Pew Grants To Nurture Creativity In Dance

The initiative will be administered by a coordinator from Dance/USA, a national service organization, with input from the Philadelphia Dance Alliance.

This program marks a change of focus in the way the Pew trusts support dance in Philadelphia. Previous grants have gone toward operation and performance costs.

"These funds," said Pew culture director Marian A. Godfrey in a prepared statement, "will be used to nurture and strengthen the research and development phase of the dance enterprise, without which there would ultimately be nothing to perform."

There are other significant features to the program, said Pearl Schaeffer, director of the Philadelphia Dance Alliance. "This is the first time that individuals can apply to Pew for creative work. This program frees choreographers from having to maintain a troupe in order to get money."

The winners of the grants will be selected by a jury of five dance professionals, three of them from outside the Philadelphia area, rather than by Pew. Activities to be funded include commissioning new dances and ensuing artistic fees, rehearsal expenses, and the cost of constructing sets and costumes.