Verb Ballets

VERB IGNITES AUDIENCE PASSION AND PARTICIPATION IN CONTEMPORARY DANCE THROUGH PERFORMANCE, OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

THE 20-21 SEASON WAS A ONE-OF-A-KIND EVENT. SURVIVING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PRESENTED UNTHINKABLE CHALLENGES TO THE ORGANIZATION AND THE WORLD. SIMILARLY, THE EVENTS SURROUNDING THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD SPARKED OUTRAGE AND CONFLICT INTERNATIONALLY. INTERNALLY, SURVIVAL WAS DEFINED BY THE NEED TO RE-CONCEIVE, RE-IMAGINE, AND RE-DELIVER OUR PRODUCTS. THE STAFF AND DANCERS ENTERED THE SHARED WORK PROGRAM THROUGH JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES AND WORKED WITH REDUCTIONS IN PAY AND HOURS OF 25%. WE LEARNED QUICKLY THAT WE NEEDED TO PIVOT OUR OPERATIONS TO AN ALL-VIRTUAL PLATFORM IF WE WERE TO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE. WE FACED MANY CHALLENGES IN THAT ENDEAVOR AND THE LEARNING CURVE WAS A STEEP ONE.

WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF CARES ACT RELIEF AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR APPLIED FOR TWO PPP LOANS TOTALING $105,000 AND RECEIVED $64,000 FROM THE OAC AND $28,000 FROM CAC FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $197,000. THE PPP LOANS, ALONG WITH THE REDUCTION IN SALARIES COVERED PAYROLL FOR THE YEAR AND THE CARES ACT FUNDS WERE USED TO COVER THE COSTS OF MASKS/SANITIZING NEEDS AND TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT TO ENABLE US TO CONVERT THE STUDIO INTO A BLACK BOX/BROADCASTING SPACE. FUNDING FROM FOUNDATIONS, INTERESTINGLY, DID NOT INCREASE, BUT THEY DID RELEASE FUNDS EARLY.

FOR MANY YEARS, VERB HAS MADE CONSCIOUS EFFORTS TO CHOOSE DANCERS, STAFF AND REPERTORY THAT REPRESENT THE CULTURAL, RACIAL, AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION THAT COMPRISE OUR NATION. UNTIL 20-21 WE DID NOT HAVE WRITTEN STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT OR POLICIES STATING THESE PREFERENCES. THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT TAUGHT US THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING CREDENCE TO CHOOSE AS-STATED POLICIES.