National Dance Project

National Dance Project
Name	National Dance Project
Formation	1990s
Type	Arts funding program
Headquarters	New York City
Parent organization	Dance/USA
Services	Touring grants, commissioning, residency support

National Dance Project The National Dance Project is a United States-based arts funding initiative that supports contemporary dance creation, touring, and presentation through grants, commissioning, and professional development. It works with choreographers, companies, and presenters to extend reach for new works and touring projects across institutions such as Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and regional theaters. The project has partnered with foundations, government agencies, and cultural organizations including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Ford Foundation, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, and major museums.

Overview and Mission

The project aims to strengthen contemporary dance ecology by funding choreography, production, and touring initiatives involving figures like Bill T. Jones, Merce Cunningham, Twyla Tharp, Alvin Ailey, and Martha Graham-influenced artists. It supports presenters such as Jacob's Pillow, Danspace Project, American Dance Festival, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Boston Ballet for expanded access. The mission aligns with objectives of funders and civic institutions including Warhol Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Smithsonian Institution, and state arts councils like the New York State Council on the Arts. The program advances collaborations with universities and conservatories such as Juilliard School, Yale School of Drama, University of California, Los Angeles, and Berkeley performing arts units.

History and Development

Established in the late 1990s within organizational contexts that involved Dance/NYC and national service organizations like Dance/USA, the program has evolved through partnerships with entities including the National Endowment for the Arts, NEA, Arts Midwest, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, and regional networks like Western Arts Alliance. Early collaborations featured presenters such as Spoleto Festival USA, Portland Center Stage, Walker Art Center, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, The Joyce Theater, and The Public Theater. The project’s development intersected with initiatives by patron institutions including the Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, Museum of Modern Art, Tate Modern, and philanthropic efforts from families like the Rockefellers and Gates-affiliated organizations.

Programs and Grants

Grant categories have funded commissioning, touring, and production support for companies like Paul Taylor Dance Company, San Francisco Ballet, New York City Ballet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. The project collaborates with festivals and presenters such as Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Spoleto Festival, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and Vail Dance Festival to facilitate national and international tours. It issues awards and seed grants aligning with foundations such as Mellon Foundation and agencies including the NEA and state arts councils like California Arts Council, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and Texas Commission on the Arts. Residency and professional development programs connect artists to academic partners like Columbia University, New York University, Smith College, and conservatories including The Royal Ballet School and Codarts.

Impact and Notable Projects

The initiative has supported landmark projects by choreographers and companies tied to institutions like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, and independent artists such as Wayne McGregor, Sharon Eyal, Crystal Pite, and Ohad Naharin-associated works. Touring grants enabled productions to reach presenters such as BAM, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center Festival, Sadler's Wells, Sydney Opera House, and Berlin Philharmonie. Notable commissions and co-productions have involved collaborations with orchestras and venues like Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and arts festivals including SXSW, Festival d'Avignon, and Performa.

Organizational Structure and Funding

Operated within a national nonprofit infrastructure, the project coordinates with umbrella organizations including Dance/USA, service entities like New Music USA, and arts management institutions such as Americans for the Arts and League of American Orchestras. Funding streams derive from federal agencies such as the National Endowment for the Arts, private foundations including the Mellon Foundation and Ford Foundation, corporate sponsors like JP Morgan Chase and Google Arts & Culture, and individual donors associated with arts philanthropy networks including ArtTable and Philanthropy New York. Governance involves advisory panels comprising curators, presenters, artists, and administrators from institutions like The Juilliard School, The Rockefeller Foundation, Carnegie Hall, and The Getty Foundation.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques have emerged regarding funding allocation, regional representation, and artistic selection processes, voiced by stakeholders connected to organizations such as Dance/NYC, Independent Dance Alliance, National Performance Network, and presenters like The Joyce Theater and Danspace Project. Debates mirror broader sector concerns raised in forums involving National Endowment for the Arts policy discussions, journalism outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and arts criticism circles tied to ArtForum and Dance Magazine. Controversies have included discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion involving artists from communities affiliated with Black Lives Matter, Latinx Theater Commons, and Indigenous arts advocates working with institutions like First Peoples Fund and Native Arts and Cultures Foundation.

Category:Dance organizations in the United States