Audience Architects is partnering with Dance/USA and MetLife to launch the New Stages for Dance Initiative, an expansion of Dance/USA’s current program in Philadelphia, which now includes Chicago and San Francisco. $42,500 has been granted to Chicago dance companies and artists to provide affordable access to quality venues.
The Chicago New Stages for Dance recipients are:
Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre and Inaside Chicago Dance
Harris Theater for Music and Dance, September 24, 2011
Lucky Plush Productions
Museum of Contemporary Art, October 27-29, November 3, 5 & 6, 2011
Thodos Dance Chicago and Luna Negra Dance Theater
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, February 11-12, 2012
Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak
The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, February 23-25, 2012
The Space/Movement Project, Rachel Damon/Synapse Arts and Erica Mott
The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, March 8-10, 2012
Winifred Haun & Dancers, Jessica Miller Tomlinson and Jacqueline Stewart
Ruth Page Center for the Arts, March 23-24, 2012
Mordine & Company Dance Theater and Natya Dance Theatre
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, April 14, 2012
DanceWorks Chicago and Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, May 11-12, 2012
Leadership Support for the New Stages for Dance Initiative is provided by MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation Partners with Dance/USA to Launch
the New Stages for Dance Pilot Program in Chicago and San Francisco
Audience Architects Selected to Support Pilot Program in Chicago
Washington, DC—Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional, not-for-profit dance, has received a $150,000 grant from the MetLife Foundation to support the New Stages for Dance (NSD) pilot programs in Chicago and San Francisco and the third year of the program in Philadelphia. The program, which runs for two years beginning this May, provides theater rental subsidies for dance artists in these three communities, allowing them to increase their visibility and audience-building capacity by performing in major venues that would typically be beyond their financial means. As administrator of this grant, Dance/USA will partner with its branch office Dance/USA Philadelphia, as well as two member service organizations—Audience Architects in Chicago and Dancers’ Group in San Francisco.
“In this climate of reduced resources, declining touring opportunities, and more focus on community development, New Stages for Dance will offer dance artists and companies the opportunity to solidify their home bases and strengthen their seasons,” notes Dance/USA Executive Director Andrea Snyder. “We are so pleased that MetLife Foundation recognizes this need and is willing to support this program in three selected cities. Our hope is that the model developed by Dance/USA Philadelphia and expanded to Chicago and San Francisco will continue to grow and assist more dance artists and companies in more cities over time.”
The high expense of renting a theater limits dance artists’ and companies’ ability to perform a regular “home season,” thereby reducing their capacity to attract an audience, build boards, garner media recognition, or amass a donor base. Dance/USA believes that home season support for dance artists and companies is critical to the survival of the art form.
“MetLife Foundation has a longstanding tradition of supporting the arts because we believe that it plays a vital role in enriching our communities,” said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. “We are pleased to begin this new partnership with Dance/USA and Audience Architects to provide opportunities for dance companies in the Chicago area to perform in their own communities.
In Chicago, Audience Architects has identified five venues that are under consideration for participation in the New Stages for Dance pilot. These venues—Museum of Contemporary Art, Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, Harold Washington Library, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, and North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie—were selected for their potential to attract distinct audiences and provide strong marketing support. Audience Architects will also assist participating dance companies with Internet advertising and marketing opportunities, mainly through its website SeeChicagoDance.com.
The NSD pilot includes an evaluation component, with identical audience surveys being distributed in all three communities. A survey to measure the impact of the program on the artists/companies will also be developed. The results of both surveys will be compiled into a report and available on Dance/USA’s website.
Details about how dance artists and companies may apply for NSD funding in each community will be forthcoming from the respective service organizations.
ABOUT DANCE/USA Dance/USA is the national service organization for the professional dance field. We believe that dance is essential to a healthy society, demonstrating the infinite possibilities for human expression and potential, and facilitating communication within and across cultures. Dance/USA sustains and advances professional dance by addressing the needs, concerns, and interests of artists, administrators, and organizations. By providing services and national leadership, Dance/USA enhances the infrastructure for dance creation, education, and dissemination. Learn more about Dance/USA and our branch offices by visiting our website, www.danceusa.org.
ABOUT METLIFE FOUNDATION
MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife to carry on its longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Grants are made to support health, educational, civic and cultural organizations and programs throughout the country. Recognizing the vital role the arts play in building communities and educating young people, MetLife Foundation contributes to the arts and culture by focusing on increasing opportunities for young people, reaching broader audiences through inclusive programming and making arts more accessible for all people. For more information about the Foundation, please visit its web site at www.metlife.org.
ABOUT AUDIENCE ARCHITECTS
Audience Architects’ mission is to build new and broader audiences for Chicago area dance organizations by providing community-wide audience development initiatives for dance performances and instruction, professional development opportunities, and direct service to the field. Audience Architects was formed in 2006 to operate SeeChicagoDance.com, a comprehensive website that serves as an audience development tool to drive ticket sales and build awareness for dance in Chicago. SeeChicagoDance.com has proven to be of great value to the public and not-for-profit dance organizations alike, providing free visibility to 200 companies, venues, and presenters, and amassing a subscriber database of 9,000 dance devotees. In 2008, Audience Architects began representing Chicago dance companies at the Arts Midwest and Association of Performing Arts Presenters conferences, providing an affordable alternative to dance companies who cannot afford to attend booking conferences or who do not have the in-house expertise to book tours on their own.
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