An Expansive Future for Dance

As we enter the holiday and giving season, we’re reflecting on a year that reminded us just how essential dance is to our collective understanding of the world. Dance is a universal human experience — it shapes how we learn, heal, question, and connect. It has long been a haven for marginalized communities, a vehicle for resistance, and a powerful tool for social justice. Through dance, people reclaim their stories and reshape the narratives that define our shared future.

This year’s Artist in Residence program embodied that power. The Institute for Folding, created by our 2025 artist-in-residence Michael Bodel, invited Vermonters to examine how we build knowledge, how we discard it, and how wonder can return when we make space for curiosity. With more than 800 community members reached through workshops, showings, and a statewide tour, the project highlighted what becomes possible when Vermont dance artists are supported with time, resources, and room to explore.

VDA has made meaningful progress in amplifying artists’ voices and increasing access to dance across the state — but we can only continue this momentum with your support. This giving season, your donation directly fuels:

• Paid artistic opportunities and residencies

• Statewide touring that brings dance to communities of every size

• Programs that spark dialogue, creativity, and connection

• Efforts to keep dance accessible, equitable, and vibrant

Whether you love watching dance, creating it, or dancing yourself, your gift ensures that Vermont’s future remains rich with movement, imagination, and possibility.

Thank you for supporting dance in Vermont — your generosity keeps our community thriving.