We would like to take this time to update you all on the work of Momentum Stage, particularly as it relates to our Public Statement published in June.
It has always been the mission of Momentum Stage to “create accessible, multi-generational, live art, discussing relevant topics in our community”. In the past 6 months of the pandemic, as well as the tandem events around Black Lives Matter, virtual and hybrid learning needs, the election, and the holidays, we have had opportunities to to deepen our commitment to this mission and live it out.
Below is a summary of the events supporting this mission. In an effort to be fully transparent, we have included attendance and payment information.
The AntiRacist Performing Arts Classroom Page
This page launched on our website in February 2020 with databases, documents, videos, links, and more. This page is updated regularly and is a living resource. Free to access. This page has had over 7,000 views since its launch, with approximately half of those coming in the month of June.
Creating Change Conversation Series 1- catch a summary video of the first series on our YouTube channel! Recordings of each conversation are available upon request.
These conversations ran June-September. We had approximately 600 people in attendance across the events from South Florida, the US, Canada, and the UK.
These conversations centered on decolonizing and diversifying creative practice and theatre and dance curricula and pedagogy. We were pleased to welcome 22 panelists from across the US for these events to share their experiences. We are so thankful for the generosity in sharing their lived experiences with us.
We are grateful for the partnership of New City Players for the first 3 events and Re:Theatre for the final conversation.
While all events were free for attendees, we made the last 2 conversations available for donations via Eventbrite, raising about $100 per conversation. All panelists were paid for their time and sharing. Board member Dr. Carolina Seiden offered her time and skills as moderator as an in-kind donation.
Free Script Library for Teachers
This page launched on website in March 2020 in response to virtual learning needs for theatre teachers. This library includes donations of scripts made from several playwrights from across the country, as well as public domain works. Free to access and download. Classroom rights are granted, performance rights vary. Downloads have ranged from 3-53 per month.
Classes
We were pleased to add new classes and instructors this fall. We were especially excited to offer a course in the Suzuki method, a non-European performance technique. While not all of our offered courses ran, we were excited to grow and offer new options.
Throughout the summer and fall we welcomed nearly 70 students from across the world (including locations in South America, Europe and India!). All dance classes including tap and/or jazz also included history and discussion, tracing the forms back to their African roots. All Laban classes and events also include transparent discussion of the Euro-centricity of the method and the man.
We were pleased to offer 11 full scholarships and 2 partial scholarships for our students, as well as student rates for select classes. Tuition from classes support instructor payment, scholarship funds, and payment for facilitators/panelists who appear during free events.
We were also excited to be able to offer many free workshops over the past 9 months, including introductions to Laban and Suzuki and well as presence/mindfulness practices for performers, and a panel with playwrights and directors discussing virtual theatre!
We will be offering new classes, as well as returning consistent favorites in 2021. As always, your suggestions and requests are welcome!
Guest Teaching Sessions
Since the move to virtual and/or hybrid learning in March 2020, we have been pleased to offer Guest Teaching Session for Middle School, High School, and University classes in the Laban/Bartenieff Movement System and Consent for Performers. We have participated in 4 such sessions. 3 of these were free to the partner school.
Hip-Hop Culture 101- The Baseline.
Free virtual workshop for dance teachers on the history and culture of Hip-Hop dance. July 12, 2020. Led by Daniel Rosas. 33 registered attendees from South Florida, the US, and Canada. Free for attendees, the instructor was paid for his time.
Summer Reading Group: The Racial Healing Handbook.
June-August 2020. A virtual gathering led by Rachel Finley for 7 participants. Free for attendees, the facilitator was paid for her time.
Monologue Series
Early in summer 2020, we produced 2 recorded monologues with actors from South Florida, in collaboration with playwright Ricardo Soltero-Brown of Orlando, FL. We have received a grant from the Broward County Cultural Division to continue this program in 2021.
Email Newsletter
Our newsletter reaches 1000 subscribers weekly. We have a dedicated space in our emails for promoting workshops and events from other organizations that aid equity in the arts and/or education.
Upcoming Programming in support of our Mission
Creating Change Conversation Series 2 and 3
Going forward, we propose 2 more conversation series in 2021. Each conversation would be geared to a specific topic in dance and theatre performance or education, with representatives with lived experiences as marginalized participants in the arts as the centered voices.
We are excited to be in conversation with the Dance Education Equity Association in planning these events, as well as our previous partners.
It is important to Momentum that we pay our panelists for sharing of experiences and thoughts. Because of this we have written 3 grants specifically for funding these conversations. Grant funding would allow us to solidify funding to pay the panelists fairly for their contributions to all 8 of the panels anticipated. These applications are still pending. You can support these conversations with a gift at our homepage.
Accessible and Adaptable Performances
Momentum Stage has received a grant from the Broward County Cultural Division for a monologue series and a TYA production to be delivered virtually in 2021. Stay tuned!
Other Funding
Momentum Stage raised over $400 as part of a Facebook fundraising campaign in September 2020 and $200 on #GivingTuesday. We also received a $1,000 gift and a $4,000 gift from private family foundations in 2020. These monies, as well as those raised by tuition and product sales, support instructor payment, scholarship funds, and payment for facilitators/panelists who appear during free events. Founder Nicole Perry does not take a salary, although she is paid for instruction time, as all of our instructors are.