Oh Noes: Trump Cuts All Sorts Of Dance Troop Grants

It’s so terrible, and the LA Times has time for this instead of investigating where the $100 million raised for victims of the California fire.

Trump-era cuts to public art create a ‘state of emergency’ for L.A. dance community

Linda Yudin was sipping coffee with family and friends on May 3, the morning of her birthday, when they warned her not to check her emails.

Later that afternoon, she learned why: Her dance company, Viver Brasil, had lost a $20,000 grant. It was among 30 Los Angeles arts organizations that received a grant termination letter from the National Endowment for the Arts the night before.

“Was I mad? Yes, I was mad. I was really angry. We were all really angry because it slows our process down,” Yudin, Viver Brasil’s founding artistic director, told The Times.

Why is the federal government funding any of this stuff? Citizens have been saying that for 50 years. If they want to tour and put on productions they can raise the money themselves, not rely on federal taxpayer money. This is not a job of the feds.

The money was intended to support staff salaries and artist fees for a national tour of “Rezas e Folhas (Prayers and Leaves),” choreographed by co-artistic director Vera Passos. The piece blends Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous dance with experimental choreography to examine the climate crisis and social change — subjects playing out in real time in L.A.

Now, Viver Brasil has to pause and reevaluate what that tour will look like. Possible adjustments include performing in smaller venues and cutting down the size of the cast.

“We have to rethink perhaps, but I’m proud to be part of such a creative dance ecosystem,” Yudin said. “We dance hard, we fight hard, and that’s what we do.”

So, hit up a bank. Do a fundraiser. Petition the city or state. Use your own money. This is not a job of the federal government. It doesn’t exist in the Constitution. Sure, it’s not a lot of money, but, a dollar here, a dollar there, soon you have some good money.

Dance is one of the most underfunded arts disciplines, according to Raélle Dorfan, executive director of L.A.’s Dance Resource Center. She points to inherent economic challenges that inhibit the industry’s infrastructure and growth potential — such as limited funding sources — which consequently can make it challenging for companies and venues to fill seats.

So…..people aren’t willing to pay to see this? At least not many? The ballet doesn’t have a problem. Broadway productions do not have problems. And, if they do, they get cancelled.

Arts organizations across the country have been reeling from NEA grant terminations amid priority changes under President Trump’s administration. Twelve L.A. organizations are currently at risk of needing to eliminate jobs and programming due to federal funding cuts, according to Herrera.

If your business cannot survive without lots of government cash than it’s not operating well.

Is that worth $20K?

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