Around 12:00pm today, President-Elect Donald Trump drops the 'elect' and becomes our full on Commander in Chief.
Yesterday, his team announced plans to completely eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts (as well as the National Endowment for Humanities). The NEA is a major funder for dance organizations, from large companies to small projects. Their grants provide jobs to dancers and artists all over the country.
I don't have to tell you how important and beneficial the arts are, not only to individuals, but to society as a whole. And if the funding disappears, what do we do?
Please, dancers, speak up. No matter how you voted, or what you believe, we all need to come together for our art. Write to your congressmen. Donate to companies you believe in. The arts are important. Your work is important. You are important.