A letter from the Artistic Director

Dear Dance COLEctive Enthusiasts,

The Dance COLEctive has had a good year of visible and diverse performance opportunities throughout the city of Chicago.  We had the pleasure of performing on the stages of the Pritzker, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Stage 773.  We have offered audience members an opportunity to interact with and make changes to our work in the hope that being transparent about our creative process will give you some insight into what we do.  It is with that transparency in mind that I am writing to you today, quite simply to ask for your help. 

Photo by Eric Olson

Almost 18 years ago I founded The Dance COLEctive as a way for my friends and I to produce our work. Today it is much more than that.

In addition to being a vessel for creating thoughtful dance and performance art, TDC is deeply committed to mentoring young artists to be well rounded professionals capable of succeeding independently. The ability to make & produce work, think entrepreneurially and to articulate themselves as artists are all key skills imparted to our promising dancers and collaborators.

You can read about this work here in the Huffington Post.

Currently the company is comprised of 7 thoughtful and sophisticated young women (you can read some of the writing about their experiences here) who are helping me to fulfill my desire to mentor while also actively creating new work.  Their dedication and remarkable growth as artists inspire and energize me to keep finding ways to create performance and mentorship opportunities and to endure when things get tough.  The current national and local economic and political environments continue to pose serious challenges to TDC's future.   Disappearing resources on the the state and city level, as well as more limited support from local foundations has had a very real impact on TDC's ability to support itself and its artists.   This is why we need you more than ever.  Many of you have been collaborators, students and mentors.  Many of you are family, friends, peers, acquaintances, board members and audience members.  You have personally witnessed my passion for dance and the power of a positive experience!

Please consider making a year-end donation in support of TDC.  In supporting us, you are not only making a financial contribution, you are investing in the continued growth of tomorrow's artistic leaders, as well as in my unwavering desire to mentor those artists and to create new and innovative dance.

To make a donation, simply go to our website or you can send a check to our snail mail address below.

You can also support us while you are shopping on Amazon.

Thank you so much for your continued interest in the Company and have a safe and wonderful holiday!

Most Sincerely,

Margi Cole, Artistic Director

 Submitted by Margi Cole, TDC Artistic Director on December 15, 2013.