“Receiving support for dedicated studio time twice a week has allowed us to make a commitment to our work together in a new way, giving us space to take risks and freeing us to create.”

“I think that the Next Steps design for the implementation funds is so intelligent because it preserves the diversity of artists by allowing the artist specify what we need to succeed.”
Emily Beattie

“Meeting with an expert advisor, in the field of marketing and branding, has been truly educational and supportive.  Gary Dunning (Celebrity Series) guided us in specific ways that JAE could continue to build our local dance audience and expand into the regional scene.”

Next Steps for Boston Dance
A partnership between the Boston Foundation and the Aliad Fund

Designed to support original, innovative, and risk-taking artistic ventures to nurture and to grow the careers of choreographers, Next Steps for Boston Dance responds to the needs of dance artists working in multiple genres to have the flexibility to push creative boundaries, work in dedicated spaces, and have mentorship and/or skill development opportunities.

A minimum of 6 grants will be awarded to artists with an emphasis on including a variety of genres. Artists will be selected who are at different career stages: at the beginning of a professional career, mid, and well established. We strongly encourage all artists to apply.

Next Steps for Boston Dance supports choreographers creating original work in any dance genre to move forward and take a “next step” in their careers by providing:

• 250 hours of rehearsal space

• 6 consulting meetings with expert advisors in areas of need and/or interest to the artist including artistic, technical, communication and planning

• $5,000 in implementation funds to create or complete a project or take a “next step” in an artist’s work or career

• Cohort meetings to connect choreographers and allow them to share and learn from each other

Eligibility Requirements:

• Artists must have choreographed and presented work in a public [non- educational institution] setting within the last 24 months.

• Candidates must be creating original work; there are no genre-restrictions.

• Candidates’ primary residences must be located in the Greater Boston Metropolitan Area, within Route 495. Click here for a list of geographical areas served.

• Post-Secondary students currently seeking and working toward dance and related degrees are ineligible to apply.

Launch Date:  September 15, 2018

Application Deadline:  October 31, 2018

Decisions Anticipated: December 2018

Grant Period: Funds must be spent between January 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.

Information Sessions

Want to learn more about the grant, what is needed to submit a good application, and what the first round of artists has learned? The Foundation and the Aliad Fund invite all interested applicants to learn more about Next Steps and ask questions at a series of upcoming information sessions. Dates, times, locations and registration links can be found on our website. Please register at least 24 hours in advance of each session.

If your question is not answered during an Information Session, or if you are unable to attend, please email your question(s) to Ruth Birnberg at NextSteps@tbf.org.