Creating and Maintaining Effective Community Connections:

A Case Study of the Mark Morris Dance Group

Monday, October 19, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Organized by Stuart Post, program officer, Independence Community Foundation.

Moderated by Kate Levin, commissioner, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. Presented by Stuart Post; Kate Levin; Nancy Umanoff, executive director, Mark Morris Dance Group; David Resnicow, board chair, Mark Morris Dance Group; Lauren Cherubini, director of marketing and development, Mark Morris Dance Group; Eva Nichols, director of education, Mark Morris Dance Group; and other community partners.

When the Mark Morris Dance Group opened its Mark Morris Dance Center in 2001, the group had no enduring ties to Brooklyn apart from having performed at BAM. This offsite session at the Dance Center will highlight the trials and successes of a world renowned performing arts group’s work to establish a home base and fully integrate into fabric of its local community. Issues explored will include the modification to organizational structure, shifts in funding and marketing priorities, impact on the essential art, navigation of cultural tensions in the community, the potential for national replication and the impact of the economic downturn on outreach efforts. Panelists will include MMDG executive director Nancy Umanoff and her program staff, along with representatives from the community organizations with which MMDG collaborates. This event will also include a tour of the Dance Center and an interactive dance workshop created specifically for the occasion. Kate Levin, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, will moderate.

Space is limited for these Monday off-site sessions, so tickets are required and we recommend that you sign up in advance at the conference online registration application. Remaining tickets will be available at the registration desk on Monday morning. When the tickets for a session are all gone, you will know that session is full, and can make another choice.

Participants will travel to offsite sessions by subway guided by local hosts. Your ticket will indicate when and where to meet your session group.