News & Announcements

Temple University Choreographic Commission

Deadline: March 5, 2012
The Dance Department at Temple University invites choreographers to submit proposals for a new choreographic commission that speaks to the theme of Reflection:Response. You will be given a $5000 grant towards this and you will have daily access to rehearsal space throughout June-August 2102. The work will be presented on October 19 & 20, 2012. For more info click here.

Call for Proposals: PHL/Poland Dance Artists Exchange

Deadline: Friday, February 24
A new exchange program between Polish and Philadelphia based choreographers launched in 2012 by Art Stations Foundation/Stary Browar (Poznań, Poland) and Dance/UP will enhance the development of young artists through an international exchange program. Committed to the idea that the art of choreography is not confined to arranging and enforcing dancing steps, the program offers artists of both countries a unique study opportunity, not related to the production of a show, to experience a new community, take artistic risks, redefine their own stance, discuss their own creative processes, and finally to find inspiration for their dance-making practice. Read more here.

New title on Joan Myers Brown from Brenda Dixon Gottschild

We have just received Joan Myers Brown & the Audacious Hope of the Black Ballerina by Brenda Dixon Gottschild. This new book uses the remarkable biography of Philadelphia legend Joan Myers Brown as a frame for viewing a broad sweep of dance history. Now on loan in our community resource center.

Free Grant Session hosted by creative capital

Kemi Ilesanmi, Creative Capital's Director of Grants & Services, will be present on Friday, February 3, 12:30pm, The Painted Bride, 230 Vine Street to answer questions regarding Creative Capital's current and upcoming grant rounds. Creative Capital supports artists creating adventurous and imaginative work in Emerging Fields, Film/Video, Literature, Performing Arts and Visual Arts. In 2012, Creative Capital will be considering proposals in Emerging Fields, Literature and Performing Arts. The online Letter of Inquiry form opens on February 1 and closes on March 1. In 2014, we will reopen for grants in Film/Video and Visual Arts. Learn more about how to apply in 2012 at creative-capital.org/apply.

Get Involved! Philadelphia to host Dance/USA Annual Conference in 2013

The 2013 Dance/USA Conference (June 12-15, 2013) is a fantastic opportunity for Philly to "strut its stuff." Nearly 600 dance professionals will converge on Philadelphia. Interested in getting involved? Email danceusaconference2013@gmail.com and express your interest in joining the Host Committee, a subcommittee or by providing a specific service, resource or idea. The Host Committee Co-Chairs, Michael Scolamiero, Terry Fox and Donna Faye Burchfield, will lay out the next steps in the planning process. Stay tuned and spread the word to your emails lists and via Facebook.

Composers & Choreographers: Zooming in on Collaboration

In the interest of fostering new collaborative relationships between composers and choreographers in the Philadelphia region, this event, co-sponsored by the American Composers Forum, Philadelphia Chapter will focus on connecting artists as well as discussing issues arising between artists and their processes. Tuesday, February 28, 5:30-7:30pm at Triumph Brewery, 117 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA 19106. To register click here. Don't forget to visit the Choreographer/Composer Network to start scoping out potential collaborators and save this parking coupon for February 28.

Philadelphia Dance Class Survey...Results are in!

The Philadelphia Dance Class Survey was completed during September 2011, generating more than 120 responses from dancers, choreographers, students, administrators and other people involved in the Philadelphia dance community.  

New Exhibit Showcases Dance and Politics

The Library of Congress will open a new exhibition on February 16 called “Politics and the Dancing Body,” that explores how American choreographers from World War I through the Cold War used dance to celebrate American culture, to voice social protest and to raise social consciousness. This exhibition spotlights collections from the Music Division of the Library of Congress, the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, the Daniel Nagrin Collection, the Eric Hawkins Collection, the Federal Theatre Project Collection, and the Martha Graham Collection, to name a few. The exhibit is free and runs through July 28. 

New Report Cites Strong Start-Up Culture of Dance in NYC

Dance organizations in New York City are entrepreneurial and innovative, despite having to scramble for money and rely on part-time, contract and volunteer labor, according to a 30-page report by Dance/NYC, the city’s dance advocacy group, which will be released this week. The group drew on information about 127 nonprofit dance makers and organizations, culled from the statewide Cultural Data Project, which offers detailed data on finances, programs and employment in arts and culture. Read more.

Cultural Crossroads

Recently, the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs launched Cultural Crossroads, an arts-specific group on the Department’s social networking site. The group’s purpose is to facilitate connections between U.S. artists traveling abroad with U.S. embassy workers in those regions visited as well as to provide resources and funding information to both stakeholder groups. While the group is still small, the arts community is looking for it to increase. This is a great opportunity for the dance community to develop a strong online presence by posting relevant articles, beginning discussions, and highlighting future travel plans or exchange opportunities. The site is open for anyone to join. If you would like additional information, please contact advocacy@danceusa.org.

Get your 2012 Philadelphia is dancing! calendar now

Every calendar includes "A World of Dance in Philadelphia" DVD produced by MiND TV. These 11" x 17" (open size), full-color calendars celebrate the strength of dance in Philadelphia, and are printed on heavy high-quality paper. The objective of the Philadelphia is Dancing! wall calendar is to design a fundraising strategy for the New Stages for Dance Initiative that would also generate revenue for other non-profit dance organizations through retail sales. Please know that your purchase benefits the company you buy it from. More info and how to purchase.

White Pines Summer Residency

White Pines Productions is accepting applications for its 2012 Summer Residency Program. White Pines will offer a week at the Elkins Estate, with room and board and a large room to work in, to three performing arts ensembles next summer. Application deadline is March 1st 2012. Applications can be downloaded here.

Check out this Report!

Portfolio 2011 is the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance's analysis of the region's cultural activity. Fascinating stuff!

Growing Up Artfully Awards request for nominations

The Lehigh Valley Arts Council will present the annual Growing Up Artfully Awards for Excellence in Arts Education at its spring 2012 arts in education workshop. The awards recognize school-administered, sustained k-12 programs that bring quality arts experiences to our students and our community. We invite you to nominate a school’s extraordinary visual, literary, performing, or media art program for consideration. Completed applications, in hard-copy only, must be received at the Lehigh Valley Arts Council office by Friday, February 10, 2012. DOWNLOAD THE NOMINATION FORM HERE

Dance/USA Green Room Blog

Check out the Dance/USA Green Room Blog: blogs from dance enthusiasts to Board Members of Dance/USA discussing art, advocacy, and dance.

How Long is your performance?

Do you post the length of your shows in billings and advertisements? Consider this.

Making homes for the aRTS IN sACRED PLaces

Read the recent report on an exciting new initiative. Thank you, Partners for Sacred Places.

CHECK THIS OUT!

Nonprofits Invited to Connect to New Funding Resource  article by Susan Carey Dempsey. And, A New Ticket Application on Facebook!

Connecting creative people with creative spaces

A new site has launched! PhillySpaceFinder.com is a free online database of creative spaces in the Greater Philadelphia region featuring more than 100 spaces available for rent for performances, rehearsals, meetings, auditions, special events, weddings and more. PhillySpaceFinder was created through a partnership of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Dance/UP, the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Philadelphia Music Project.

blowout sale!

Equipment Rental Prices SLASHED! from DanceUP on Vimeo.

Archiving your work

Click here for Best Practices on archiving your performance videos!

THE ADVANCE PLANNING CALENDAR

Dance/USA Philadelphia Advance Planning Calendar is a tool to help us avoid, not all conflicts, but hopefully, the disastrous ones. This tool is designed for producing dance companies and presenters. List tentative dates as well as confirmed dates for future performances, anniversaries, festivals and fundraising events. The information is for internal use only; not for the general public.
To request access: email or call 215-922-5970.