"In this moment of political transition, Dance/NYC reaffirms its core values of equity and inclusion and its mission to promote and encourage the knowledge, appreciation, practice, and performance of dance in the New York City metropolitan area. It shares the Bessies' commitment to providing open forums to reveal and address the needs and opportunities of the field and the people of the metropolitan area. 

Dance/NYC joins Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional dance, in advancing a national agenda and endorsing an arts policy statement, Advancing the Arts to Support National Policy Priorities, which urges the new administration to embrace and nurture the arts and their potential to advance all federal policy priorities, both within and across federal agencies."

- Lane Harwell, Executive Director, Dance/NYC

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Post-Election Updates and Action | November 10, 2016

After months of campaigns, conventions and debates, the U.S. witnessed the selection of a new leader early Wednesday morning. President-Elect Donald Trump is immediately working on the transition process that will prepare him for the White House, having met today with President Obama. The new Administration will continue to work alongside a House and Senate with a Republican majority.

Congress is figuring out the fiscal year 2017 budget (which is currently funded through a continuing resolution that ends in December) and working on legislation deemed to be priorities before the next Congress and new administration begin in January.

Dance/USA is also thinking about the future:

We affirm our core values of equity, inclusion, and diversity and are committed to advancing these values through all that we do.

We will develop relationships with new members of Congress and the new administration to ensure that the field is well-represented. Already, Dance/USA has partnered with other national arts organizations to createAdvancing the Arts to Support National Policy Priorities, a statement that will be provided to the new Administration’s transition team.

We will continue to advocate to Congress, the White House, and Federal agencies on issues that impact dancemakers and their communities. These issues include support of the National Endowment of the Arts and Arts Education at the U.S. Department of Education, tax policies for nonprofits, and visa policies for foreign guest artists, among others.

We will continue to provide individuals and organizations opportunities to advocate on those same issues by sending out advocacy updates in the Spin and the Dance Advocacy Network, through action alerts that connect individuals directly to Congress, and through in-person advocacy opportunities on Capitol Hill.

Now is a great time to build or strengthen your relationships with your newly elected, re-elected, and returning members of Congress and speak to them about the issues important to you and your organizations. Your voice matters! Find your members of Congress and tell them how dance and the performing arts positively impacts the health and vitality of your community.