Program Summary
SAF has determined that, in addition to general support for touring and presenting in the region, there is a need to develop discipline-specific, multiple-year programs which offer presenting organizations opportunities to acquire deeper knowledge and experience in order to cultivate appreciative and committed audiences. The first of these to be rolled out is the new dance touring initiative, an intensive professional development program over a three-year period for a group of 10 -12 presenters. Those selected to participate in the program will engage in block-booking, technical assistance, networking, and professional development at national and regional conferences and dance festivals. SAF will convene the group for face-to-face meetings and conference calls throughout the program’s duration and provide matching funds to support the tour of a dance company for two consecutive years. For the initial tour (2010-2011), the presenters will collectively decide on one company to tour (conducting multi-day residencies and a public performance) to their communities. For the next year (2011-2012), presenters will decide individually on a company to engage for their community. Technical assistance and professional development will be designed to complement the tour and enhance presenters’ organizational capacity; this will involve planning for residency activities and audience development.

Participants will commit to the three-year program running from summer 2009 to fall 2012. The first year includes professional development and training for presenters; planning meetings between the presenters and the dance company; and developing the touring components (such as audience development and marketing tools). The second year includes touring of the dance company and continuing the peer convenings. In the final year, participants may apply for a specific grant to present dance and conclude our technical assistance.

We hope to partner with Jacob’s Pillow, American Dance Festival, Dance/USA, and New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project. In addition, we plan to involve presenters from our region who participated in Jacob’s Pillow Leadership Forum and offer peer-to-peer learning through mentoring opportunities. This initiative is made possible through the support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Participants
Ideal participants include presenters in our nine-state region who are interested in building their dance audiences and have:

• full-time paid staff;

• one or two dance presentations each year;

• an existing, but inconsistent or unpredictable, dance audience and facility;

• solid community partnerships which may include a college or university; and

• attended the Performing Arts Exchange (PAE) in recent years.

Recruitment and Selection Process
Selection will be based on the presenter’s ability to meet the program goals and capacity to participate. Please be aware that there is limited participation available for this initiative; we anticipate that the review process will be highly competitive.

The dance company selected by participants must meet minimum requirements established by SAF. After the presenter selection process, SAF will develop the criteria for the dance company (e.g., company size, artist fees). Participants must select a contemporary ballet or modern dance company with strong residency, outreach, and audience development experience.

Participant Expectations and Responsibilities
Presenters will need to be adaptable and willing to negotiate and work within a group setting. Presenters must commit to fully participating in the three-year program which requires travel to no more than two convenings (including Jacob’s Pillow for three days during August 12-30, 2009 and the Performing Arts Exchange for three days during September 23-26, 2009) and active participation on at least two conference calls each year (including one scheduled during the week of July 13, 2009). Presenters are expected to engage two dance companies, provide effective marketing and audience development strategies for the dance tours, and develop residency/performance design and outreach strategies in collaboration with their fellow presenters, the touring company, and community partners. This initiative will have an evaluation component and SAF will require the participants to contribute to the program assessment.

Additionally, presenters will have to pay for travel expenses and artist fees that exceed SAF funding. SAF plans to provide a grant to cover 100% of conference and travel expenses (i.e., registration and admission fees, lodging, and air/ground transportation) plus 50% of the artist fee during the first year; 75% of conference and travel expenses during the second year; and 100% of the travel expenses for the final convening plus 50% of the artist fee (up to $8,000) during the last year. Presenters will be encouraged to attend a national or regional conference during the final year; however those expenses will NOT be supported by the SAF grant. SAF will provide access to supplementary resources and funds to support the collateral press materials for the tour and planning meetings with the dance company. Finally, program participants are expected to ensure, to best of their ability, the continuation of presenting dance once the program has ended.

TIMELINE:

Year 1 (July 2009 – June 2010)

Summer 2009 – Participants selected; orientation conference call; SAF learns presenters’ needs and capacity, and develops dance company selection criteria

August 12-30, 2009 – Group begins professional development and travels to Jacob’s Pillow; presenters begin considering dance companies

September 23-26, 2009 – Group travels to the Performing Arts Exchange (continues professional development and considering dance companies)

Winter 2009 – Conference calls with group to discuss company selection; commitment from dance company; grants to presenters for dance company tour

Spring 2010 – Dance company planning meetings at presenter venues; design and printing of collateral materials for regional tour; conference call with group


Year 2 (July 2010 – June 2011)

Summer 2010 – Group travels to a conference/festival (continues professional development and seeing work)

Fall 2010 – Group travels to PAE (continues professional development and seeing work); tour may begin (to conclude by June)

Winter 2010 – Conference call with group; presenters begin contracting for individual dance engagements (second tours)

Spring 2011 – Conference call with group

June 2011 – Tour complete


Year 3 (July 2011 – June 2012)

Summer 2011 – Group can decide to attend a conference/festival (these expenses are not supported by SAF)

Fall 2011 – Grants to presenters for individual engagements; second tours may begin (to conclude by June)

Winter 2011 – Conference call with group

June 2012 – Touring complete

Fall 2012 – Group travels to Atlanta for final convening

If you are interested in applying, please review guidelines and download application form in the How to Apply Section.  Applicants are encouraged to contact Nikki Estes, Program Director - Presenting and Touring, at 404-874-7244 ext. 16 to discuss eligibility prior to submitting an application.

Photos: The Alabama Dance Council presents Complexions Contemporary Ballet during the 2009 Alabama Dance Festival (Photo: Rose Eichenbaum).