We are the beat.
We are the rhythm.
We are moving forward and here to stay.

To the dancers, choreographers, designers, stage crews, educators, writers, companies building something extraordinary from nothing, the cultural keepers—to the community that is Dance/NYC and the wider field that it serves.

I write to you with a full heart after my first 100 days of conversations, learning, and being moved by the depth of what you carry. 100 days is a short amount of time, but long enough to affirm that our work together is not simply about dance as an extraordinary art form; it is about equity, access, and building community.

During these 100 days, I’ve enjoyed lively conversations with staff, board members, community partners, and supporters across New York City and beyond. I have testified before the City Council, visited dance studios, danced at your galas, celebrated breathtaking performances, and been moved by the formidable challenges the past few years have posed for our field. I have been moved to action by the resilience of all of you. Community is how we stay afloat despite the low tides. Community is built not through promises but through presence—through showing up again and again for the people we serve.

My first 100 days have recommitted us to several priorities, most important among them:

1. Justice
   • Centering ALAANA, immigrant, disabled, LGBTQIA+, women-identifying, and low-income dance workers and dance companies in every decision;
2. Equity
   • Building a sustainable regranting program that is less beholden to the ebbs and flows of philanthropy;
   • Prioritizing microgrants to dancers to bridge the cost-of-living gap, and general operating support to small organizations.
3. Strengthening Community
   • Offering improved platforms for shared learning, resources, and advocacy.

For too long, the urgencies of the moment have pulled our field into a perpetual sprint.  Work done from a place of exhaustion cannot sustain itself. So we are building differently to better serve you: We are creating a five-year financial plan that establishes a reserve to allow for more sustainable programs and services.

Alongside our new Director of Programming and Operations, Monica Steffey, whose passion and optimism match the scale of this moment, we are:

• building coalitions;
• strengthening our communications and transforming our digital presence into a more effective tool for dance workers;
• creating an AI policy that responsibly addresses technology and labor;
• working on streamlining our services to better support our community.

Dance/NYC is a community of diverse experiences with shared values and aspirations. You are at the center of who we are and what we do.

We are not deterred. We remember that the most transformative moments in history have been sparked by small, committed, deeply rooted groups of people. We are moving forward and here to stay.

I am honored to work with you side by side. I am honored to serve you.

Cuitlahuia (with care),

Raquel