Overview
For over 46 years, Dancemakers has been a contemporary dance company that is committed to developing the field of contemporary dance practices. Through residencies, performances, workshops, and ancillary activities, Dancemakers animates a space where practitioners and publics engage in a discourse around dance in its Centre for Creation in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District.
Dancemakers is located in Tkaronto, on the Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe and the Mississaugas of the Credit Union of First Nations territory.
Current State of Dancemakers
As with many arts organizations across the country, Dancemakers has for several years endured challenges in creating a sustainable operating model. Ever-increasing operational costs combined with declining audiences and cuts in government funding had already raised serious concerns with the current Board of Directors over Dancemakers’ future. The global pandemic exacerbated these existing and mounting challenges exponentially, leading the Board to make the very difficult decision to wind down activities and cease operations effective July 31, 2021. While Dancemakers has proudly contributed to the practice and discourse around contemporary dance over its 46-year history, it seemed clear that the time had come to give way to new voices and new models for what a contemporary dance company can and should be in the future.
With this in mind, the Board saw an incredible opportunity to celebrate Dancemakers’ legacy. They saw an opportunity to honour and reflect on the past, while using its resources during the wind down period to support the current artists-in-residence, and most importantly, to plant the seeds for something new to grow.
It was with this vision that Natasha Powell, an inspiring and visionary force in the dance community, agreed to come on board to facilitate this transition. Natasha understood the Board’s viewpoint and was excited by the opportunity to use her 10-month contract to explore what new activity could come from facilitating this final season, and to see how the community could participate to imagine something different – turning this closure into an opportunity to invest in and support the current and future generation of dance artists. Her vision was comprised of four pillars: reflect on the legacy that is Dancemakers; support the current artists-in-residence projects to completion; create an opportunity for short-term residencies while the space is still active; and host a Dance Future Symposium which would be the vehicle for planting the seeds for collective re-visioning as we think about how we can create opportunities for dance artists to make and present their best work.
While the current Board and Natasha had committed to this plan to meaningfully wind down by July 31, 2021, some members of the dance community have responded to this announcement wondering if there is another way forward. The current Board would be fully supportive should new individuals (a minimum of four as per Dancemakers’ Bylaws) be interested in taking on the challenge and finding a path forward. Should this happen, all current Board members would step down in favour of a new Board to take over the helm and steward Dancemakers’ future. The Artistic Producer, Natasha Powell, has indicated she would step down as well to allow a new Board to find a new leader aligned with their vision. If an insufficient number of potential new Board members apply for and/or are voted in to replace the entire Board, the current Board is committed to seeing through a revised plan to wind down operations.
Call For A New Board
In light of the current situation, Dancemakers is seeking a minimum of 4 dedicated individuals to apply for consideration to take over its volunteer governing body, the Board of Directors, which also includes professional artistic and operations leadership participating in an Ex Officio capacity. Existing Board Bylaws stipulate that these individuals will be put forward to a vote with the current Board in order to be accepted. In the event this passes, the current Board will step down at the AGM on January 21, 2021, to make way for a new Board with a new vision.
The company would require individuals who bring a range of fiduciary expertise to the organization, including but not limited to:
- strategic planning,
- legal,
- financial management,
- facility management and negotiations,
- marketing,
- fundraising,
- human resources, and/or
- Equity and Anti-Oppression training
We encourage those who are interested in mitigating risk, who are collaborative, have lived experience, and who want to contribute to a new, long-term, and practical vision for the company to apply. We strongly encourage applications from practicing artists and creatives.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
The company adheres to the Toronto Arts Council’s Equity Priority Group Policy, and will prioritize applicants who self-identify as belonging to one (or more) of Toronto Arts Council’s Equity Priority Groups (Black, Indigenous, Persons of Colour, Deaf Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Persons Living with Mental Illness, 2SLGBTQIAP). We encourage applications from these communities and will endeavour to accommodate applicants with a disability during the selection process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code guidelines and other applicable legislation.
Dancemakers is committed to Anti-Oppression training, and the continual revision of our Statements of Unity and its supporting Policies. Visit http://dancemakers.org/dancemakers-policies to find out more.
Dancemakers Board of Directors’ Commitments
Dancemakers’ Board of Directors is a working Board, with all directors expected to keep to the following commitments:
- A familiarity with Dancemakers’ activities and history, and a deep interest in building and sustaining relationships with the artists, creatives, and the dance and performing arts community at-large.
- Regular attendance at a minimum of six (6) regular Board meetings per year, the Annual General Meeting, and all related meetings.
- Accept legal and financial responsibility for the organization’s contractual commitments and obligations.
- Be informed and engage in matters related to Board work, including being preparing for meetings and reviewing and commenting on minutes and reports.
- Actively participate in Board work as it arises and participate on at least one Board committee.
- Build strong working relationships with fellow directors and staff, as applicable.
- While there is no requirement to make a financial contribution to the company, directors are expected to attend Dancemakers’ performances and events and participate in fundraising for the company.
Incoming Directors should be prepared to participate at the Executive Board level by taking on a position such as Chair, Treasurer, or Secretary.
Dancemakers is a registered federal charity and a provincially registered corporation without share capital. As such, directors cannot not receive cash or in-kind remuneration for their services.
Term
Each director is elected to hold office until the first annual meeting after they have been elected or until a successor is duly elected and qualified. The whole board is retired at each annual meeting but is eligible for re-election if qualified.
Application Process
The application deadline is Friday, January 15, 2021 at midnight.
Please submit the following items to board@dancemakers.org in a PDF or Word format, with the email subject Dancemakers Board of Directors Application:
- a brief statement (one page maximum) explaining why you are interested in this volunteer position,
- your CV, résumé or statement of experience, and
- any applicable web links.
Board Election Process
New applicants for Board membership will be reviewed by the current Board of Directors, as per Board Bylaws, and voted on by that Board at the Annual General Meeting scheduled for January 21, 2021. Potential new Board members will be accepted if they receive a majority of eligible votes at the AGM.