Granting Movement: The Impact of Cultural Philanthropy on African American Concert Dance in the 1960s and 1970s

Abstract

This research report addresses the influence of cultural philanthropy on African American concert dance during the 1960s and 1970s. This period, known as the postwar "dance boom," saw significant philanthropic support for the performing arts from institutions such as the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Although Black dancemakers received less funding than white-led ballet companies, they nonetheless used their grants to innovate aesthetically and broaden the sociopolitical role of dance in American life through publications, community-based performances, and educational workshops. Using examples from the grant application files of Carole Johnson (founder of the Modern Organization for Dance Evolvement) and Alvin Ailey (director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), this report reveals how Black dancemakers leveraged modest grants to propel their artistic and civic missions, blending dance forms and fostering community engagement with their art. In so doing, the report also underscores the archival significance of grant application files, which contain key insight into artists' creative ideas and intentions. Ultimately, the report concludes that it is essential to assess "offstage" dynamics of funding and production in order to appreciate dance's cultural significance and real-world impact