Introducing our new Climate Initiative
During our recent SPARK celebration, we honored Executive Artistic Director Cassie Meador's 20th season with Dance Exchange and her work at the intersection of dancemaking and climate. We also—thanks to a growing list of exceptional donors—launched our new Climate Initiative, which strengthens our commitment to decreasing our carbon footprint while amplifying the impact of our climate work.
Learn about the Climate Initiative below, discover ways you can support by joining Cassie's Climate Circle, and get information about the 2023 Organizing with Artists for Change Climate Institute.
What will Dance Exchange’s multi-year Climate Initiative do?
Activated by the urgency of the times, the Dance Exchange Climate Initiative cultivates creative opportunities across generations, cultural experiences, and disciplines to help shape a just and life-giving future in the face of the climate crisis. Components of the Climate Initiative include climate-focused performance projects, sustainable planning for Dance Exchange's programming and Community and Creative Hub in Takoma Park, as well as strategic local, national, and international partnerships.
We also recognize that Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of people who have been historically marginalized are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. In light of these truths, Dance Exchange’s Climate Initiative includes strengthening our commitments to racial justice and community healing internally and through our partnerships and programming.
How can you support? Join Cassie's Climate Circle
When you join Cassie’s Climate Circle with a gift of $1,000 or more, you model a belief in Dance Exchange’s ability to energize and engage with current and emerging climate solutions through creativity, community, strategy, and partnership.
This year, an investment in Cassie’s Climate Circle will support:
Full divesting of the Dance Exchange Community and Creative Hub’s reliance on fossil fuels through electrification of our facility.
Further developing Future Fields, a performance project cultivating community, courage, and solutions for the climate crisis.
Supporting artists and changemakers at the Dance Exchange 2023 OAC Climate Institute, July 20-23, focused on artmaking and climate action.
Extending the reach and impact of our Moving Field Guide programming through the development of a new Moving Field Guide Online Resource Hub.
Join Cassie’s Climate Circle with a gift of one-time gift of $1,000 or $100 per month for 10 months:
Send your check to Dance Exchange, 7117 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912
Contact Emily Theys (emilym@danceexchange.org) to discuss alternate payment arrangements
Thank you to these inaugural Cassie's Climate Circle donors
Ellyn and John Bank
Bill Kules
DC Vegan
Dorothy Levy
Elliot Maxwell
Mary Smith
John Urciolo
Want to get involved in the Climate Initiative? Apply for the 2023 OAC Climate Institute
Apply to join us July 20-23 for an in-person, climate-focused version of our annual Summer Institute. The Institute will gather artists and climate workers from across the country to explore, energize, and advance creative solutions on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
The Institute is co-directed by Cassie Meador, Dance Exchange Executive Artistic Director, and Dr. Jamē McCray, Interdisciplinary Ecologist and Future Fields Co-Director, with additional support from Amanda Newman, Dance Exchange Associate Director of Programs. Additional guest artists and experts will be announced in the coming months.
During the 2023 Dance Exchange OAC Climate Institute, you will…
Move together in movement classes designed for all ages and all abilities
Learn new creative tools and practices for socially-engaged artmaking and creative community engagement
Experience and contribute to Dance Exchange projects at the intersection of artmaking and climate
Meet other artists, thinkers, leaders, and community members invested in the power and potential of artmaking and creative engagement within the climate movement.
In an effort to gather a community of artists, climate workers, and community members diverse in lived experience, geographic location, expertise/discipline, and experience within the climate movement, we are requiring applications for this year's Institute.