FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2014
Contact: Johanna Tschebull
Phone: 202.833.1717
Washington, DC – Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional dance, is accepting applications for its third annual Institute for Leadership Training (DILT), a national dance mentorship and leadership development program. Up to 12 mentor-mentee pairs will be selected for the 2014 Institute for Leadership Training which runs from June 2014 through December 2014. Dance/USA members are encouraged to apply. Nonmembers may become Dance/USA members to be eligible. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 28. Selected participants will be notified by Friday, April 11. Apply here.
Supported through generous funding from the American Express Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Institute will commence during Dance/USA’s 2014 Annual Conference in Minneapolis, MN, June 18-21. Program participants will receive travel assistance to attend the Leadership Seminar and Conference. Following the Leadership Seminar, program participants will connect through their one-on-one matched mentoring relationships through December 2014.
“It is imperative that self-defined emerging dance leaders have access to mentors and thoughtful, personalized professional guidance. Whether someone is just out of school or a tenured leader in the first five years of their career, support and advice from an experienced professional is critical to advancing our field,” said Dance/USA Executive Director, Amy Fitterer.
The Institute for Leadership Training was piloted in 2011 at the recommendation of the Dance/USA Emerging Leader Task Force to facilitate one-on-one relationships for networking and leadership development for dance professionals. Through the one-to-one mentorship pairs, 2013 participants discussed a variety of topics including board engagement, strategic planning, goal development, fundraising, career paths, the choreographic process, advocacy, and more. Participants report the program gave them “increased confidence” and a “cohort of peers” to engage with.
“Being in this program really pushed me to further my role with the company and also to push forward ideas which before I was not sure about or didn’t feel confident to do. It has been great for me and for the company I work for. It has helped me to further define my own voice and as a result I have become a better leader.” 2013 Mentee, Institute for Leadership Training
For more information on the program, contact Kate Folsom, Interim Programs Director. For more information about Dance/USA membership, please contact Kellee Edusei, Director of Member Services.
About Dance/USA
Dance/USA is the national service organization for the professional dance field. Established in 1982, Dance/USA serves a diverse national membership of over 490 dance groups working in the genres of aerial, ballet, contemporary, culturally-specific, hip-hop, ice, international, jazz, liturgical, single-choreographer, and tap, dance presenters, dance service organizations, dance agents, dance educators, independent dancers, freelance choreographers, students of arts administration and/or dance and business in service to dance, and individuals related to the field. Learn more about Dance/USA by visiting our website, www.danceusa.org.
