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Dance/USA Advocacy

2025 Dance Forum

When: Friday, January 10, 2025, 9am-11am ET (doors opened at 8:30am for networking and conversation)
Where: New York Hilton Midtown | 1335 Avenue of the Americas at 54th St. | Trianon Ballroom | 3rd Floor | NY, NY 10019
Cost: Free for attendees and open to all. Registration was required. (APAP|NYC registration not required.)

About the 2025 Dance Forum

The Dance Forum is a time for collegiality, conversation and learning. During the 2025 Dance Forum, colleagues shared ecosystem-wide trends, focused on timely topics impacting our community, and Dance/USA shared takeaways from our Strategic Reframing Process. Dance Forum was hosted as a part of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) pre-conference events. Dance Forum speakers included:

  • Lisa Richards Toney, President and CEO of APAP, who welcomed all to the conference
  • Abdo Sayegh Rodriguez, Executive Director of TU Dance and Dance/USA Board Chair, who shared a welcome address from Dance/USA
  • Sara Nash, Dance Director, Office of Strategy, Programs, and Engagement of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), who reported out from NEA’s national convening: “Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities.”
  • Kellee Edusei, Executive Director of Dance/USA, who reflected on the challenges within a shifting funding landscape, shared more about the financial impact on Dance/USA’s structure and programming, and offered takeaways from our Strategic Reframing Process that will pave the way for future programming updates at the organization.
  • Rosa Pasculli, MD, and Catherine Vargo, PT of The Dance/USA Task Force on Dancer Health, a volunteer force composed of medical professionals who work directly with professional dance companies and professional dancers across the USA and Canada, shared learnings on their 20th anniversary.
  • Lisa Mount, Director of Artistic Logistics, and MK Wegmann, Principal of MK Arts Co, facilitated a rapid-fire discussion with a panel of artists, funders, and presenters on national dance touring and present success stories in these post-pandemic times. Panelists included Soles of Duende, Sarah Lewitus (MidAtlantic Arts), Kristen Brogdon (Northrop, University of Minnesota), and Christy Bolingbroke (NCCAkron). 
  • Juan José Escalante, Executive Director of Miami City Ballet, and Dance/USA Board Chair Elect shared about the upcoming Dance/USA Conference in Chicago in June 2025.

Transcripts of the event are now available! Access the English Transcript and the Spanish Transcript.

 

Disability Access

  • ASL interpretation and CART services were provided.
  • Accessible restrooms were located next to the event space.
  • The event space included tables with room for mobility access.

  • All amplified audio at the 2025 Dance Forum was recorded so that transcripts can be made publicly available following the event. Transcripts in English and Spanish are our way of connecting with those who can not be there in person. We understand that this is not an all-encompassing solution, but we do hope to continue offering transcripts as one option in a varied selection of many access options. 

Health Protocols

In partnership with APAP, we asked that all attendees take personal responsibility for their own health and consider the well being of others by taking appropriate measures. To protect yourself and others from spreading COVID-19, the CDC continues to recommend that you wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and is worn consistently. Learn more about the APAP|NYC Health and Safety Protocols.

Questions? Contact us!

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