Artistic Directors Meeting is canceled for Feb 1st. Please contact Dance/MetroDC for more information. info@dancemetrodc.org
SENDING POEMS and PRAYERS
to our FRIENDS IN HAITI
As a pre-script to my letter below, we here at Dance/MetroDC wanted to encourage your generosity- both in spririt and giving what you can materially to our friends in Haiti. A few dance companies have expressed interest in doing something- a benefit, collections, and ??? - so we encourage you to use info@dancemetrodc.org as a place to send your ideas, your want to be included, and any other thoughts. We will bring the ideas together with those who've expressed interest so a plan of action can be made. To act in a timely manner, we are asking that you respond by Wednesday, January 27th by end of the business day.
Thanks, Peter
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Dear Friends,
I know I will probably jinx it by saying anything out loud about the warming weather, but, dang, it feels good to have the temperatures hint of Spring! And I can never remember what the groundhog is supposed indicate: he sees his shadow and six more weeks of winter? Or doesn't see a shadow and has a bottle of sunscreen in his paw, we know he's moving to Florida? No matter. He should be dancing when he comes out of that hole, because...
DANCE IS THE ANSWER is around the corner! April 15th - May 2nd. Last year, we tweaked a few elements of our previous outings including a stepped-up surveying of participants and the addition of any low-cost and free items on the calendar for the ten day focus on dance in the region. This year, 2010: we will continue to deepen our record keeping of attendees, and we have stretched the time frame to two and half weeks, in response to many requests for inclusion of events. We've extended the deadline for buy-in to the advertising until Monday the 18th, which allows your logo on postcards and paid advertising, so hurry in with your applications. If space is still available after the 18th, we may be able to accommodate you and your organization's space in advertising in portions of the campaign.
Another new feature this year: a series of Flash Mob Dances that will be created to erupt all over the region. These will have an on-line tutorial to teach the choreography to music that will include "Mamma Mia", Harry Belafonte's "Jump In Line" and more. In the spirit of Dance Is The Answer, each of these flash mobs will have some underlying message of getting active, healthy and fit through dance- not to mention the allure of some great music and movement to entice gobs of folks to join the mobs. More soon on this- if you'd like to be involved let us know. (Sponsorship of the flash mobs- with featured web placement and signage at each event is available. Contact us!)
That little groundhog should also be shaking his booty because...
DANCE/USA's 2010 Annual Conference "Dance Beyond Borders" will take place June 16 - 19 here in our own hometown. This is an amazing opportunity for us to dialogue and invigorate our own great actions and ideas with other great movers/shakers/thinkers from all over. Around 400 dance professionals will converge upon the region for informational sessions, sharing ideas and seeing dance from the region. Registration for the conference begins mid-February (see Dance/USA's website). Keep your eyes open for a special offer on conference registration fees we've been able to arrange for local participants.
As a dance artist in the community, you will receive notice (if you haven't received word yet) for submission requests for a showcase of regional dance sponsored by the local 2010 Host Committee. The showcase will be performed during the conference and a major event in the programming of all attendees from across the country. Deadline for application for the showcases will be mid February with notification in early April. There will also be some site-specific performance opportunities to be woven into the conference (and, who knows, a reprise of a flash mob or two?).
Well, I am off to visit a few groundhog holes - to make sure the little fellers do the right thing on February 2nd. As always, be in touch.
Best, Peter
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SOME IMPORTANT DATES:
January
11th Mon, 6:00p, Deadline for Dance Is The Answer 2010 Applications
February
10th Wed, 4:00 – 6:00p, PR/Marketing Roundtable
March
14th Sun, 3:00 – 6:00p, Professional Development TBD
16th Tues, 4:00 – 6:00, PR/Marketing Roundtable
31st Wed, 5:00- 7:00p, Artistic Director’s Roundtable
April-May
4/15 – 5/2: Dance Is The Answer 2010
15th : OPENING PARTY: TAX FREE DANCING
May
13th Thurs, 4:00 – 6:00p,
PR/Marketing Roundtable/Artistic Director’s Roundtable/World Dance Summit Combined Meeting
June
30th Wed, 530-730pm, End of season Dance Community Party