Institute for Leadership Training

The 2019 Institute for Leadership Training is currently underway.

In 2011, Dance/USA launched a national professional dance mentorship program as a pilot, proposed by the Dance/USA Emerging Leaders Task Force. In 2012, with generous lead support by the American Express Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the mentorship grew into the Dance/USA Institute for Leadership Training (DILT) to leverage connections between Dance/USA members and to bolster personal and professional development through one-on-one mentoring relationships.

Based on the applicant pool, a limited number of pairs are matched based on experience, area of interest, personality, geography, and/or professional affiliations by a Dance/USA DILT Selection Committee.

In 2015, the program evolved to focus on shifting patterns of inequity in the dance field by recruiting applicants from diverse communities with a specific interest in supporting emerging leaders of color. The program was open to all, regardless of Dance/USA membership.

Participating members of the dance community will engage in the Leadership Training Institute, held during the Dance/USA Annual Conference, and a 9 month one-on-one mentorship experience. DILT emphasizes regular communication between these established leaders (mentors) and emerging leaders (mentees) to foster self-direction, self-reflection, and embracing challenge. The relationships between mentors and mentees can extend beyond geographic boundaries, explore various areas of interest, and provide exposure to opportunities available in the field.

PRESS RELEASE: Dance/USA Announces Eighth Annual Institute for Leadership Training

Read articles FROM THE GREEN ROOM: Dance/USA's eJournal from past DILT participants:

Finding an Anchor with a Mentor | September 2011
Being a Mentor: Expanding the Reach of the Art Form | September 2011
Connecting with a Mentor Brings Small Details to Light | March 2013
On Mentorship: Dance as a 'Handed-Down Form' | March 2013
Simple Gifts: The Spirit of Sharing | November 2014
Mentoring the Next Generation of the Dance Field's Leaders | February 2017
Sharing Gratitude: A Mentor and a Mentee Forge a Strong Bond Over Shared Experiences | December 2017
A Match Made in Heaven: Mentor-Mentee Program Provides Tools to Strengthen Young Dance Leaders | October 2018
Dance/USA Institute for Leadership Training: Mentors Push Young Leaders Ahead | March 2019

Questions about the Institute should be sent to programs@danceusa.org.

Dance/USA is grateful to American Express and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for their generous support of the 2018 Institute for Leadership Training. Dance/USA is also grateful to its ongoing funders who support the program: Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, National Endowment for the Arts, and The Shubert Foundation.