Year: 2010-2011
DanceForce Member: Toni Smith
Artists: Také Dance
Community Partners: Alchar Printing; Dance Alliance – Ballston Spa NY; Partners in Dance; Saratoga Arts Fest; Skidmore College
Audience: 185
Counties: Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Washington

This project is two fold:

The Capital Region Dance Season Calendar is a two sided, 8 1/2 x11, two color, specially designed calendar that lists all dance performances by touring and local dance companies in Saratoga, Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Washington, Columbia, Fulton Counties. It serves as a singular opportunity for dance audiences to reference the opportunity to see dance over a twelve month period, at a minimum of fifteen venues and three dozen dance companies. As a region that encompasses four major cities, Troy, Albany, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs and dance theaters that range from black boxes to 6,000 seat ampitheatres, independent marketing by separate venues does not always serve the dance ticket buyer or those who organize group ticket purchases. The calendar displays the entire season allowing for long term planning. It also is a project that allows local dance presenters and sponsors to work collaboratively toward developing dance audiences.

Take Dance, a NYC based modern dance company had plans to be in residence at Skidmore College in the summer teaching professional and pre-professional dancers. The residency was scheduled to take place at a time that coincided with the 4th annual Saratoga ArtsFest, a city wide festival with over 100 performances/showings/events at 50 locations. DanceForce funds allowed for a performance fee that supported a formal dance performance of Take Dance. Skidmore College provided a dance theater, technical staff and Saratoga ArtFest provided marketing for the event. The performance eventually led to another residency opportunity later in the year at the State University at Albany.