Dance/USA is the national service organization for dance, serving a broad cross-section of the dance field. Established in 1982, Dance/USA champions an inclusive and equitable dance field by leading, convening, advocating, and supporting individuals and organizations.
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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.
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.
Creativity inspires change. Dance/USA values our nation’s creative capacity and artistry to imagine and build a world we have never encountered and deeply desire.
Dance/USA strives to be a catalytic network enlivened by connection, community, and collaboration. We value calling people in as a practice of leading, listening, learning, and deepening our impact.
Through the lens of equity, Dance/USA strives to remove the boundaries erected by a legacy of racism, classism, ableism, ageism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, gender bias, and xenophobia and we work to dismantle institutional and systemic oppression that attack the dance field’s progress, impede the creation of work, and negatively impact dance audiences and communities.
Integrity is critical to our organizational culture and the way we lead, serve, and collaborate with the dance field. We seek to provide transparency about our internal processes, professional resources, and information about the field.
Dance/USA’s 2024 Impact Report reflects upon the myriad ways in which Dance/USA served our member community and the greater dance ecosystem in alignment with our core values of Connectivity, Creativity, Equity, and Integrity.
You will read about how Dance/USA supported dance professionals in building their skills and networks through in-person and virtual programs such as Dance Forum, Dance Business Bootcamp, and Centering the Artist webinars. You will discover how we advocated for the dance ecosystem in a critical election year through the #DANCE2VOTE initiative. And, you will learn about the launch of Dance/USA’s Strategic Reframing Process — the next phase in Dance/USA’s equity, inclusion, justice, and liberation journey.
It goes without question that these essential services to the dance ecosystem would not have been possible without the support of our member community and dance advocates like YOU! Thank you for supporting the essential work that is needed to be done in service to the dance ecosystem.
During our November 2022 Board Meeting the Dance/USA Board of Trustees voted and approved several changes to the Bylaws in order to reflect and amplify our core value of equity. In order to support Dance/USA’s Board, Council and Affinity Group Chairs and Co-Chairs as well as our member community in the understanding of the approved Bylaw changes, we created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.
Access the Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Changes to Dance/USA’s Bylaws
Dance/USA is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
In 2017, Dance/USA entered into a year of planning activities about the future of the organization. Looking ahead and considering the impact that Dance/USA would like to have on the world, Dance/USA released a new strategic plan in 2018 that reflected the organization’s current focus and future goals. In October 2020, this plan was updated. Dance/USA envisions a more just and inclusive dance field and we are committed to embedding equity and justice throughout our organization.
Dance/USA is in the midst of a Strategic Reframing Process. In a process of assessment, listening, exploration, and dreaming, we aim to gain a better understanding of what it means to be in humble service to the dance ecosystem.
This work is both reflective and aspirational. It is reflective of moments in our history when the organization has fallen short of being truly inclusive or equitable. It also embraces our aspirations for a future structure that supports members of the dance community in ways that are deeply meaningful, while remaining realistic and practicable for our team.
We anticipate that the programs and resources Dance/USA currently provides will shift as a result of this work, and so we are committed to sharing key learnings with you as we move through the rest of this process.
