Federal Resources: Tony Shivers of Dance/USA details pandemic relief efforts for dance industry
It's been a little over a year since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. To be exact, the one-year anniversary fell on Mar. 11, 2021.
Shortly after WHO's Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus delivered his remarks on the public health crisis in Mar. 2020, many industries began to shut down and temporarily halt all services to its customers. This included the dance industry.
From that point, dance schools and dance companies had to think quickly. Artistic directors, instructors, choreographers and dance administrators put their heads together to come up with ways to restructure their business model.
Between mid Mar. 2020 and until currently, online dance classes became a gigantic phenomenon on dance schools' and companies' websites and social media outlets. Certain dance schools and guest dance instructors even took the leap to partner up with other dance brands to provide digital dance classes for their audiences.
The dance industry had no issue with forming innovative programs for its business model. Although most dance companies put in the necessary work to help keep their operations going, many are still in need of funds to continue their programs as they return back to the studios, and indoor and outdoor performances.
Dance/USA's Director of Government Affairs Tony Shivers reported Friday, Mar. 26 on pandemic relief efforts for the dance industry and available federal resources.
Shivers' full report can be found on Dance/USA's eJournal 'From the Green Room.'
Check out this short list of federal resources and grant applications available for the dance field. These resources aren't limited to dance studios. All dance-related initiatives and/or organizations are encouraged to learn about these resources that's suitable to their programs:
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) - According to Dance/USA's eJournal, the NEA is expected to release grant application guidelines and related materials pursuant to its emergency funding in April 2021 and to ensure greater equity and access to as many nonprofit arts organizations as possible.
