The Dance Union

You got counted. You joined the conversation. Now what? Join Dance/NYC for a research performance event and community gathering for the dance industry on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. In person at Chelsea Factory and live streamed via YouTube.

Learn more about:

✅ what the found
✅ what it means for the future of NYC dance
✅ what actions we can take to build a thriving dance ecosystem

NOTE‼️ In-person registration has reached capacity, so register today to join the waitlist or register for the live stream at bit.ly/3Q2IfjW.

We’ve decided to switch Giving Tuesday up a bit. Instead of asking you for money and funds, we are inviting you to give to each other!

We are testing out our Mutual Aid Hub, a vision for a digital platform that supports the growth of a mutual aid network for NYC dance artists! This beta test will be hosted for a month on Slack and will house a few different channels:
* Needs_Resources
* Parenting_Childcare
* Performances_Sharings_Workshops
* Job_Listings
* Free_Barter_Swap�

This Mutual Aid Hub beta is a seed filled with visions of what our collective future in dance could look like. Join us in watering this seed and we’ll watch it grow together!

https://www.thedanceunionpodcast.com/fund

Nubian Néné is a Waacking phenom and world-class performer cultivating spaces for Black folks to experience the liberative power of Waacking. She joins us to talk about the history of Waacking and her journey with it.

Listen: https://tr.ee/KhkFHZD9WN

If you haven't heard of Doorstep Dancemart, we are more than happy to introduce you to one of the most joyful, dance-filled, mutual-aid events that is Doorstep Dancemart! Porshia Derival and Yvonne Chow joined us to reflect on the history of this service and their experience as the lead organizers or Doorstep Dancemart.

Listen Here: https://tr.ee/KhkFHZD9WN

Join us for an insightful conversation with Laura Stein as she reflects on her decision to step down from her leadership position with Dancing Grounds as the cofounder.

Listen here: https://tr.ee/KhkFHZD9WN

Candace Thompson-Zachery, Dance/NYC's Director of Programming and Justice Initiatives, joined us to walk us through some of the services Dance/NYC offers to the field of dance and freelance dance artists in NYC, and a glimpse into the evolution of Dance/NYC.

Listen Here: https://tr.ee/KhkFHZD9WN

Acupunture's history is rooted in the hands of the people. Due to a conglomerate of oppressive forces, the freedom to practice acupuncture and receive treatment has become a luxury. Kim Soo and Samantha Weese join us to discuss how they navigate through this system to make acupuncture more accessible to the people.

Listen to this episode here: https://tr.ee/KhkFHZD9WN

Y'all know that post-show dip you go through sometimes? Well, many of us do and we've been talking about what's next. Join us for a wonderful conversation with zavé martohardjono as they explore the post-show lull with Melanie Greene.

Listen here: https://tr.ee/KhkFHZD9WN

(image description: coming soon)

Join us for a jubilant episode featuring the incredible Melanie George and the fabulous LaTasha Barnes! Prepare to be charmed as these dynamic dancing divas dive into the depths of time and explore how the wisdom of time is present in Blackness and Jazz Dance.

Listen here: https://tr.ee/KhkFHZD9WN

Happy Summer Solstice, Y'all!! Feel the rhythm and feel the beat with our season premiere! In this episode, we'll be discussing our macro and micro concerns about the dance industry with a focus on REST. We hope you restfully enjoy this episode and the full season to come!

Listen here: https://tr.ee/KhkFHZD9WN

"🎉 Drumroll please! 🎉 We are thrilled to announce the new season of The Dance Union Podcast! We couldn't have done it without our incredible guests who brought such joyful conversations to the mic. From world-renowned dance artists and scholars to rising stars in the dance world, their insights, stories, and expertise will leave you inspired and awestruck. We are eternally grateful to them for sharing their time and knowledge with us and our amazing community of listeners. Let's give them a round of applause! 🙌 And to our listeners, thank you for your unwavering support and enthusiasm. We can't wait to dance and learn with you this season!💃🕺 "

Yo! We launched our newsletter, The Shuffle, last month! Our monthly newsletter will include:

-Somatic Offerings
-Astrological Forecasts
-Updates On Our Projects
- & More

Check out The Shuffle by following here and subscribe: thedanceunion.substack.com

Individually, we changed so much during our hiatus and naturally so have our offerings as The Dance Union Podcast. These Pre-season episodes are one of those changes. Check out this episode to hear about the other changes we have in store for you as our listeners.

(recorded: Nov 2022)

Listen now to catch up on what we've been up to
during our hiatus! https://linktr.ee/thedanceunion
[Image Description: The Dance Union podcast logo is centered at the top. Text reads, “Pre-Season Episode 3,” “Listen Now,” and “New Episodes on Wednesdays.”
Dancing images of the hosts are floating in a bright pink, purple, and orange background. J.’s limbs are softly articulated, reflecting the flow and cling of their garments. Melanie looks backwards and easily grasps her foot which is kicked up behind her. Troy is caught laughing while she finds herself in an awkward twisted position. Icons for Apple podcasts, spotify, and sound cloud sit just below, indicating where you can tune in to the dance union podcast.]

During the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw many dance communities and organizers jump up to support one another. Of the many acts of greatness, here are some that stood out to us and why.

(recorded: October 2022)

Listen now to catch up on what we've been up to during our hiatus!
https://soundcloud.com/dance-union/pre-season-ep-2

[Image Description: The Dance Union podcast logo is centered at the top. Text reads, “Pre-Season Episode 2,” “Listen Now,” and “New Episodes on Wednesdays.”
Dancing images of the hosts are floating in a bright pink, purple, and orange background. J. gazes steadily over their interlocked arms, fingers gently articulated. Troy peeks one eye through a window created by her arms and interlaces fingers. Christine eyes follow her softly articulated arm while her legs are bent with one ankle popped. Melanie poses in a kneeling position with both arms jazzily out to the side, wrists flicked and finger tips reaching. Icons for Apple podcasts, spotify, and sound cloud sit just below, indicating where you can tune in to the dance union podcast.]

We're back with the first of three Pre-Season Episodes! We are now aligning with the Earth's cycles of rest and activity by releasing podcast episodes in seasons! This is our Pre-Season.

Listen now to catch up on what we've been up to during our hiatus!

Listen: https://linktr.ee/thedanceunion

[Image Description: The Dance Union podcast logo is centered at the top. Text reads, “Pre-Season Episode 1,” “Listen Now,” and “New Episodes on Wednesdays.”
Dancing images of the hosts are floating in a bright pink, purple, and orange background. Melanie’s eyes pierce over a strongly directed arm. J. is revealed in a fluid moment between movements with flowing pants and sneakers while Troy leans to the side with softly curled fingers. Christine upper body beams and rests while her lower limbs find balance low to the ground. Icons for Apple podcasts, spotify, and sound cloud sit just below, indicating where you can tune in to the dance union podcast.]

Here's a little encouragement for you to complete the DanceNYC Dance Industry Census 😏
[full video podcast on TheDanceUnionPodcast.com]
Melanie and J. reflect on being a part of the Dance Workforce Resilience Task Force that supported DanceNYC in creating the Dance Industry Census, and more on a SPECIAL visual podcast episode brought to you by the Midheaven Network!

The Dance Union The Dance Union is a podcast and resource for artists.

One of the main reasons we come together is to advocate for healthier lives for dance artists.

We have been underpaid and overworked for too long.
We have been abused and our living needs neglected.
We have been made invisible in many political and social movements.

The gift of the Dance Industry Census is that we get to count and name all of the ways our local and federal government can do right by us!

The data from the Dance Industry Census gives us language to demand for:
better working and rehearsal conditions, more funding specifically for the dance field, and stronger social services that make dancing much more possible.

Visit the link in our bio to register and be counted today!

We understand that the Dance Industry Census can bring up a lot lol I hope we can laugh through the discomfort and get counted.

Have y'all completed the census yet? 🤔

Dance Census Link: https://bit.ly/3pGOig1

We are excited to announce Natasha Calixte as the Project Manager for The Dance Union Podcast 🎉

Natasha has been a wonderful addition to the team. She’s been working with us since the summer and has brought much joy, peace, and efficiency to the team.

**NEWS ALERT** .nyc’s deadline has been extended to December 15! Hundreds of dance workers and dance-making entities have already completed the , but community feedback confirms that folks need more time.
To make sure our contributions are recognized and that we are represented in the decisions that affect our ability to make dance with dignity, we now have until December 15 to complete the Census. If you’re a dance worker, organization, business or sole proprietor that makes dance possible in the NYC metropolitan area, your participation will help advocate for change that enables our dance community to thrive. GET COUNTED TODAY at Dance.NYC/DanceIndustryCensus.

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/nyc launched the Roundtable Discussion Series! From November 9, 2022 to February 22, 2023— roundtable discussion events will take place across NYC’s five boroughs and three regional metropolitan areas— eight in-person and two virtual-only.

If you’re a dance worker, organization, or business, join the conversation and share your experience of what it’s like working in our industry. All events are free to attend and will help advocate for meaningful change for all of us. Learn more and register at Dance.NYC/CensusRoundtables

Yo! What's good? Have you heard about the .nyc Dance Industry Census? We hope so! We've been a part of the DanceNYC Taskforce to support the development of this industry-wide census. We hope you invest the time to fill out this groundbreaking census!

Take the census here -> https://bit.ly/3pGOig1

Note: There are a lot of questions on the census. What's most vital for you is to fill out the demographic and income information.

Let's make history and get the resources we deserve to be the artists the world needs! ✊🏿

Corynne and Raine, hosts of Being An Artist Is F**king Killing Me, a Gal Pal Productions podcast, join Melanie and Jay for a crossover episode!

This episode, exploring assumptions about the dance industry in Canada and how white folx can dismantle white supremacy, is part 2 of the crossover episode!

Listen Here: https://bit.ly/2QQaOFp

Transcription: https://bit.ly/2RmJ1MT

Catch part 1 on Being An Artist Is F**king Killing Me! here -> https://spoti.fi/3xKa1GL

Troy and J. come together to discuss the traumas they experienced in dance companies and how healing those traumas brought them to a deeper understanding of the accountability needed in our dance field.

Content Notice: Abduction, Suicidal Ideation, Self-Harm, and Emotional Neglect

Listen Here: https://bit.ly/32X50fG

Transcription: https://bit.ly/3aIhVX1

Lorena and Réka stop by to discuss COVID’s impact on immigrant artists in the united states, and the Dance Artists’ National Collective's Immigrant Artists Awareness Campaign that is underway this week!

Listen Here: https://bit.ly/3dszFYq

✨ We want to know how this episode resonates with you! Share your favorite moments from this episode in the comments and tag us in your stories!