Tough Economy Puts A Strain On PHILADANCO
By Jericka Duncan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Since 1970, The Philadelphia Dance Company has been on the move.
The chair of PHILADANCO's Board of Directors, Angela Brown, says founder Joan Myers Brown, no relation, has produced some of the best dancers in the world. But the road to international acclaim and success has not been easy. For the first time in recent memory, PHILADANCO went dark this summer.
Brown said the company had to lay off dancers in June to ensure PHILADANCO is fiscally sound for the fall season.
The president of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Tom Kaiden, released a report last year outlining revenue figures for nearly 300 area arts organizations.
The report found that in 2009, those organizations saw a 36 percent drop in corporate support, a 30 percent drop in foundation support and 11 percent decrease from the government.
According to Kaiden, individuals are sustaining the arts. Last year's report found that giving was up 20 percent during the recession. Companies like PHILADANCO are focused more on receiving support from the people who attend their shows.
Friday at 7:30 PHILADANCO is hosting its first Founder's Day performance at the Dell Music Center. For more information on how you can support The Philadelphia Dance Company, go to www.philadanco.org.
