Muller/The Works, Jin Xing Dance Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, John Jasperse Company, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company*, Limón Dance Company*, Lyon Opera Ballet, Molissa Fenley and Dancers, Nrityagram Dance Ensemble, Pacific Northwest Ballet*, Paul Taylor Dance Company*, Philadanco, Pilobolus*, and Tero Saarinen Company. *Dance/USA Member Ballet Austin Moves in to New Downtown Headquarters Last week Ballet Austin’s artistic, executive, and administrative teams moved into the new, feature-rich Butler Dance Education Center located in downtown Austin – expected by Ballet and city leaders to be an active and transformative community hub. For the first time in 25 years, the Ballet Austin Company, Academy, Box Office, and Administrative offices are under one roof – transforming the organization into an urban dance company and the first anchor of the emerging downtown Arts and Entertainment District located at 3rd and San Antonio. "The Butler Community School allows Ballet Austin to expand and develop our educational programs, providing an invaluable opportunity to transform our educational role in the community," says Cookie Ruiz, executive director of the ballet. "It will make the greatest possible cultural, social and educational contribution to Central Texas while supporting our vision of democratizing dance, breaking down key barriers to accessibility, including finances, physical challenges, cultural context and geography." For more information visit: www.balletaustin.org
Congratulations to Dance/USA member James Sewell on receiving a 2007 McKnight Artist Fellowship for Choreographers. Each Fellow will receive a $25,000 fellowship award. In addition to the $25,000 fellowship stipend, each Choreography Fellow will receive in-kind production support for a production of his/her work. The McKnight Artist Fellowship Program is designed to enrich and strengthen the Minnesota dance community by acknowledging the accomplishments of individual choreographers and dancers and providing for their artistic growth. Report Examines the Nonprofit Leadership Deficit The Bridgespan Group is a nonprofit organization bringing leading-edge strategies and tools to the challenges and opportunities facing nonprofit organizations and foundations. The Bridgespan Group's report, “The Nonprofit Sector's Leadership Deficit,” finds that nonprofit organizations are struggling to attract and retain the talented senior executives they need to fulfill their missions. Further, over the coming decade, this leadership challenge will only become more acute. The key factors include the growing number of nonprofit organizations, the retirement of managers from the baby-boomer generation, movement of existing nonprofit managers into different roles within or outside the sector, and the growth in the size of nonprofits. Visit www.bridgespangroup.org to download a free copy of the report. Bush Foundation Announces Major New "Enduring Vision Awards" The Bush Foundation announced that it will significantly expand its Bush Artist Fellows Program with the addition of three $100,000awards given annually to artists in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota who have at least 25 years of continued work. The "Enduring Vision Awards" is designed to propel the artistic investigations of mature artists and to encourage their continued influence on present and future generations of artists, audiences and the artist's field of work. There are no other such awards of this size and intent in the country. For more information, visit the Bush Foundation website and scroll down to "Bush News".
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts today announced the appointment of Patricia Mitchell as its new President and CEO. Mitchell will begin transitioning to her new position this week and she anticipates starting full-time August 1, 2007. Patricia Mitchell most recently served as the President of the Literary Network of Greater Los Angeles. Mitchell started her career as Director of Community Services for The Guthrie Theatre and subsequently served as the Executive Director of San Francisco Opera and then Executive Director of Los Angeles Opera. In her position as the Chief Operating Officer of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, housed in the Walt Disney Concert Hall of the Music Center of Los Angeles County, Mitchell was responsible for the overall management and supervision of the Hollywood Bowl.
May 23, 2007 Government Affairs Update NEA Announces Education Leaders Institute For the full press release, visit: http://www.arts.gov/news/news07/ELI.html USPS Postal Rate Increase! Dance/USA Members Receive Discounted Registration Rates for the Arts Reach National Arts Marketing Conference 2007 Dance/USA members are entitled to $80.00 off the registration price of the Arts Reach National Arts Marketing Conference 2007, "Cultural Entrepreneurship Best Practices: Building Bridges to New Audiences and Donors". October 27-30, 2007, San Francisco, CA The gathering will begin with a Pre-Conference Day, “Focus on Fundraising”, on October 27 and continue through October 30 with Plenary Sessions, Keynote Luncheons, workshops, one-on-one consultations, and more. The Early Bird registration deadline is August 15. There is also a Free Marketing Webinar on June 15 that will preview the conference. For details go to http://www.artsreach.com/conference.html
American Arts Alliance Seeks Director The American Arts Alliance is a Washington, DC based coalition of national nonprofit performing arts service organizations for dance, opera, theatre, orchestras and presenting organizations. The Director of the American Arts Alliance is responsible for directing coalition program activity including advocacy and issue management, direct and grassroots lobbying, membership recruitment, communications and day-to-day administration and office operations. Qualifications: 5 or more years of nonprofit management experience required. National nonprofit organization, trade association, lobbying, Capitol Hill and/or arts experience highly desirable. Strong interpersonal, writing, communications and computer skills. Knowledge of website design, HTML, GetActive or Convio a plus. To Apply: Send a cover letter and resume by May 31, 2007 to info@americanartsalliance.org or fax to 202-833-1543. Include “Director” in the subject line of the email. American Arts Alliance
Americans for the Arts announces the release of Arts & Economic Prosperity III, the third study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry's impact on the nation's economy. These studies are the most potent and oft-cited advocacy tool used to justify public- and private-sector support to nonprofit arts organizations. This new study is the largest ever, featuring findings from 156 study regions (116 cities and counties, 35 multi county regions, and five states). Data were collected from a remarkable 6,080 nonprofit arts and culture organizations and 94,478 of their attendees across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Get more information and order the report online Read an article by the Washington Post on the state of the not-for-profit arts field post 9/11, citing the above study. Donor 'Giving Circles' Awarded $13-Million in Grants Last Year By Elizabeth Schwinn Groups of people around the country who pool their contributions and then decide collectively how to donate them gave an estimated $13-million to charity in 2006, according to a new report. Over all, such "giving circles" have raised a total of about $88-million, most of it since 2000, according to the latest research, which was conducted last year and this year by the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, in Washington. Funny, You Don’t Look Dancerish By Claudia La Rocco "...It is tempting to believe that people’s deeply ingrained expectations about how dancers — like movie stars and models — should look apply chiefly to ballet. But contemporary dancers are also held to rigid physical standards, which generally have little to do with ability or health, let alone art. “Like most issues that appear to be aesthetic,” Mr. [Bill T.] Jones said, “they are in some ways social, in terms of time and place.” Performers who deviate from the norm are often treated cruelly in school; deemed physically unacceptable by university deans, they are told they will never make it professionally because they aren’t thin enough. Once out of school, they often face typecasting and disdain from their peers and, sadly, even from themselves as they struggle against the same social conditioning. ..."
May 16, 2007 Dancer and Teacher, Stanley Holden, Dies at 79
By Ann Kisselgoff Stanley Holden, whose Chaplinesque blend of wistfulness and wit made him one of the finest character dancers in Britain’s Royal Ballet before he settled in Los Angeles and became one of the area’s most popular ballet teachers, died on Friday in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He was 79. The cause was complications of heart problems and colon cancer, Mimi Stabile, Mr. Holden’s stepdaughter, said, according to The Associated Press. President Bush Nominates Ballet Director Miguel Campaneria to National Council on the Arts President George W. Bush has announced his intent to nominate Miguel Campaneria, Artistic Director of Balleteatro Nacional de Puerto Rico, to serve on the National Council on the Arts, the advisory body of the National Endowment for the Arts. Campaneria's nomination will be sent to the Senate for confirmation. For the full press release, visit http://www.arts.gov/news/news07/Campaneria.html
A Slap Echoing Beyond the Stage By Alastair Macaulay At each performance of New York City Ballet’s new “Romeo and Juliet,” numerous members of the audience gasp aloud in shock at the moment when Lord Capulet knocks his daughter to the ground with a highly audible slap. The slap occurs onstage; then, like an echo, the gasp occurs in the auditorium. Juliet’s parents, unaware that she has already married Romeo, have come to tell her to marry Paris, and she refuses. In Shakespeare Lord Capulet calls his daughter “young baggage! Disobedient wretch!” and adds, “My fingers itch.” But, itch notwithstanding, he doesn’t hit her in the text or in any other “Romeo” I’ve seen in theater, ballet, opera or film.
May 9, 2007 Laurie Uprichard to Leave Danspace Project Danspace Project announced last Friday that Exec | ||||||||||||
