Dance/USA Post-Election Analysis: Advocacy, Resilience, and Discernment

Dance/USA Post-Election Analysis: Advocacy, Resilience, and Discernment

by Bertrand Evans-Taylor

The 2024 election results mark a significant shift in the political landscape.

Former President Donald Trump’s re-election and Republican control of both chambers of Congress signal policy changes that will shape the environment in which we all live and work. For the dance ecosystem, where so many practitioners and organizations represent marginalized communities—including immigrants, women, and LGBTQIA+ individuals—this transition is precarious.

The arts, however, have historically had the power to transcend political divisions and enrich our collective experience. Dance/USA remains steadfast in its mission to serve the dance ecosystem through its core service of advocacy.

We will need to navigate these uncertain times together with discernment, unity, and a clear-eyed commitment to the transformative power of dance.

Prioritizing What Matters: Discernment in Advocacy

In the coming months and years, there will be many policy proposals and changes that directly or indirectly impact the dance ecosystem. It is critical to remember that not every issue will require immediate action, nor will every proposal become policy. As we direct our advocacy efforts, we must focus on:

• Likelihood of Policy Staying Power: Assessing which proposals are most likely to advance and endure.
• Magnitude of Impact: Prioritizing issues that could significantly affect the dance ecosystem.
• Strategic Coalition Work: Collaborating with partners to amplify collective impact, while concentrating our efforts on conversations that only we, as a sector, can uniquely illuminate.

Discernment will be our guiding principle as we navigate the policy landscape. By strategically focusing our resources, we optimize our impact and ensure that our advocacy remains both practical and effective.

Key Advocacy Priorities

Dance/USA is committed to an advocacy agenda that supports both the individuals who bring dance to life and the organizations that sustain our art form. Our priorities include:

1. Creating Stability and Sustainability: Advocating for resources that enable dance organizations to build resilient infrastructures, deliver meaningful programs, and adapt to changing conditions.
2. Economic Security for Artists: Supporting efforts to provide living wages, benefits, and career pathways that sustain dancers and ensure their ability to thrive in a freelance-driven field.
3. Preserving Federal and State Funding: Protecting resources such as NEA grants, which directly benefit dance organizations, arts education programs, and artists across the nation.
4. Ensuring Equity and Accessibility: Advancing initiatives that uphold dance’s accessibility and inclusivity, even as federal policies shift away from institutional DEI commitments.
5. Elevating Dance’s Value: Amplifying the role of dance in our nation’s cultural, educational, and economic narratives.

Strength in Unity

Although this moment in American politics feels unprecedented, upheavals of established norms are not new to the dance ecosystem. We have always demonstrated the courage and creativity to adapt to challenges and leverage opportunities for growth. Moving forward, we must stand united—engaging with policymakers at all levels of government, sharing our expertise, and showcasing the resilience and contributions of the dance ecosystem.

Our partners in advocacy remind us that, despite political shifts, the arts have broad bipartisan support. Local and state partnerships will be especially vital in this climate, as grassroots advocacy has the power to influence federal policy in meaningful ways. By leveraging the strength of our networks, we can protect what matters most.

Call to Action

Dance/USA urges its members and partners to take action:

• Engage Locally and Regionally: Build relationships with state and local elected officials, emphasizing the importance of dance as an economic driver and cultural asset. Visit the Performing Arts Alliance Election Center to write a message to your federal officials.
• Advocate Together: Participate in advocacy opportunities that amplify our collective voice by completing an action alert or by going on the Hill and speaking with your elected official in person.
• Support One Another: Strengthen the connections that make our ecosystem resilient by collaborating, sharing resources, and uplifting one another.

Dance has always been an intrinsic part of the American story, uniting communities and challenging us to imagine new possibilities. By navigating these times with discernment and unity, we will ensure that dance thrives.

Resources

• Americans for the Arts and the Arts Action Fund 2024 Post-Election Impact on the Arts Webinar
• National Council of Nonprofits Impact of the Elections on Charitable Nonprofits Webinar
• Dance/USA Advocacy 101 Toolkit and Gift Giving Guide