American Masterpieces:
Dance - College Component

The American Masterpieces: Dance-College Component (AMDCC), a grant program, is designed to foster appreciation for the best in American dance history and creativity. The AMDCC brings classic American dances of the past century to college students and audiences in communities across the nation. Awards are available to reconstruct or restage works by master American choreographers of the 20th Century. These works will increase students’ access to and understanding of dance heritage and the role played by artists such as George Balanchine, Talley Beatty, Maria Benitez, Trisha Brown, Jack Cole, Honi Coles, Katherine Dunham, Bob Fosse, Martha Graham, Susan Marshall, Meredith Monk, Jerome Robbins, Paul Taylor, and other artists.

For all projects, public involvement within and/or beyond the academic community is critical. Successful applicants will make substantial efforts to involve the general public beyond the performance of the dance work itself. At each site, performances, panel discussions, lectures, school showings, open rehearsals, film or video showings, symposia or other activities should allow general audiences access to the history of the dance work and the process of creating choreography. It is expected that scholars, educators, critics, historians, adjunct faculty, and artists will help inform the public presentation of the dances. Finally, other organizations may collaborate, including musical ensembles, dance companies, community-based dance organizations, presenting institutions, or elementary and high schools. It is permissible for several colleges to collaborate on one project.

Dance/USA is pleased to announce the third round of support with AMDCC for projects that will take place during 2009 and 2010.

Download Guidelines, Frequently Asked Questions, and All Application Forms in MS Word

Download the Budget Form as an MS-Excel Spreadsheet, which calculates totals automatically

The schedule for the Third Round is as follows:

Two substantive changes will be made to the program and guidelines are as follows:
• The NEA and Dance/USA welcome projects that embrace choreography from all forms and styles, representing the cultural richness of the U.S. and its many dance traditions.
• The panel values outreach plans that are tailored to the specific artist, college and project and reflective of the possibilities that engagement of the artist can bring to campus and/or the community. It values depth and context, such as involvement with other academic departments or specific cultural organizations, over standard activities such as open rehearsals. While K-12 activities are welcome, they should be integral to the project.

Dance/USA now supervises the AMDCC, working in collaboration with Project Manager Suzanne Callahan of Callahan Consulting for the Arts. Callahan will advise potential applicants, receive applications, and manage the selection process. Upon selection, the payment process will be managed by Dance/USA and NEFA.

Dance/USA encourages potential applicants to also contact Project Manager Suzanne Callahan with any questions, to discuss your project plans, or for technical assistance, at 202-955-8325 or callahan@forthearts.org. Applicants are encouraged to begin planning in advance of the deadline, to allow sufficient time to confirm artists, as well as to obtain clearance through your own university departments and administration. In some instances, such clearance can be more time consuming than anticipated.

Previous Rounds of Support

AMDCC is an outgrowth of the National College Choreography Initiative (NCCI), which Dance/USA managed during its three rounds of funding. Visit our Press Page for details on the first and second rounds of AMD-CC grantees.

Publications for Faculty, Artists and Students

Potential applicants may wish to review several publications which explore issues that are pertinent to college dance departments and provide an overview of the impact of AMDCC and NCCI’s reconstructions over the past six years. Click Here for a list of available publications.

Other Funding Opportunities through AMD at NEFA

Dance/USA is pleased to partner with The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), which is administering American Masterpieces: Dance.  In addition to the college component described above, AMD includes the following two components.

AMD Reconstruction Grants provide funding for the reconstruction or restaging of American Dance works that are artistically, historically, and culturally significant and have a substantial performance/touring aspect to ensure the works reach the broadest possible audience.

AMD Touring Grants support the presentation and distribution of the work created by Reconstruction Grant recipients and a limited number of other nominated tours each touring season. 

Dance companies may apply to receive these Reconstruction and/or Touring Grants.  Note that these two components are not open to colleges. For more information, visit www.nefa.org.