Today, Career Transition For Dancers remains the only not-for-profit
organization solely dedicated to the career needs of dancers. With offices
in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and a mobile National Outreach Project, we
have helped thousands of dancers in 47 states take their first steps in
discovering rewarding second careers.
Career Transition For Dancers arose out of a partnership of several foundations
and unions, including the National Endowment for the Arts, AFL-CIO Labor Institute
for Human Enrichment, and Actors' Equity Association. Under the leadership of
Agnes de Mille, this partnership led to the development and presentation of a conference
in 1982 at Lincoln Center to discuss the need to assist dancers both during and at the
end of their careers. The goal of the conference was to find ways to help dancers make
use of their individual backgrounds, talents and skills on and off the stage.
Career Transition For Dancers was founded in 1985 by Edward Weston and was originally
administered as an initiative of The Actors Fund in New York City. The program was
also supported by Actors' Equity Association, American Federation of Television and
Radio Artists, American Guild of Musical Artists, and the Screen Actors Guild. The
funding provided by these organizations continues today. The original program
provided career counseling and scholarship support for the members of these unions
who were in the process of transition. In 1988, Career Transition For Dancers became
a self-governing 501 (c) (3) organization with a refocused mission to help all dancers,
not just union members.
| 1988 | The beginning | More >Less > |
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| Led by Founding Director Ann Barry, a self-governing Career Transition For Dancers opens its doors to provide career counseling and scholarship support for its 300 active dancer-clients. The organization was originally housed by the American Guild of Musical Artists. |
| 1989 | Career Conversations | More >Less > |
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| To expand on the popularity of its career counseling program, Career Transition For Dancers initiates a new program called Career Conversations. A series of group counseling seminars, Career Conversations addresses specific topics that relate to career transition. Learn more about our Career Conversations seminars or view the schedule of events. |
| 1990 | Focus & Support Groups | More >Less > |
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| Recognizing the need for long-term group counseling, the organization establishes focus and support groups. These new programs are a huge success, helping to build upon the camaraderie and togetherness that dancers experience when performing together. Learn more about our Focus and Support Groups. |
| 1994 | First annual gala | More >Less > |
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| Career Transition For Dancers holds its first annual gala at the Danny Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College. Dancers from around the country donate their time and effort to perform in support of their fellow colleagues who use the organization's services. The event raises $59,000 for the organization. Read more about our upcoming gala. |
| 1995 | New Los Angeles office | More >Less > |
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| Obviously, not all dancers are in New York City. In an effort to help dancers on the West Coast of the United States and to increase the organization's national presence, Career Transition For Dancers—with funding provided by the Screen Actors Guild-Producers Industry Advancement & Cooperative Fund—opens a career counseling office in Los Angeles. |
| 1995 | Resource Centers | More >Less > |
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| Career Transition For Dancers adds a computer center, resource materials, and other transition-related information to its local offices. Soon, dancers from all over New York City and Los Angeles come to our offices to look for jobs, use our computers to create resumes, and meet with fellow dancers to plan their careers. We also have other helpful resources on our website. |
| 1995 | CareerLine | More >Less > |
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| Career Transition For Dancers recognizes that our services need to be available to more dancers, and not only the ones who are able to meet us face-to-face in New York and Los Angeles. Building on the success of our bi-coastal offices and with seed money from the Nora Kaye-Herbert Ross Foundation, we create CareerLine, our nationwide toll-free career counseling hotline. Our hotline for dancers outside of our offices enables us to continue career counseling sessions with dancer-clients who are on tour or reside outside of New York City and Los Angeles. Learn more about CareerLine. |
| 1996 | Local Outreach Projects | More >Less > |
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| With support from the Shubert Organization, we initiate a Local Outreach Project to meet with dancers on their own ground to discuss the need to prepare for a transition while they are still performing. A subsequent Local Outreach Project takes place that year at the Ailey School. Learn more about our Local Outreach Projects. |
| 1998 | $1 million endowed for a permanent home | More >Less > |
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| In April 1998, Director Emerita Caroline H. Newhouse (1910-2003) donates $1 million to establish The Caroline & Theodore Newhouse Center for Dancers. The money is endowed to fund the organization's rent in perpetuity. Read more about Caroline H. Newhouse. |
| 1999 | Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation makes $500,000 pledge | More >Less > |
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| To enhance the organization's annual gala, the Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation makes a $500,000 pledge for support over ten years. |
As a not-for-profit arts-service organization committed to dancers, we endeavor to reach as many current and former professional dancers as possible. All of our services are provided free of charge. Donate now to help us reach even more dancers.
