I came to this work through the field itself. I spent five years as a dancer and choreographer in New York City, working multiple jobs to sustain my practice and navigating the reality that making dance often required sacrificing stability, safety, and rest. I know what it’s like to love this work deeply while struggling to access the resources and support needed to sustain it. Those experiences continue to shape how I show up for this field.

My commitment to dance advocacy began long before my time at Dance/NYC. I believe dance is essential work. It lives in our bodies, our communities, and our collective capacity to process, resist, and connect. I hold a deep belief in a future where dancers can dance, choreographers can create, and dance workers can support this ecosystem with dignity and care. One where making dance is not an act of personal sacrifice, but is resourced, valued, and possible.

I am continually inspired by the team at Dance/NYC—one of the most resilient, thoughtful, and autonomous groups of people I have ever worked alongside. I have full faith that meaningful change happens collectively through care, accountability, and shared leadership. I’m especially excited to continue this work in close partnership with Raquel Du Toit, and I’m grateful to build alongside her in service of the field.

This community made me a New Yorker, and continues to inspire me with its resilience, generosity, and diversity of lived experience. I am deeply committed to serving the dance field—artists, workers, and organizations alike—and doing so with care, humility, and accountability. I’m grateful to continue growing at Dance/NYC and excited to work alongside you in building a more just, supported, and sustainable dance ecosystem for us all.

With care and gratitude,

Monica Steffey
Director of Programming and Operations
Dance/NYC