THE ROOM

There is no shortage of extraordinary dance artists in New York City.
There is a shortage of opportunities that allow those artists to truly thrive.
Every rehearsal room is different and every choreographer builds their process in their own way.
Over the years, I’ve come to understand the kind of room I want to build.
One where artists are challenged, trusted and supported as they create.

That is the belief behind ROBERT MARK DANCE.

I believe artists create their best work when they are respected, challenged and given the support to take risks. I believe audiences deserve performances created by artists who have had the time and space to fully realize their ideas.
Extraordinary dance begins long before the curtain rises.
It begins in the rehearsal room.

ARTISTS FIRST | ARTIST FORWARD

This is more than a phrase.
It is the philosophy behind how we work.
Every decision begins with one question: what do our artists need to do their best work?

Sometimes the answer is tangible:
◇ Fair compensation
◇ Professional rehearsal space
◇ Costumes that fit
◇ Company class
◇ Time together

Sometimes the answer is harder to measure:
◇ The freedom to take risks
◇ Curiosity over perfection
◇ Collaboration without ego
◇ A room artists leave energized, not depleted

These are not extras.
They are the conditions.
They allow artists to bring their full selves into the room and make work that could not exist without them.

We have chosen to build a company around that belief.

THE WORK HAS EARNED THE SPACE

For more than a decade, Robert Mark Dance has quietly built this community.
We have created original contemporary dance works presented throughout the Northeast.
We have commissioned new music.
We’ve welcomed emerging artists into the room alongside seasoned professionals.
Most importantly, we have built lasting creative relationships with artists who continue returning.

Not because they have to.
Because they believe in what we are building together.

This October, that journey comes together in our New York Season.
Not because it is time for another performance.
Because the work has earned the space.
Across six dances, audiences will encounter stories of grief, resilience, relationships, identity and community.

WHAT BECOMES POSSIBLE

This campaign is not simply about producing two performances.
It is about continuing to build the kind of artistic home I want to be part of.
A place where artists have the time, trust and support to create meaningful work together.
Where excellence and humanity exist side by side.
Where the process matters just as much as the performance.

Bringing this season to the stage will cost $40,000.
We have raised $20,000.
We are halfway there.

Between now and the moment the curtain rises, we are working to raise the remaining $20,000.
More than 60% of the full production budget directly supports artist compensation, not including myself.

Every contribution helps pay artists for their time and expertise.
It provides rehearsal space where ideas can evolve instead of being rushed.
It supports original music, costumes and everything behind the scenes.
It supports a stage worthy of work our artists have spent months, and in some cases years, creating.

Most importantly, it sends a message to every artist in the room:
Your work matters.

THE INVITATION

When you support Robert Mark Dance, you are not simply funding two performances in October.
You are investing in months of dedication and collaboration, and the people who bring this work to life.

You are saying artists deserve sustainable careers.
You are saying collaboration is worth protecting.
You are saying vulnerability deserves space.
You are helping build a cultural future that values people as much as performance.

Every gift moves that vision forward.

Together, we are not just producing another dance season.
We are demonstrating what becomes possible when artists come first.
Thank you for believing in that possibility.
Thank you for believing in our artists.