irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $290KDANSPACE@50: 50TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVALDANSPACE WAS PROUD TO CELEBRATE A HISTORIC AND RICH 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL ENTITLED DANSPACE@50:"WORK IS NEVER DONE. SANCTUARY ALWAYS NEEDED." THE FESTIVAL CURATED EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTS FROM OUR ILLUSTRIOUS PAST IN CONVERSATION WITH AN EXCITING NEW GENERATION OF ARTISTS AND FEATURED HISTORIC REVIVALS AND RE-IMAGININGS OF WORK BY ISHMAEL HOUSTON-JONES & FRED HOLLAND (SOLD OUT), DONNA UCHIZONO (SOLD OUT), BEBE MILLER (SOLD OUT), AND MARJANI FORTE-SAUNDERS & BLONDELL CUMMINGS; A SCREENING/DISCUSSION OF RARELY SEEN FOOTAGE OF THE LATE DANCE LEGEND STEVE PAXTON WITH HIS PARTNER LISA NELSON AND CATHY WEIS; A REUNION OF CLAUDIA LAROCCO'S 2015 PLATFORM, DANCERS, BUILDINGS AND PEOPLE IN THE STREETS, FEATURING CONVERSATIONS, PERFORMANCES AND SCREENINGS ABOUT THE DANCE LINEAGES OF GEORGE BALANCHINE, MERCE CUNNINGHAM, AND JUDSON DANCE THEATER; AND A REVISITING OF REGGIE WILSON'S GUEST CURATED PLATFORM FROM 2018, DANCING PLATFORM PRAYING GROUNDS: BLACKNESS, CHURCHES, AND DOWNTOWN DANCE, WHICH INCLUDED A PANEL DISCUSSION AND DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENING; AND A CONCLUSORY PANEL CONVERSATION AT THE NYPL FACILITATED BY DANSPACE'S PLATFORM FOUNDER HUSSIE-TAYLOR CELEBRATING THE 15 YEAR HISTORY AND IMPACT OF THE ICONIC SERIES WITH EIKO OTAKE, OKWUI OKPOKWASILI, REGGIE WILSON, AND DANSPACE PROGRAM DIRECTOR/ASSOCIATE CURATOR, SETA MORTON. THE FESTIVAL RECEIVED CRITICAL ACCLAIM WITH TWO FEATURE ARTICLES IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, PLUS ADDITIONAL PRESS COVERAGE IN CULTUREBOT, FJORD REVIEW, BROOKLYN RAIL, DANCE MAGAZINE, AND DANCE ENTHUSIAST.
- #2 $100KPARTNERSHIP & RENTAL PROGRAMSTHIS YEAR MARKED THE REVITALIZATION OF OUR PRODUCTION RENTAL PROGRAM, WHICH HAD BEEN DORMANT SINCE 2019 DUE TO COVID-19. AS PART OF OUR 'OFF-SEASON' PROGRAM, DANSPACE OFFERED WEEK-LONG RENTAL PACKAGES TO TWO ARTIST GROUPS, MEGAN WILLIAMS DANCE PROJECT AND AUNTS. THESE ARTISTS PAID DANSPACE PROJECT A FLAT FEE, REHEARSED AND PERFORMED IN OUR SPACE, AND RECEIVED BOX OFFICE SALES AS COMPENSATION. DANSPACE ALSO OFFERED WEEKLY RENTALS OF OUR SPACE TO THE NEW SCHOOL AND TO MOVEMENT RESEARCH FOR THE PURPOSE OF TEACHING CLASS. THIS CONTINUED OUR LONG TRADITION OF PARTNERING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO HOST DANCE CLASSES THAT BENEFIT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Center for Dialogue and Exchange in the Arts (CDEA)
Creative incubator and research fellowship program supporting long-term dialogue with artist-research fellows at the intersection of artistic practice and expansive thinking; includes public events and publications
Danspace@50: 50th Anniversary Festival
Year-long festival celebrating 50 years of Danspace Project, featuring historic revivals, intergenerational pairings, panel discussions, film screenings, and reunions of past Platform artists and curators
PLATFORM Series
Multi-week curated series of performances and events organized by guest artist-curators and the Danspace curatorial team, conceived as collaborative inquiries into artistic and choreographic concerns; includes commissions, showings, conversations, and publications
Production Rental Program
Offers week-long rental packages to dance companies and organizations for rehearsal and performance; includes box office compensation and technical support
Renewal Residencies
Year-long, process-focused residencies providing artists with space, funding, curatorial support, and opportunities for public showings or dialogues, designed to support creative renewal without pressure to produce finished work
activities · 11 groups
What they do
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 2 activities
- Hosting Writer-in-Residence and creative archive programsHosts a Writer-in-Residence program, as seen in Platform 2026 with Myssi Robinson, who produced interpretive writings and drawings in response to performances. Also maintains evolving artistic archives incorporating visual art, writing, and mixed-media works generated during residencies and platforms.
- Providing artist residencies with creative and production supportOffers process-focused creative residencies to artists, including studio space, artist fees, curatorial and administrative support, and opportunities for open rehearsals or work sharing. Programs include year-long Renewal Residencies launched in FY22 and other production residencies for artists such as Ogemdi Ude, Mayfield Brooks, and Mina Nishimura.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Collecting food donations for local distributionCollects canned food donations during performances to support food distribution programs in the East Village, linking cultural programming with community support initiatives.
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Original Dance Performance Production 1 activity
- Commissioning and presenting new dance worksSupports the creation and presentation of new dance through its Commissioning Initiative, which has commissioned nearly 600 works since 1994. The organization presents these works in curated multi-week performance series such as the Platform series, including recent editions like Platform 2024: A Delicate Ritual and Platform 2020: Utterances From The Chorus.
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Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
- Ensuring accessibility at performances and facilitiesProvides physical and programmatic access for patrons with disabilities, including wheelchair access via permanent ramps, accessible restrooms, designated wheelchair seating with advance reservations, and ADA-compliant accommodations for trained service animals.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Facilitating public programs and audience engagementHosts public discussions, roundtables, screenings, readings, and events that connect artists, scholars, and audiences. Includes long-form dialogues on artistic practice and systemic issues, as well as special events like the 50th anniversary festival featuring revivals, reunions, and panel conversations at the New York Public Library.
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Performing Arts Venue Rental 1 activity
- Operating a performance space rental programRevitalized its production rental program to provide affordable access to its space, offering week-long rental packages to independent dance projects and weekly rentals to institutions like The New School and Movement Research for teaching dance classes.
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Event and Production Volunteer Coordination 1 activity
- Operating a volunteer usher programRuns a volunteer usher program that allows individuals to attend performances for free in exchange for one hour of service before or after a show, increasing community access to performances.
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Site-Specific Artistic Installations and Performances 1 activity
- Producing curated thematic performance platformsOrganizes and presents multi-week curated performance platforms co-developed with guest artist-curators, such as Platform 2026: Secret Gardens exploring plant-dance relationships, Platform 2015 examining dance lineages, and Platform 2012: Judson Now commemorating the Judson Dance Theater. These platforms feature commissions, performances, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
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Artist and Curatorial Publications 1 activity
- Publishing performance-related research and archival materialsProduces print and digital publications documenting its programming and supporting dance scholarship, including print catalogues for each Platform series (e.g., "A Delicate Ritual"), free virtual catalogues (e.g., "Utterances From The Chorus" Volumes I and II), and an annual free digital multimedia Online Journal. Also publishes collaborative research such as "Reassembly: Field Notes for Unknowing" with Artist Research Fellows.
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Arts Professional Advocacy & Equity Initiatives 1 activity
- Supporting early-career and underrepresented artistsEngages early-career and underrepresented artists through informal performance opportunities, feedback sessions, and inclusion in commissioning and residency programs, fostering emerging voices in dance and performance.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Convening Artist Research Fellows for collaborative inquiryConvenes annual or biannual research groups of invited Artist Research Fellows to collaborate on values-centered and artistic inquiries, such as the collaboration with devynn emory and Okwui Okpokwasili resulting in the publication "Reassembly: Field Notes for Unknowing."
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$682K
Contributions & grants$568K83%
Program service revenue$109K16%
Investment income$5760%
Other revenue$5K
expenses
Total expenses$1.33M
Program expenses68%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising16%
Salaries & benefits$815K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.88M
Cash$991K
Investments$0
Liabilities$758K
Net assets$1.12M
Liquid reserves9.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -67.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JUDY HUSSIE-TAYLOR | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF CURATOR | 40 | $126K |
| RASHAUN MITCHELL | SECRETARY | 2 | $1K |
board members · 12
- ANTHONY CALNEK — OFFICER-AT-LARGE
- DAVID FANGER — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID PARKER — OFFICER-AT-LARGE
- EIKO OTAKE — BOARD MEMBER
- HELEN WARWICK — OFFICER-AT-LARGE
- JUDILEE REED — TREASURER
- MELISSA LEVIN — PRESIDENT
- NINA WINTHROP — BOARD MEMBER
- SARAH NEEDHAM — BOARD MEMBER
- SUZANNE BOCANEGRA — BOARD MEMBER
- THOMAS LAX — BOARD MEMBER
- YONA BACKER — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 58
Who they work with
- Annie-B Parson Partner — Honoree at the 2021 Rebel Angels Gala and contributor to The Rebel Angels Cookbook.
- Baryshnikov Arts Center Partner — Partner in supporting dance and performance artists
- Bebe Miller Partner — Honoree at the 2021 Rebel Angels Gala and contributor to The Rebel Angels Cookbook.
- Brooklyn Prospect Park Alliance Partner — Partner in public arts programming and community engagement
- Center for Art, Research and Alliances (CARA) Partner — Co-presented a book launch for "Reassembly" featuring contributions by DanSpace artist research fellows and staff.
- Chocolate Factory Partner — Collaborates on experimental performance and artist support programs
- City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center Partner — Academic partner in research and performance programming
- Claudia La Rocco Partner — Curator of Platform 2015: Dancers, Buildings and People in the Streets
- Jasmine Hearn Partner — Supports long-term archival collaboration between Myssi Robinson and Jasmine Hearn’s Memory Fleet.
- Jenn Joy Partner — Co-editor of the Judson Now catalogue published by Danspace Project.
- Judy Hussie-Taylor Partner — Co-curator of Platform 2020: Utterances From The Chorus.
- Judy Hussie-Taylor Partner — Co-curator of Platform 2026: Secret Gardens
- Judy Hussie-Taylor Partner — Curator and editor of the Platform 2012: Judson Now performance series and accompanying catalogue.
- Judy Hussie-Taylor Partner — Executive Director & Chief Curator of Danspace Project and co-editor of multiple catalogues.
- Kaatsbaan Center Partner — Collaborates on dance artist support and programming
- Kyle Abraham Partner — Editor of the Platform 2024 catalogue "A Delicate Ritual."
- Leadership Circle Partner — Group of donors providing significant financial support with exclusive benefits including complimentary tickets and special event invitations.
- Madison Square Park Public Arts Alliance Partner — Collaborates on public arts and performance programming
- Meryem Jazouli Partner — Presented solo performance titled Folkah! as part of Platform 2020: Utterances.
- Movement Research Partner — Collaborates on programs supporting dance artists and new work development
- Movement Research Partner — Receives weekly rentals of DanSpace's venue for teaching dance classes.
- Museum of Modern Art Partner — Partner organization in programming initiatives
- Myssi Robinson Partner — Hosts Myssi Robinson as the Platform 2026 Writer-in-Residence, engaging her in creative interpretation and archival practice.
- Myssi Robinson Partner — Served as Writer-in-Residence for Platform 2026, creating interpretive texts and visual works in response to performances.
- Myssi Robinson Partner — Writer-in-Residence for Platform 2026, creating a visual and written apothecary in response to performances
- NYU Tisch School of the Arts (Center for Creative Research) Partner — Collaborates on artistic research and performance programming
- New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Partner — Partner in archival and performance-related programming
- New York State Dance Force Partner — Partner in statewide dance advocacy and programming efforts
- New York Theatre Ballet Partner — Shares facility with Danspace Project at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery.
- Ogemdi Ude Partner — Supports long-term archival collaboration between Myssi Robinson and Ogemdi Ude’s Major.
+ 28 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Artist-Centered Creative Renewalmethodology: recuperative_residencyBy providing process-focused, low-pressure residencies without requirements for public output, we support long-term artistic recovery and reconnection to creative practice, because removing product-based expectations fosters deeper experimentation and sustainability in dance.
- Collaborative Curatorial Inquiry as Artistic Dialoguemethodology: collaborative_curatorial_inquiryBy structuring performance series as time-based, collaboratively curated "exhibitions that unfold over time," we deepen engagement with choreographic concerns, because ongoing dialogue between artists and curators generates richer artistic investigation than single-event presentations.
- Curatorial Pluralism for Equity and Aesthetic Diversitymethodology: curatorial_pluralismBy intentionally programming across race, gender, disability, class, and conflicting aesthetics without imposing a unified narrative, we amplify underrepresented voices and foster collective movement in dance, because embracing contradiction and difference strengthens cultural relevance and artistic innovation.
- Embodied Inquiry Through Interdisciplinary Curationmethodology: embodied_inquiryBy integrating dance with ecological themes, ritual practices, and material altars, we generate embodied knowledge and collective processing, because interdisciplinary frameworks expand the body’s role beyond performance into resistance, healing, and symbolic meaning-making.