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0102030405ABOUT THE GUIDE SECTION I - TOWN HALLSECTION II - CALL TO ACTIONSECTION III - RESOURCESIN CLOSINGTable ofContents

DMV Dance Town HallsWhat’s Next

Carol Foster is a longtime advocate for the arts, with 54 years of experience as adancer, choreographer, director, arts administrator, and educator in the DMVregion. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors and has been recognized in theCongressional Record for her impactful work with young people.Her influence spans both nationally and internationally. Under the Obamaadministration, she collaborated with the President’s Committee on the Arts andthe Humanities as part of the Turnaround Arts Initiative, leading young performersto the White House for ten performances. She also guided young artists to theFringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, providing them with a global platform toshowcase their talent.5 678Help! Is a new service developed by Carol Foster to empower artists,particularly dance artists, to thrive in their creative and professional lives byproviding compassionate support, strategic guidance, and practical resources thatfoster resilience, success, and well-being. (5678help@gmail.com)Carol’s unwavering dedication to fostering creativity, advocacy, and access to thearts continues to inspire and strengthen the DMV dance community.Carol Foster

02SECTION I - TOWN HALLSection 1

03SECTION II - CALL TO ACTIONSection III

CALL TO ACTION Action Steps & What To Do Now

IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS What to do NOW!For the Resilience and Sustainability of the DMV Dance CommunitySTEP 1: Prioritize Your Personal Well-Being and Financial Security Just like in air travel, secure your own oxygen mask first. Ask yourself:Are you prepared for an unexpected loss in income, space, or opportunities?Do you have a personal emergency plan—financially and professionally?If not, start building it now. Take proactive steps to safeguard your well-being so you can continue creating, leading, and sustaining yourartistic work.STEP 2: Get Your Organization ReadyDoes your company or studio have reserve funds?Have you explored contingency plans for shifting political and funding landscapes?Consider alternative revenue models for diversifying streams of income. o B- Corp, Co-Opsl, Collaborative Projects, Collectives, etc. *Innovative strategies will be key.Now is the time to gather your team and stakeholders to develop or revisit scenario plans. Ensure your organization can weather uncertaintyand stay mission-driven.STEP 3: Build Strategic AlliancesYou don’t have to go it alone. Connect with peers, partners, and like-minded organizations to form or join collective networks.Together, you can:Share resourcesCo-develop advocacy strategiesBuild power from the ground up—especially on the local levelCollective sustainability is community resilience.

STEP 4: Join the Movement – Strengthen the DMV Dance CommunityThe work doesn’t stop here. We invite you to take the next step by joining one or more of our three Action Committees or the DMV Dance TownHall Planning Committee. These groups will shape future Town Halls and help sustain the momentum of this growing movement.We seek representation from across the field:Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, etc.Ethnic/Indigenous/Global DanceCommercial, Hip Hop, Burlesque & emerging formsPresenters & CuratorsEducators, Scholars & WritersAnd YOUPlanning Committee: Please sign up for this committee here: https://forms.gle/cHZoycNG3cq4DPNN9Action Committees: 1: Grant Writing & Alternative Funding 2: Political Advocacy for the Arts 3: Community Building & Collaboration * Please sign up for THESE committees here: https://forms.gle/ingwpWzkQVVthNND6

04SECTION IV - RESOURCESSection IV

CHAT from Town HallJane RaleighSharing the resources I mentioned - please share your own examples ofindividuals/groups who are sharing resources and influence across the DMV:Dance Place Thresholds Councilhttps://www.danceplace.org/artist-advisory-council-25/ DIW Incubator Serieshttps://danceinstituteofwashington.org/incubator-series/ Gridlock Dance Motion Mixershttps://www.gridlockdance.com/events/gridlock-dances-motion-mixer-march-2025 Beyond the Ballet Barrehttps://beyondtheballetbarre.live/ Effervescence Collective https://www.effervescence-collective.com/ DanceShareDChttps://www.instagram.com/dancesharedc/Aaron Meyers: DCCAH Grants | https://dcarts.dc.gov/Disaster Preparedness and Response | Americans for the Artshttps://www.americansforthearts.org/disaster-preparednessNational Coalition for Arts' Preparedness & Emergency Responsehttps://www.ncaper.org/Victoria Baatin: Arts ConsultantCertainly! Conflict of Interest; Gift Acceptance; Document Retention and Destruction;Executive Compensation; Whistle Blower Policy; 990 Compliance PolicyRonya Lee-Anderson, Artisthttps://internationalartsmanager.com/digging-deepgoing-local-to-stay-whole/Tariq Darrell O'Meally, Artistic Director, Dance Place:BlackLight Community Conversation: What If We Built It Ourselves?DETAILSFriday, April 25th7-8.30pmDance PlaceBrought to you by BlackLight. Moderated by Ronya-Lee Anderson. Hosted by Dance PlaceLight refreshments will be served.FREE, but please register to attend. Walk-ins welcome.Community Conversation REGISTRATION LINKhttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjA36tkxWZyZfEpQ2X7sRMC4YFRjLieTcmZpn1_FMb1b4MDg/viewform?usp=sharingCommunity Conversation REGISTRATION LINKhttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjA36tkxWZyZfEpQ2X7sRMC4YFRjLieTcmZpn1_FMb1b4MDg/viewform?usp=sharinghttps://www.danceplace.org/thresholds-2025/https://www.danceplace.org/double-jump-fellowship/https://www.danceplace.org/artist-advisory-council-25/https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjA36tkxWZyZfEpQ2X7sRMC4YFRjLieTcmZpn1_FMb1b4MDg/viewform?usp=sharingFriday, April 25th -7-8.30pmHere are some points of inspiration that have been driving my thinking:https://www.recapturetherapture.com/https://www.themarginalian.org/2018/05/09/a-brave-and-startling-truth-maya-angelou/https://www.amazon.com/Black-Swan-Improbable-Robustness-Fragility/dp/081297381Xhttps://www.amazon.com/Antifragile-Things-That-Disorder-Incerto/dp/1400067820/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0https://rescripted.org/2023/08/04/decomposition-instead-of-collapse-dear-theatre-be-like-soil/

Bertrand Evans-TaylorIf you have any questions for me or Dance/USA, please feel free to email me atadvocacy@danceusa.orgErika HawthorneAAC offers resources for artists & arts administrators of color acrossdisciplines & roles to stay connected, supported, and uplifted. Check out this overview of our work & how to tap in:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TWSdafjxM_zoJvbDLu2_Y9qk3eYVQzju/view?usp=sharing Join our DC happy hour on May 1st at Atlas Performing Arts Center & Virtual AffinitySpaces on April 16: https://www.aacnetwork.org/eventsFor BIPOC arts orgs, consider joining AAC's Cousins' Regime for peer support andstrategizinghttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeikG_uovBIZsH55nOsYFZFkRfElu-D6jeohMQAIfU2E4LH-Q/viewformHappy to connect with anyone who wants to co-conspire. I am based in Columbia,MD, and come to DC often. ehawthorne@aacdmv.orgLisa Richards-Toney, President & CEO, Association of Performing Arts ProfessionalsFor more resources, advocacy tools, and information about how to join APAP orsimply sign up for some of our resources, visit www.apap365.org or contact medirectly at lrtoney@apap365.org. Happy to share more and work with you.Digging deep: Going local to stay whole (from International Arts Manager Magazine- March 2025) Association of Performing Arts Professionals | Mar 25, 2025https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/digging-deep-going-local-stay-whole-tbuueACTION: Advocates are continuing to speak up to Congress -https://lnkd.in/guiUKsid... - to support access to the unique federal investment inNEA grants, research, and national initiatives.Tara Vassefi, Community Advocate - https://www.americansforthearts.org/Shawn ShortNgoma’s Dissonance Dance Theatre Projects is here! As we adapt to the changing artslandscape, DDT is launching an exciting new project-based model for our 2025-26season.We’re seeking versatile dancers trained in classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, andmodern dance for a dynamic season of special projects. Upcoming collaborationsinclude performances with the US Air Force Band, festival appearances, and engagingpresenter partnerships across the region.Selected dancers will receive:* Project-based compensation ($500-$1,000 per project)* Company classes* Access to physical therapy services* Professional performance opportunities* Social media content rights for portfolio developmenthttps://ngcfddt.org/ddt-auditions/Shawn Short - Fiscal funding help / Shawn Short DDT/Ngoma hit me up:sshort@ngcfddt.orgKayla Harley April is Financial Literacy Awareness MonthCEO Inc. is dedicated to teaching, supporting and grooming Artists to navigate theirFinances with more confidence - both personal and business/organizations.FREE Financial Literacy E-Course Access to Resources @ceoincartsFinancial Planning Support w/an Advisor (1-1) IG/Facebook LIVE Segments @ceoincartsWorkshops & Guest Course- by request Summer Intensive Lectures for Pre-Pro DancersContact: harley.kayla3@gmail.comNEXT STEPS from DC Dance Town Hall: https://forms.gle/MesJ2tqkQvVD959W7

Carol Foster Welcoming folks and walking through the pillars that will guide our time together Moves through the agenda Lays out the community agreements as well Carol reads one side, and Kahina reads through the other “Leave with tangible tools to serve our dance community.” “Here to uplift, support, and ally with one another” Names the state of dance in this political climate Kahina Haynes There is much to be gained from connecting with other people to glean from whatthey are doing. She introduces the keynote speaker, Kenya Simon. Kenya Simon (Keynote Speaker) New to the DMV dance community; spent decades building bridges “Artists are at the intersection of brilliance and vulnerability- this is a long overdue conversation.” Can we play the long game? Can we be proactive? A thirty-year vision starts with alignment! What is the collective or united front?- We must get in sync right now! We benefit from the work of our elders, and so now it is our turn to do the work-new leadership can emerge now. “We’re going into this more powerful than we have ever been at a time of crisis.” What does funding look like? “We are beyond readied and built to meet this moment.” Create anonymized entities- Calling on others who may not be from the dance community… “We are not just participants, but we are builders of this moment.” PANEL DISCUSSION Kahina introduces the next segment… “I will invite them (the panelists) to speak to the perspective that they are bringing tothis conversation.” Introduces all the panelists by name and affiliation. Jane Raleigh (Kennedy Center) -Great to be in community with you all in the space today -Coming to the space as an active member of this community- dancer, organizer andaudience member -Working in collaboration with each other -Institutions and organizations are really the people inside of them- they only havepower over us if we ascribe that power to them -Institutions cannot control the relationships that we have with one another and thepower we share between us -Consider what human capital you are rich in? Who are the people and connectionsyou have and can share? How can you ensure that our community can access that? What resources are you willing to share? What systems do you understand mostintimately? I see this working well- Dance Place (Thresholds Community Council); Group of DMVdance presenters have begun coming together to share issues and resources; Thistown hall; DIW (Incubator Series); Gridlock Dance (Max Gorman’s monthly movementmakers; Beyond the Ballet Barre; Effervesecentn Collective: Dance Share DC(Instagram) Victoria Murray (Viva School of Dance) Love and passion have been in the theater space for many years, but I am interestedin bridges. Getting organized, turn our attention to the things that are within oursphere of control and our sphere of influence. How do we undergird the strength ofour organizations? 4 areas- donor relationships (strengthen)- storytelling and impactof our organizations; prioritizing our mission clarity and community relevance- remainrooted in the mission; scenario planning and financial forecasting (best, medium andworst case scenario); make sure your compliance documents are in order (conflict ofinterest policy, gift acceptance, doc retention and destruction; 990 compliance andwhistle blower) MEETING NOTES from the Town Hall

Aaron Myers (DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Executive Director) Sales tax funded https://dcarts.dc.gov/service/cah-grants“The commission is going forward.” We have decided to go deeper into DEI- shareexactly what it means and how to preach the gospel of that, and implement some ofthe things we have found in this particular community. After our music census, we took a pause; we had hoped to do a theater and dancecensus- we are still working on making sure we know ….On April 22, we are hosting a community gathering for all of those who love the artsto meet with other funders. I want to offer some encouragement- We do our best to support the arts robustly…Iencourage you to diversify your income. Grants do not excuse your board fromdoing fundraising. I want you to keep creating. Give us something to celebrate. Continue to bring forththis thing called dance. Look at the camaraderie that happens in the communityThis is not the time for crabs in the barrel mentality. Come to the government with solutions. Bertrand J. Evans-Taylor (Director of Government Affairs for Dance USA) Invest in the community We are experiencing a shift in government priorities Privatization- The best way to prepare ourselves is to latch on to the community….Become more resilient by leaning on each other. Lisa Richards (APAP, President and CEO) Host thousands of bookers at their annual festival; workshops for advocacy. We held a town hall with our members. I think of when Issa Rae pulled out of the KCand decided to go to the Howard Theater. Will agents and managers consider non-traditional venues all over the country, as well as the smaller venues? Where can weactually get some work done? This is a crisis, but also an opportunity.” What resources do you need if you are a small and/or mid-size venue that wants topresent larger acts/performances? “Advocacy has always been local.”This is a practice- organizing… We may want to organize an advocacy dayThere is a groundswell of community that we could impact. What is our power if we got all of those people to speak in the same language? Tariq O’Meally (AD at Dance Place) Hell vs. Heaven How are we better feeding each other? How are we holding each other? Dance Place is in a place of recovery, repair, and adaptation I am working towards antifragiltiy- solutions that help us get better Inspiration, connection, and healing Thresholds Program- real transformation does not happen overnight- open ourselvesupbring people together- provide opportunities for others (Double Jump fellowship) Artistic Advisory Council Stories are really important to me Drag artist who is a visual artist and drag artist- “If you have been called to love, thenbe prepared to be tired”. The pursuit of our work benefits us ultimately! Revolutions can be small and mundane- checking in on people and coming to shows… I want to leave you thinking about what you can do with what you have now. Erica Hawthorne (Arts Administrators of Color Network) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TWSdafjxM_zoJvbDLu2_Y9qk3eYVQzju/view?usp=sharingShared resources, space, and opportunities Putting funders and fundraisers together so that they can co-conspire behind closeddoors…Where are there programs and parts of our work where we can get fiscal sponsorship If all 16,000 people in our network gave $10 a month, then we would be fullysupported. Connecting peers How can we fully lean into the community Stay connected to our newsletter on ways that we can collaborate. Carol Foster Review of Scenario Planning Guide MEETING NOTES from the Town Hall (cont.)

Karen Brown (formerly of DTH now in higher ed.)From Kansas City, MissouriResources at UMKC Suzanne Callahan The power of relationships- building on what Jane and Tariq said Lived through the culture wars Reach out and talk Ngoma Director An undercurrent of organizations trying to grow Got assistance from Joy of Motion Helping other organizations with fiscal sponsorship Kemba Speaking from my experience as an arts educatorFor these arts organizations that have the platform and space to educate thechildren, how are we preparing them? Develop your own identity…Children need to learn how to roll the marley out, do the lights, put on their shows,and raise the money for them. The arts industry was the first industry to go downduring the pandemic. It’s not realistic for them to be dancers anymore. Where are the adult classes? Healing practices…we have a lot of people here thatdo a lot of amazing things…but we gatekeep because they do not fit a mold. Dance skills that go beyond just dancing- how can these skills be applied to otherfields? To life? To healing? TariqMeaning, experience, love…Carol FosterShout-outs to the Viva School, to Amanda Standard, and to Taritibu Alana Hill My art form is not looked at in the same way- Hip Hop The children have so much to say, and there are so many things they are processingon a consistent basis. Hip Hop is important to me. Joyce (an elder in our community) Unorthodox partnerships Amanda Standard Arts Integration-6th, 7th and 8th graders Kayla Incredible state-of-the-art meeting…This is a part of the stepping stone and the next steps… Carol Foster Closing Remarks and Thank You’s OPEN FLOOR DISCUSSION

POST MEETING DISCUSSION Another Meeting with dance pioneers- Who can ask questions and learn from the wisdom of our elders…There are a lot of assumptions and misinformation There has been an inheritance of an entire ecosystem….Hear from the folks who literally built the eco-system and can tell, say, share- we canlearn from them… Carla Perlo’s Sessions; Carol Foster; Suzanne Callahan TaraWhenever people say “we need young people, I just want to say that…” Local storyof dance in DC- history of Adams Morgan What are your thoughts on having a town hall around the Reeve’s Center? We haveyour first year of programming? Before or after a community member’s event… Town hall following that…. Carol FosterThe development of the Reeve’s Center- why they approached Ailey instead of alocal group…22k a month- that’s crazy!In addition to the hotel and the NAACP, Reeves CMC Development will have officespace for city agencies, affordable and market-rate housing units, a Dave ChappelleComedy Club, a food establishment led by Chef Carla Hall, an Alvin Ailey DanceTheater and School, a Washington Jazz Institute, and a Viva School of Dance. MayorMuriel Bowser said the Reeves Center “is symbolic of D.C. resilience.”Collaboration - Be honest, can it happen??Carol Foster From idea to action and from action to organization. We have all the possibilities Reflection back - The Warner Theater- CF’s grassroots organization rented theWarner with no $$$.The DC Commission offers a doorway where you can enter the Lincoln Theater… Links from the Chat: https://www.americansforthearts.org/ehawthorne@aacdmv.org (Email for Erica Hawthorne) www.apap365.org (APAP) Dissonance Dance Theater Auditions https://ngcfddt.org/ddt-auditions/Dance Place Opportunities https://www.danceplace.org/thresholds-2025/https://www.danceplace.org/double-jump-fellowship/https://www.danceplace.org/artist-advisory-council-25/Dance USA- Email for Bertrand Evans-Taylor advocacy@danceusa.orgDance Place Thresholds Councilhttps://www.danceplace.org/artist-advisory-council-25/DIW Incubator Serieshttps://danceinstituteofwashington.org/incubator-series/Gridlock Dance Motion Mixershttps://www.gridlockdance.com/events/gridlock-dances-motion-mixer-march-2025Beyond the Ballet Barrehttps://beyondtheballetbarre.live/Effervescence Collective https://www.effervescence-collective.com/DanceShareDChttps://www.instagram.com/dancesharedc/https://www.americansforthearts.org/disaster-preparednessB Corp Model https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/Zahra Carpenter https://iadms.org/Denee Barr www.mdinnovationcenter.coElements Urban Arts Collective. IG is elements_dc. www.elementsuac.comStephanie: Capitolmovement.org offers adult classes and free tickets to ourupcoming show May 17th at Lincoln Theatre for communities in need.Jojokians@Capitolmovement.org Adult hip hop classes: The Lion’s Den https://www.lauren-devera.com/tldschedule,Culture Shock DC https://cultureshockdc.org/, Urban Artistryhttps://www.urbanartistry.org/astandard@divinedanceinstitute.com, soundxpressed@gmail.comPOST DISCUSSIONS - After Meeting

05IN CLOSINGSection V

Closing Remarks: I am Ronya-Lee LaVaune Anderson, artist, scholar, and educator of Ronya-Lee and the Light Factory. I am currently on faculty at AmericanUniversity and one of the visioning partners of Black Light. But I am so much more than that…I am invested in making art and educating future artmakers, appreciators, and funders. I want to first thank Carol Foster for bringing us together today to have this critical conversation. Mama Fosterwas one of my first dance teachers, creating space for me and countless other youth in the DMV to experience dance through DCYE. I am gratefulfor our panelists and the work that they do to keep the arts vibrant and visible in and beyond their institutional affiliations. I am grateful to all of theorganizers of this gathering, curating music, designing slides, doing the important work of thinking through what should be on the agenda, andcreating space for us to talk with one another. But most importantly, I am grateful to each of you for choosing to be here; for the work that you do as artists, students, educators, artsadministrators, curators, patrons of the arts, scholars. It is so important that we continue to connect with each other. The hope is that this is just onestep of many more to come. Congratulate your self on what you have done and continue to do individually. But also, let’s take a moment to really see each other. Look at all thelittle black squares on your screen. You are not alone in this. There are people on this call in varying age ranges, dance genres, artistic forms, racesand ethnicities, gender expressions, nationalities… you name it! I think that’s a very beautiful and comforting thing. From our time together, I offerthese three takeaways: Diversify your income beyond “the grants” or “commissions.” 1.Listen to and respond to the needs of your community. 2.Mutual Aid -We need more gatherings- lunch, dinner, coffee, collaborations and collectives- We’ve been here before and there is wisdom to beshared, but also just encouragement and camaraderie. 3.Children and Young people- the significance of educating the students, but preparing them for a landscape that is very different from before-how do dance and choreographic skills translate beyond the studio, the company, the stage? 4.Be a gate breaker, not a gate keeper! 5.Breathe. Deeply! 6.And finally, to echo what has been said by so many on this call, “this is the time to dig deep into community” and as our Keynote speaker noted, ‘’athirty-year vision starts with alignment”. So, let’s get aligned! Closing RemarksRONYA LEE ANDERSONPN

Moving Forward...PN

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