COVID-19 Resource Page for LA Dance Artists

In light of the current pandemic, please see below for resources
to assist Los Angeles Dance Artists during this difficult time.

Our LA area dance community is being severely impacted by the current pandemic.
DRC is working to compile resources, exploring creative ways of addressing the drastic changes to our community, serving as a connector between the LA dance community and other sectors and we are working with our local, regional, state and national partners to advocate for support to help dance through this especially trying time.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Submit to DRC's Calendar + Newsletter

If you are hosting, curating, or producing on-line events, virtual performances, classes, etc., please post them on our calendar.

Submit to LA Moves if you are a DRC member.

Contact Us!

If you have vetted, reliable resources, please send them to us at:
info@danceresourcecenter.org

Donate + Engage

If you have tickets that have been refunded due to performance cancellations, please consider turning those refunds into donations to the venues or the organizations presenting the performances.

Support online classes + performances if you are able!

Dance Resource Center Announces
LA DANCE EMERGENCY FUND

Dance Resource Center and its generous supporters have created the LA Dance Emergency Fund to help support the LA Dance Community during this public health emergency.

LA Dance Emergency Fund provides emergency relief to LA dancers and dance companies facing financial hardship caused by Greater Los Angeles dance performances/events cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants can receive up to $500.

If you can help build the LA Dance Emergency Fund, please do so below – the more we raise, the more we can help!

As we continue to raise money, unfortunately we are not accepting any new applications.
Please join the DRC to stay updated in regards to extensions and/or other resources available.

DRC X Jaquel Knight Foundation

DRC is teaming up with the Jaquel Knight Foundation to raise emergency
funds for the dance community effected by COVID-19.

⁣With a fundraising goal of $150,000 over the next 30 Days – The JK Dancer Relief Fund will focus on providing grants and resources to dancers & related industry professionals across the country.⁣ The fund seeks to assist Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta & Miami based dancers and performance industry professionals affected by the complete halt of work from COVID-19.⁣

Learn More

Emergency Financial Assistance for Dancers

California Arts Council: NEW relief program offers unrestricted $1,000 grants for individuals in California impacted by COVID-19 pandemic

Nearly a $1 million investment will support more than 900 artists and cultural workers. The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), partnering as an Administering Organization for the California Arts Council, announced today the opening of the California Relief Fund for Artists and Cultural Practitioners. The individual relief grant program supports artists and cultural practitioners statewide who have been economically impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn More

ELIGIBILITY

– Must be a current, full-time resident of the state of California; and must upload ONE proof of current residency in the state of California. Proof is demonstrated by including a legible photo of a current state driver’s license or ID; or most-recent utility bill, health insurance statement, bank statement, or other document. The name and address must match that used in the application form.

– Must be an artist or cultural practitioner; and must provide documentation that demonstrates applicant’s professional role in arts and culture.

– Must not be eligible for or currently receiving traditional CA-state unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. (Applicants receiving CARES benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance [PUA] program ARE eligible for funding. Learn more about PUA here);

– Cannot have a conflict of interest (family or financial relationships) with the boards, staff, and directors of CCI and California Arts Council and state-level elected officials and their staffs; and

– Can only apply once.

The Actors Fund/Career Transition For Dancers is providing up to $1000 for performing
dancers’ rent, mortgage or other basic living expense.

Eligibility for professional dancers and choreographers:

– For active dancers an applicant must have earned in the performing arts and/or entertainment industry a minimum of $2,000 per year for the past three years.
– For retired dancers an applicant must have earned in the performing arts and/or entertainment industry a minimum of $5,000 per year for 5 out of any 7 year period.
– Not in school

How to apply: Fill out this form to apply!

MAP Fund: Artist Relief
MAP Fund has joined a coalition of national arts grantmakers to create an emergency initiative to offer financial and informational resources to artists across the United States.

Artist Relief will provide rapid, unrestricted $5,000 relief grants to assist artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19; serve as an informational resource; and co-launch the COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists & Creative Workers, designed by Research Partner Americans for the Arts, to better identify and address the needs of artists moving forward.
To be eligible for a relief grant, applicants must be:

– Practicing artists able to demonstrate a sustained commitment to their work, careers, and a public audience;
– Experiencing dire financial emergencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
– 21 years of age or older;
– Provide a W9 and Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)—we will collect this information after you’ve been notified of your selection;
– Residing and working in the U.S. for the last two years;
– Not a full-time employee, board member, director, officer, or immediate family member of any of the coalition partners;
– Not previously awarded a relief grant from this fund.

Learn More

Click the links below to access Dance/USA’s Task Force on Dancer Health Guides for:

1. COVID-19 Dance Studio Return
2. 2020 COVID-19 FAQ for Dancers and Dance Companies Returning to the Studios

ARTS ADVOCACY

Dance/USA Action Alert: Ask Congress to Support More Relief for Dance!

Congress is debating the next federal relief package and they need to hear from you! Keep your elected officials informed about your concerns and losses that are not being addressed and tell them about dance’s unique capacity to support the U.S. economy and uplift the human spirit.

Contact Congress HERE

Californians For The Arts – ACTION ALERT!

This is an important action alert: Congress needs to hear from you NOW about the impact of COVID-19. Community by community, the impact of COVID-19 is variable and rapidly changing. As Congress and the Administration consider new forms of federal economic assistance that may be targeted or widespread, the dance field joins others in the arts and nonprofit sectors that are speaking up to ensure that relief will meet all community needs.

We urge you to be as specific as you can about the current and projected impact you are experiencing. Congress needs to hear from as many constituents as possible that COVID-19 relief should be made accessible to the entire nonprofit arts community. Find relevant details, talking points, and send a message via this link.

One immediate action you can take today: Send a letter to Governor Newsom and your elected state and federal officials to make them aware of the impact on our sector. Between the impacts of compliance with new employment laws such as AB 5 and now the public health crisis of COVID-19, artists and arts organizations are struggling. We need to advocate to our elected officials and private funders that we need support.

California Arts Council has released an Arts Field Survey to determine the impact of event cancellations and the COVID-19 public health crisis on the arts. Please fill this out as it helps the state to determine how to best serve our field.

Coronavirus Impact Surveys

Take a moment to fill out these brief surveys to help better serve our community:

Americans for the Arts Economic Impact of COVID-19 On Arts and Cultural Organizations
Americans for the Art’s COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers
WESTAF’s COVID-19 Arts Impact Survey

Employment Information

Overview of COVID Paid Leave and Relief Provisions via Dance/USA

Updated information is available from the federal agencies responsible for administering paid leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, signed into law on March 18.

Mandated Paid Leave for Employees: Employers with up to 500 employees will be required to provide expanded sick leave and family medical leave for specific reasons related to COVID-19, including federal, state, and local government quarantines or isolation orders and caring for a child whose school has closed, and more. By April 2, the U.S. Department of Labor must write the guidelines for implementation, and will also set the date on which the requirements take effect. In the meantime, the U.S. Department of Labor has posted an overview of coronavirus-related topics, and an outline of the paid leave requirements.

Relief for Employers: Those employers required to provide emergency paid leave are eligible to recover the costs of employee leave and health insurance through a refundable payroll tax credit for which nonprofits are eligible. Employers with fewer than 50 employees may be eligible for an exemption from paid leave requirements if providing the paid leave threatens the viability of the organization. The U.S. Department of the Treasury is currently writing further guidelines for implementation. In the meantime, the agency provides an overview of employer relief provisions.

Paid Leave for Self-Employed Workers: The law provides for equivalent emergency paid sick leave and family medical leave for self-employed workers through an individual refundable tax credit. The U.S. Department of Treasury is currently writing guidelines for how self-employed individuals may claim the credit. Guidelines are expected to be released in the week of March 22.

Unemployment: Unemployment benefits are available to those whose hours have been reduced or who have lost their job
due to COVID-19 measures (and it also applies to those who choose to stay home due to underlying health issues making them more vulnerable). The Governor has waived the 1-week wait time and the person may not be required to be actively looking for work (as is usually required).

 Learn how to file an Unemployment Insurance Claim here

 Note: This benefit is not available to undocumented persons whose hours are reduced or lost their job for reasons related to COVID-19, etc.

 School Closures: If your child’s school is closed and you have to miss work to care for them. You might qualify to Unemployment Insurance benefits: https://edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/Filing_a_Claim.htm

It is important to note that the next relief package slated for a vote by Congress on March 23, may include Small Business Administration Disaster Loans (accessible to nonprofit organizations) with incentives to keep workers on the payroll, such as comprehensive loan forgiveness.