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SCAC offers new early arts learning workshop series

[ID: Graphic includes a picture of young children singing while seated in front of a teacher. Text reads: Early Arts Learning workshop series, May 30 - June 1. Included are symbols for music, dance, and drama]

The SCAC is partnering with Wolf Trap Institute for an exceptional opportunity to make performing arts come alive to young learners.

Sign up now for three, one-hour guided experiences in MUSIC, DRAMA, and DANCE. Participants will work with a Wolf Trap Master Teaching Artist to break down an art form into its fundamental elements and apply those elements to strategies for learning in all domains: virtual, hybrid, and in-person early childhood spaces.

These are FREE and open to all, but early childhood educators and teaching artists might benefit most. Register for each workshop individually:

Day 1 | May 30 | Music with Sue Trainor Day 2 | May 31 | Dance with Valerie Branch Day 3 | June 1 | Drama with Christina Farrell

Register

Day 1 | https://bit.ly/3BxGK55 Day 2 | https://bit.ly/4338kmr Day 3 | https://bit.ly/3M53iyU

All hour-long workshops start at 4 p.m.

Connect with this event on Facebook here.

Jason Rapp

2023 S.C. Arts Awards: Carlos Agudelo

Governor's Award: Individual Category

Graphic with white copy on a dark blue background overlaid on granite blocks. The white text reads South Carolina Arts Awards 2023. As the day nears for the 2023 South Carolina Arts Awards, The Hub is focusing on this year's recipients: five receiving the South Carolina Governor's Awards for the Arts from the South Carolina Arts Commission and two receiving the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award, managed jointly by the SCAC and McKissick Museum at the University of South Carolina.

Carlos Agudelo has been Ballet Spartanburg’s artistic director since 1991.

Among his choreography are classic and contemporary favorites, from The Nutcracker, Coppelia, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Carmina Burana to The Hobbit, West Side Story, The Little Mermaid, The Wizard of Oz, and An American in Paris. Some of these have been performed at Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Columbia, Greenville, Greenwood, and Rutherford County, North Carolina. Under Agudelo’s direction in 2012, Ballet Spartanburg formed a resident professional company comprised of a diverse group of dancers from across the world. For 10 years, it has performed from Spartanburg to North Carolina, Texas, and Las Vegas, in the process staging more than 85 presentations of his choreography. A native of Colombia, Agudelo began his training with the Atlantic Foundation for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale under the direction of Ruth Petrinovic. He received a scholarship to study at the Harkness Ballet School in New York City and danced with the Israel Classic Ballet in Tel Aviv. He toured the world dancing with the International Ballet de Caracas under the direction of former Harkness Ballet dancer Vicente Nebrada. Alvin Ailey coached him in Ailey’s ballet, The River. He also danced with Ballet Hispanico of New York under the direction of Tina Ramirez. Mr. Agudelo received the 2021 Civitan Servant’s Heart Award for the community of Spartanburg and the 2022 Spartanburg Citizen of the Year awarded by the Spartanburg Kiwanis Club. In 2018, Ballet Spartanburg was awarded the S.C. Governor’s Award for the Arts in the organization category.
The South Carolina Arts Awards are coming live to SCETV on Sunday, May 14, 2023 at 8 p.m. ET. South Carolina ETV, the state’s public educational broadcasting network, will broadcast the awards ceremony through its 11-station TV network that spans the state. Viewers can access the broadcast via livestream on the homepage of SCETV.org; by using a digital antenna; or through cable, satellite, and streaming live TV providers. Further information about accessing SCETV is available here.

Jason Rapp

Scholarships offered for Dance/USA summer conference

Head to the ATL in June with help from South Arts

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, March 31

The Dance/USA Conference—June 13-16 in Atlanta—is said to be "an invigorating gathering of approximately 400 dance professionals united by their interests in advancing dance and celebrating the joy of movement."

Attendees get to honor leaders in the field, share and access new resources, and connect with peers through thought-provoking training and conversations. Together attendees discover innovative approaches to shared problems and strengthen relationships among fellow dance professionals. Sounds worthwhile to The Hub! Our partners at South Arts recognize that participation costs may be a barrier and, along with the Georgia Council for the Arts, are offering scholarships to attend the Dance/USA Conference this year. Applicants are required to currently reside in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. These scholarships will support conference registration costs. The deadline to apply for scholarship assistance is Friday, March 31, 2023. Anyone interested and eligible for the scholarships is encouraged to apply. Be aware that South Arts is prioritizing support for dance leaders who may be:
  • A Black Person, Indigenous Person, or a Person of Color (BIPOC)
  • An individual with a disability
  • An individual whose annual income is lower than $30,000
  • An individual who is based in the state of Georgia

Jason Rapp

International Association of Blacks in Dance seeks CEO

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Thursday, March 31, 2022

IABD's next President and CEO will be the 4th leader in the organization's 30-year history.

They will have the opportunity to be at the forefront of activating change that sustains the future of Black dance.  This leader will build consensus informed by new and varied perspectives. They will partner with all staff to oversee the implementation of our leadership development programs, funding opportunities, and annual conferences. As the most public-facing ambassador of the organization, the right candidate will have the opportunity to represent IABD in the dance community and the broader performing arts and philanthropic communities nationally and internationally.

The president and CEO will report to and be championed by a 21-person Board of Directors representing an intergenerational mix of artistic voices and leaders in the dance world. In this partnership, the President and CEO will strategize and collaborate to establish vivid goals to advance the organization's mission. They will work with and oversee a full-time staff of 7 employees. As President and CEO, they will have operational responsibility and oversight of IABD's programs, membership, fundraising, events, finances, and staff. IABD projects revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, at $3 million. The association's diverse revenue platform includes programming, membership dues, sponsorships, grants, and a fiscal sponsorship program.

Key roles and responsibilities

The president and CEO will focus their efforts on four primary areas: strategic leadership and advocacy, fiscal management, capacity building and sustainability, and staff engagement. In this capacity, this leader will establish internal and operational priorities, cultivate meaningful and impactful relationships, and advance strategic partnerships to elevate IABD's impact and initiatives. This person will develop new and unique opportunities to serve the mission and bring innovation to spark organizational growth. They will be an assertive advocate for Black dance and effectively represent all dance professionals irrespective of the size, tenure and genre of the organization. The next president and CEO will understand the importance, potential, and plurality of ways that art and dance can connect, engage, and transform individuals and communities alike. The new president and CEO will understand and advocate for the organization's vision, history, and philosophy supporting its mission.

Learn more an apply by clicking here.

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Grand Jeté returns with opportunities for S.C. dancers, dance teachers

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Tuesday, February 1, 2022

 

Dance students from across the state will gather together to connect, compete, and cultivate their skills during the third annual Grand Jeté Student Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition.

The now week-long event offers master classes led by guest artists, audition and recruitment events with national dance programs and teacher workshops for private studio and public school dance teachers. “This is not just a competition,” said Josée Garant, Grand Jeté director. “This is an opportunity for the dance community to come together, learn together and showcase the exceptional talent our state has to offer. Dance is such a competitive field, which is why we feel it is so important to host an event where dancers can get to know each other, support each other and consider their future in dance at the collegiate level.” Dance students, ages 10-19, who choose to compete have the chance to win prizes, totaling $5,250, in the categories of classical ballet, modern/contemporary and student choreography. They will also gain valuable feedback from the competition’s esteemed, out-of-state, adjudicators—Jorden Morris, Akua Noni Parker and Sarah Wroth. Morris is a retired principal dancer, choreographer and the current guest artistic director of the Orlando Ballet. Parker has performed as a leading company member with prestigious dance companies such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Cincinnati Ballet and Ballet San Jose. Wroth is an associate professor of music in ballet and the chair of the ballet department at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Competitors and noncompetitors can attend virtual information sessions and in-person audition classes with university and trainee dance program recruiters from Dean College, New World School of the Arts, Ohio State University, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Texas Christian University, University of North Carolina Charlotte, University of Oklahoma, University of South Florida, University of Utah and others. They can also participate in in-person master classes in ballet and modern/contemporary. “Grand Jeté is the only event in South Carolina where high school juniors and seniors can share their talents with so many recruiters in one place,” Garant said. “This is an amazing opportunity for students seeking a summer intensive or university dance program with the potential to earn scholarships.” South Carolina dance instructors can also participate in Grand Jeté which offers in-person teacher workshops. Classes in beginner ballet, intermediate/advanced contemporary and intermediate/advanced ballet will be held for private studio teachers. K-12 public school teachers can register for workshops in historical dance, world dance, ballet fundamentals and modern/contemporary free of charge. Grand Jeté will be held March 1-6, 2022 with the competition occurring on March 6. Participants can choose to only attend their preferred events and are not required to attend for the full week. In-person events will be held on the Governor’s School’s campus in downtown Greenville. Interested individuals can register online at scgsah.org/grand-jete until February 1, 2022. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact the S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Foundation at 864.282.1570 for more details.

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SCAC selects five for Emerging Artist grant

Up to $1,500 grant includes mentorship, more


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COLUMBIA, S.C. – A ceramicist, a dancer, a painter and fiber and installation artists make up the five #SCartists receiving South Carolina Arts Commission Emerging Artist Grants in FY2022. The South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) defines emerging artists as being at an early stage in their artistic career development with no basis in age. Five South Carolina artists were selected to each receive an up to $1,500 Emerging Artist grant from the SCAC in the current fiscal year (2022). They are, left to right:
  • Robyn Arnold of Central (dance)
  • Evelyn Beck of Anderson (fiber)
  • Jordan Sheridan of Columbia (installation)
  • Adrian Smith of Darlington (painting)
  • Jordan Winiski of Greenville (ceramics)
In addition to financial support, the artists will benefit from mentorship and professional support facilitated by the SCAC and Artist Development Director Ce Scott-Fitts. The combined benefits are intended to deepen artistic practice and foster artistic excellence; encourage career growth, advancement, and sustainability; and provide professional development and opportunities for collaboration. The SCAC awarded an inaugural class of emerging artists in 2021. Work resulting from their grant can be explored in an online exhibition on SouthCarolinaArts.com. An online exhibition of works by the new class of emerging artists is expected to be available in late summer 2022. “It means a lot to be considered an ‘emerging artist’ in my 60s,” fiber artist Evelyn Beck of Anderson said. “Art is a second career for me, and I’ve devoted myself to it completely. This recognition and support for my project spurs me forward and makes me feel that I’m heading in the right direction.” “Funding for emerging artists is crucial for cultivating a community of young creators who are able to discover their artistic voice. I am so thankful for this opportunity,” ceramicist Jordan Winiski of Greenville said. Beyond funding support, Arnold, Sheridan, and Smith expressed that they anticipate benefit from the mentorship provided by the Emerging Artist program, summed up by Arnold: “I am amazed by how comprehensive and engaging the emerging artist program is. The other grant recipients and I not only receive funding to create, but we also get to meet once a month as a group and meet individually with Ce (Scott-Fitts), the artist development director. That means receiving an incredible support group of other artists as well as personalized insight and direction into our emerging journeys.” The application period for the next round of the Emerging Artist Grant is to begin in Fall 2022. The SCAC will announce it on The Hub (https://www.scartshub.com/), on its social media at @scartscomm (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and other channels.

About the South Carolina Arts Commission

The mission of the South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) is to promote equitable access to the arts and support the cultivation of creativity in South Carolina. We envision a South Carolina where the arts are valued and all people benefit from a variety of creative experiences. A state agency created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the SCAC works to increase public participation in the arts by providing grants, direct programs, staff assistance and partnerships in three key areas: arts education, community arts development, and artist development. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the SCAC is funded by the state of South Carolina, by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts, and other sources. Visit SouthCarolinaArts.com or call 803.734.8696, and follow @scartscomm on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for #Arts4SC and #SCartists content.

Jason Rapp

Dance/USA announces new round of fellowships

30 'Fellowships to Artists' available

LETTER OF INQUIRY DEADLINE: Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 6 p.m. ET

Dance/USA announced a new round of Dance/USA Fellowships to Artists (DFA).

As our society grapples with unprecedented challenges and increasingly recognizes the inequity and injustice of our systems, Dance/USA is reaffirmed that the work of supporting artists who engage in art for social change is pivotal and overdue. DFA offers direct support to individual artists who have a sustained and intentional practice of working through dance or movement-based modalities to address social change. DFA will award 30 Fellowships of a minimum of $30,000 per artist by August of 2022. Fellowship funds may be used at the artist’s discretion. Artists are invited to submit a Letter of Inquiry by December 8, 2021 at 6:00pm EST. Find the DFA program overview and guidelines here.

Information for Artists

Dance/USA is committed to accessibility and places Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities at the center of its decision-making. All artists may apply to DFA regardless of Dance/USA membership status. DFA offers alternative formats and translation services necessary so that all individuals can participate in the program. Dance/USA shares the belief that proposal writing should not be a barrier to artists accessing funding. DFA offers applicants several support options during the application period. For questions, please contact Haowen Wang, Dance/USA Director of Regranting, at fellowships@danceusa.org or 202.725.4028.

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Dancer emergency grants announced

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, January 7, 2021


New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), in partnership with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, has announced the launch of Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants, a new program that will provide one-time grants of up to $5,000 to professional dancers in need, who have a dire financial emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You must demonstrate an urgent and critical need for emergency support in order to apply. ​​Dire financial emergencies include the lack or imminent endangerment of essentials such as housing, medicine/healthcare, utilities, and food. If you were displaced due to COVID, expenses to enable you to return to your working home base are eligible. You can request funding for eligible expenses for up to a three-month period, ranging from four months before the grant deadline through four months after the grant deadline. 

CYCLE 1

  • For Emergency Expenses between September 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022
  • Applications Open: November 9, 2021, 10:00 AM EST
  • Applications Close: January 7, 2022, 11:59 PM EST

CYCLE 2

  • For Emergency Expenses between December 1, 2021 and July 31, 2022
  • Applications Open: March 1, 2022, 10:00 AM EST
  • Applications Close: April 1, 2022, 11:59 PM EST

CYCLE 3

A third cycle will be implemented before June 2022. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the NYFA Grants team at emergencyfunds@nyfa.org or 212.366.6900 x 239.

Jason Rapp

Midlands school’s dance team receives honors

Brings home 8 awards from international competition


From ColaDaily.com:

Dancers from East Point Academy competed in the virtual Taoli World Dance Competition in December, earning a total of eight awards. East Point competed against more than 600 nationwide performers in the competition.

“I feel their performances were outstanding," said dance teacher, Yihao Chen. "I am proud to teach them.”

In addition to winning eight awards, the team also earned the opportunity to compete in the final round of the competition in California in the upcoming summer.

Read more and see a list of dancers receiving awards in Meera Bohnslé's ColaDaily.com story here.

Jason Rapp

Charleston arts community loses ‘Big Buddha’

Don Cantwell passes away at 85


The week is closing on a somber note in the Lowcountry.

Don CantwellThe Post & Courier is reporting this morning that Don Cantwell, Charleston Ballet Theatre's longtime artistic director, passed away from complications of cancer. From Maura Hogan:

Acclaimed for raising the bar of dance throughout his native Charleston and beyond, Cantwell for decades served as the visionary, yet strikingly unassuming leader of Charleston Ballet Theatre, working alongside his wife, dancer and dance instructor Patricia Cantwell, and the company’s choreographer Jill Eathorne Bahr.

Known for both his quiet nature and outsize imagination, Cantwell is remembered for cutting a towering, elegant figure. However, even with such stature and presence, the lifelong disciple of dance was said to possess a humility that at times belied the magnitude of his artistry. Those attributes, as well as his twinkling humor, compelled many who knew him to refer to him as “Big Buddha.” 

Read Hogan's full report on the Post & Courier website here. (Subscription might be required.)

Jason Rapp