FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2024
Contact: Johanna Tschebull
Dance/USA, the national service organization for the dance ecosystem, announces the selection of five early-career dance leaders and five mentors for its 2024 Institute for Leadership Training (DILT), a national mentee-driven leadership development program. Meet the 2024 DILT mentees and mentors.
DILT is vital for the dance ecosystem’s future – especially for those who self identify as early-career dance leaders – and need support at this critical moment in their leadership journeys. The program’s objectives are to build the leadership and resiliency skills of early-career dance leaders with a specific focus on supporting individuals who identify as Native and BIPOC, as Disabled, and as LGBTQIA+.
The 2024 DILT mentees were selected through a rigorous process and work within a broad range of genres and communities across the country. The 2024 cohort will have a six-month one-on-one mentorship experience involving monthly meetings, one optional site visit, and periodic cohort meetings guided by Dance/USA. The program begins this month and runs through September.
“In every virtual or physical room I am in, the significance of relationships – cultivated by consistent moments of connection – remains a constant truth. DILT embodies Dance/USA’s core value of connectivity and I am thrilled we are supporting another cohort in 2024! DILT deepens ecosystem wide connections and amplifies the importance of network weaving,” said Dance/USA Executive Director Kellee Edusei.
Learn about the 2024 DILT mentees and mentors.
About DILT
DILT was piloted in 2011 at the recommendation of the Dance/USA Emerging Leaders in Dance Task Force to facilitate one-on-one relationships for networking and leadership development for dance professionals. The program was designed to enhance and refine the skills of self-identifying early-career leaders within the dance ecosystem so that they may guide dance organizations through the future’s challenges and shifting landscapes. With the guidance of a mentor, mentees hone their management skills, as well as recognize and learn from personal strengths and weaknesses. Learn more about DILT.
Dance/USA is grateful to the Mellon Foundation and The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation for their generous support of the Institute for Leadership Training. Dance/USA is also grateful for its ongoing funders. Find a complete list of Dance/USA funders on our website.
About Dance/USA
Propelled by our belief that dance can inspire a more just and humane world, Dance/USA will amplify the power of dance to inform and inspire a nation where creativity and the field thrive.
Established in 1982, Dance/USA champions an inclusive and equitable dance field by leading, convening, advocating, and supporting individuals and organizations. Dance/USA’s core programs are focused in the areas of engagement, advocacy, research, and preservation. Learn more about Dance/USA at danceusa.org.
