PRESS RELEASE: Dance/USA Philadelphia Receives $89,000 in Transitional Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2014

Contact: Johanna Tschebull
202.833.1717

Washington, DC – Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional dance, announces that it will receive $89,000 from the William Penn Foundation for the transition and closure of Dance/USA Philadelphia (Dance/UP), the Philadelphia branch office of Dance/USA.

“Dance/UP was an incredibly effective dance service organization and we are grateful to the William Penn Foundation for their support at this time. This grant will provide Lois Welk, Director of Dance/UP, and her staff of seven the ability to close down Dance/UP in a thoughtful manner.” Amy Fitterer, Dance/USA Executive Director.

“Based on guidance from Dance/USA about what it needed in order to responsibly transition its work and staff, the Foundation has awarded a grant to Dance/USA that meets the needs they expressed for this phase,” said William Penn Foundation Executive Director Laura Sparks. “We thank Dance/USA Philadelphia for all it has done to advance dance in the region, and as a long-time supporter, the Foundation appreciates the value of its programs and the energy they have brought to the dance community. In recognition of this, the Foundation will welcome applications for one-time funding to support the cost to transition these programs to organizations that demonstrate an ability to sustain them for the long-term.”

Fitterer, who has already met with the Philadelphia dance community several times, will continue to be in Philadelphia to support the Dance/UP staff and community during this transition. Dance/USA and Dance/UP staff will also continue to work with local leaders to ensure that services continue in some capacity for the Philadelphia dance community.

About Dance/UP
Following the recommendation from the Philadelphia dance community to establish a local dance service organization and a report published by The Pew Charitable Trusts and the William Penn Foundation on the Philadelphia dance community’s infrastructure needs, Dance/UP was launched in 2007 with start-up funding from the William Penn Foundation. From the beginning, Dance/UP was supported by the local community, managed by local artists, and provided services to local dancemakers. Dance/UP’s mission is to advocate for dance as an art form and vital component of our culture, to increase the capabilities of dance artists and organizations, and to enhance the public’s awareness and support for dance. For more information, visit www.danceusaphiladelphia.org

About Dance/USA
We believe that dance is essential to a healthy society, demonstrating the infinite possibilities for human expression and potential, and facilitating communication within and across cultures.

Dance/USA is the national service organization for the professional dance field. Established in 1982, Dance/USA serves a diverse national membership of dance groups working in the genres of aerial, ballet, contemporary, culturally-specific, hip-hop, ice, international, jazz, liturgical, single-choreographer, and tap, dance presenters, dance service organizations, dance agents, dance educators, independent dancers, freelance choreographers, students of arts administration and/or dance and business in service to dance, and individuals related to the field. Learn more about Dance/USA by visiting our website, www.danceusa.org.

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