The Bologna Performing Arts Center at Delta State University has been chosen as one of 10 arts presenters to participate in South Arts’ Dance Touring Initiative (DTI), a comprehensive and intensive three-year program supporting performing arts presenters throughout the South.
With funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the BPAC and other venues from across the South will develop a rich selection of performances, workshops and audience engagement activities to connect local audiences with touring modern dance and contemporary ballet companies.
The BPAC is a multidisciplinary facility that presents a wide range of programming.
“The timing for this program is perfect,” said Laura Howell, BPAC executive director. “Our advisory board has identified a new focus area for presenting dance, so we look forward to how our participation in the Dance Touring Initiative can help us further our mission to connect artists and audiences in the Mississippi Delta.”
“We are excited to begin our third DTI cycle,” said Nikki Estes, program director with South Arts. “The first two cycles have connected over 30,000 audience members throughout the South with modern dance and contemporary ballet, and we look forward to broadening that impact over the coming years. After the start of this third cycle, we will have 26 active arts presenters in the initiative as a network and learning community among dance presenters.”
In addition to the BPAC, the third cohort of DTI presenter participants includes:
-Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
-Arts Council of Central Louisiana, Alexandria, Ala.
-City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, Charleston, S.C.
-Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, La.
-Duke Performances/Duke University, Durham, N.C.
-Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College, Columbia, S.C.
-The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, Louisville, Ky.
-Memphis Development Foundation/ The Orpheum Theatre, Memphis, Tenn.
-Paramount Theatre/ City of Goldsboro, Goldsboro, N.C.
The 26 arts presenters involved in DTI to date will receive professional development, take part in residency planning visits with artistic directors from major national dance companies, and receive financial support to provide both educational programming and public performances for their audiences.
“DTI enables these organizations to expand their already solid community partnerships,” said Suzette M. Surkamer, executive director of South Arts. “This training provides presenters with additional platforms to garner a larger and stronger audience base, especially around modern dance and contemporary ballet.”
Learn more at http://www.southarts.org/touring-arts/dance-touring-initiative/
