SPOTLIGHT: USA is the first-ever performance platform of American dance outside the U.S., featuring 10 American choreographers selected by a prestigious international jury. The platform will host programmers from all over the world to see the extraordinary diversity and quality of American dance live, and will also be open to the public. The first SPOTLIGHT: USA will launch in March 2018 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, the 2019 European Capital of Culture.
Summary
Cultural exchange is a cornerstone of the work of both American Dance Abroad and our Bulgarian collaborator, ONE Foundation for Culture and Arts. Dance is the vehicle through which we promote this mutual understanding, a concept that is more important than ever at this time in history. Your support will enable the participation of the following American companies in SPOTLIGHT: USA:
- Camille A. Brown & Dancers (New York, NY);
- CONTRA-TIEMPO (Los Angeles, CA);
- Dance Heginbotham (New York, NY);
- Degenerate Art Ensemble (Seattle, WA);
- <fidget> (Philadelphia, PA);
- Jonah Bokaer Choreography (New York, NY);
- Kate Wallich + The YC (Seattle, WA);
- Palissimo Company (New York, NY);
- Tahni Holt Dance (Portland, OR); and,
- Films by BodyVox (Portland, OR)
Goals
- Introduce American dance companies to international dance professionals.
- Increase cultural exchange and appreciation between the U.S. and the invited countries.
- Provide opportunities for American dance to be seen and embraced by international audiences.
- Sustain collaboration among the many countries that will attend.
What We Need & What You Get
- We Need: $7,500 toward supporting artists' fees and freight!
- You Get: Recognition on ADA's social media pages and in ADA's newsletter. Higher level donors may receive a SPOTLIGHT program book signed by participating artists, a thank you on SpotlightUSA.org, or a thank you in the SPOTLIGHT program book (based on level of support). You will also have our infinite gratitude, as well as the satisfaction of knowing you played a role in the history of American dance!
The Impact
Megan Bridge, artistic director of <fidget>, comments on the importance of participating in SPOTLIGHT: “My company is extremely fortunate to have been selected for this rare opportunity to have our fully produced work seen outside of the US. We are hopeful that this experience will help us build our touring network and lead to future partnerships that otherwise would have been closed to us.”
According to Barbara Lanciers, director of the Trust for Mutual Understanding: “The staff and board of the Trust for Mutual Understanding are delighted to support American Dance Abroad's SPOTLIGHT: USA program... This kind of interconnected, mutually beneficial focus encompasses the heart of the important work we have come to expect from American Dance Abroad.”
Risks & Challenges
Producing a platform of American dance in Bulgaria is an undertaking that demands a huge amount of organization, coordination, collaboration, and funding. Without the proper attention to each of these areas, the platform will not show American dance to the level of professionalism it deserves. American Dance Abroad has the dance world experience to overcome these challenges.
Other Ways You Can Help
Even if you cannot personally contribute, please help us spread the word about the SPOTLIGHT campaign by using Indiegogo's share tools to post on social media!
*SPOTLIGHT: USA is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of SPOTLIGHT: USA must be made payable to Fractured Atlas only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
SPOTLIGHT is supported, in part, by the America for Bulgaria Foundation, the City of Plovdiv Municipality, the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, and the Trust for Mutual Understanding.
