named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Artist's Corner
Lecture series featuring intimate conversations between Black artistic directors and professionals, held in Harlem.
NYC Season
Annual performance series featuring original choreographic works by Artistic Director Tiffany Rea-Fisher, exploring themes of progressive social change and identity.
North Macedonia Residency
International cultural exchange program where company members conduct dance instruction and collaborate with students in Skopje.
Spring Education Performance
Showcase of student work from EMERGE125’s education partnerships, featuring youth performances and excerpts by the professional dance company.
Stars of Tomorrow Project Intensive Semester
Collaborative summer program in Virginia and Maryland where EMERGE125 teaching artists lead dance and movement classes for youth.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Original Dance Performance Production 2 activities
- Creating and distributing dance films and virtual performancesProduces and premieres dance films such as _Rights of Renaissance_, _Geography of Grace_, and _8’46”_, distributed through virtual platforms and cultural institutions. Offers remote access to performances via live-streamed and pre-recorded content through initiatives like the At Home EMERGE125 Performance series.
- Producing and touring original dance performancesCreates and presents original choreographic works through live performances in New York City and nationally, including annual seasons at venues such as The Flea Theater, El Museo del Barrio, and St. John the Divine, as well as tours to locations including Alaska and Harlem. The organization also tours performances internationally, such as in Skopje, North Macedonia.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Hosting collaborative and residency-based artistic programsEngages in artist residencies with organizations such as National Dance Institute and John Brown Lives! Fellowship, and hosts resident collaborators from outside the company. Develops interdisciplinary works through collaborations, such as with the New York Youth Symphony on “Migrate.”
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Ballet and Dance Education Programs 1 activity
- Operating youth and community dance education programsProvides dance education to K–12 students and pre- and early-career professionals through in-person and online classes, including the Lake Placid School of Dance and virtual offerings during the pandemic. Offers workshops and teaching artist residencies, such as with the Stars of Tomorrow Project, Inc.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$2.33M
Contributions & grants$2.24M96%
Program service revenue$79K3%
Investment income$4K0%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$1.23M
Program expenses62%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising18%
Salaries & benefits$815K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.64M
Cash$578K
Investments$0
Liabilities$68K
Net assets$1.57M
Liquid reserves5.6 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +112.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIFFANY REA-FISHER | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | 30 | $125K |
| JULIANE SLATER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $111K |
board members · 6
- ALIX LAAGER — BOARD MEMBER
- BRYAN MCGEE — BOARD MEMBER
- NICHOLAS F WEBER — BOARD MEMBER
- RIMA VARGAS-VETTER — BOARD MEMBER
- ROBERT DILWORTH — BOARD MEMBER
- VANESSA WILCOX — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 26
Who they work with
- Alison Cook Beatty Dance Partner — Presents Artists in Motion 2026, in which EMERGE125 will perform an excerpt from "Kinetic Dissent."
- Apolla Performance Wear Partner — Partner organization listed on EMERGE125's partners page, supporting the company through its products or services.
- Department of Transportation Government — Commissioned the 2017 performance of _Tilted Arc_ as part of the Summer Streets event.
- El Museo del Barrio Partner — Host venue for EMERGE125’s 2025 NYC season performances.
- Green Goddess Natural Market Partner — Provides catered lunches to EMERGE125's Summer Series students and company dancers during Lake Placid residencies.
- Harlem Arts Alliance Network — EMERGE125 is a member of the Harlem Arts Alliance, which supports the cultural development of Harlem by connecting artists and amplifying their voices.
- Harlem Stage Partner — Commissioned EMERGE125 to create the dance film _Rights of Renaissance_, which premiered through their E-Moves Part 2 program.
- Harlem Stage Partner — Commissioned a 2020 dance film about the Harlem Renaissance.
- Harlem arts organizations Partner — Forges creative partnerships with leading Harlem arts organizations to support community engagement and education programs.
- Healing Elements Partner — Provides massage therapy services to EMERGE125 during its Lake Placid residencies.
- Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth Partner — Commissioned the creation of the dance and music piece _8’46”_, which premiered virtually under their support.
- International Association for Dance Medicine & Science Network — EMERGE125 is a member of IADMS, a global network focused on promoting best practices in dance medicine and science.
- Jill Jones Partner — Photographer contributing to EMERGE125's theatre collaboration projects.
- John Brown Farm State Historic Site Partner — Site partner for EMERGE125's on-site collaboration projects.
- John Brown Lives! Partner — Hosted Rea-Fisher and Blunt in the 2022 fellowship for activists and artists, contributing to the development of _The Path_.
- Jon Brown Partner — Photographer involved in EMERGE125's fashion collaboration projects.
- Lake Placid Center for the Arts Partner — Commissioned the creation of the dance work _Spirit Celestial_ in 2018.
- Lisa Keegan Photography Partner — Photography provider for EMERGE125's music collaboration projects.
- National Dance Institute Partner — Collaborated on an artist-in-residence program in 2024.
- New Victory Theater Partner — Hosts New Victory Dance 2026, where EMERGE125 will perform "Behavioral Synchrony" as part of Program C.
- New York Youth Symphony Partner — Collaborating organization for the world premiere of "Migrate," combining dance and chamber music.
- Public Works Partner — Long-time collaborator on theatrical productions integrating dance and community performance.
- St. John the Divine Partner — Performance venue for a Public Works concert experience of 'Pericles' featuring EMERGE125 dancers.
- Stars of Tomorrow Project, Inc. Partner — Collaborates on a summer intensive program for emerging artists.
- The Halluci Nation Partner — Collaborated on the musical composition for _Behavioral Synchrony_.
- The Stars of Tomorrow Project, Inc. Partner — Partner organization for the Summer 2026 Intensive Semester, with EMERGE125 providing teaching artists and program support.
strategies · 5
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.
- Cross-Disciplinary and Community-Expanding Engagementmethodology: cross_disciplinary_outreachBy performing in non-arts spaces and using virtual forums that bridge dance and political discourse, the organization expands access and relevance, fostering broader community engagement because it meets audiences where they are and integrates art into wider societal conversations.
- Dancer-Centered Artistic Developmentmethodology: dancer_centered_developmentBy centering dancers as full collaborators and integrating their individual traits into choreography, the organization fosters artistic agency, personal growth, and equity—producing more authentic and impactful performances because dancers are engaged as whole artists rather than technical vessels.
- Embodied Narrative as Cultural and Political Expressionmethodology: embodied_narrativeBy using movement to convey personal and collective narratives—especially those rooted in gospel traditions, the Black church, and cross-cultural resistance—the organization enables non-verbal storytelling that expresses identity, self-determination, and protest, making emotional and cultural experiences accessible beyond spoken language.
- Empathy Through Embodied Perspective-Takingmethodology: embodied_empathyBy requiring dancers to embody emotional and narrative perspectives beyond their own—such as through dislocated voice or cross-cultural resistance—the organization cultivates empathy in both performers and audiences, because physical embodiment deepens understanding of lived experiences different from one’s own.
- Project-Based Artistic Immersionmethodology: project_based_artistic_educationThrough immersive, project-based learning that integrates performance and education, the organization develops young artistic talent because sustained creative engagement fosters deeper skill acquisition, artistic identity, and professional readiness.