8 Dance Groups Among Finalists in This Year’s Knight Arts Challenge!

Eight dance projects are among the 56 finalists in this year’s Knight Arts Challenge. We’re proud that we’ve been covering 7 out of the 8 groups among the finalists at Artburst. The only group we haven’t covered doesn’t exist yet — but a company led by the regal Peter London sure sounds good to us. Plus there are 5 more projects that definitely could include dance, 3 proposed by presenters we cover and love. We have to confess, of course, that we too are funded by the Knight Foundation, so we’re bound to get a little gushy. And we’re especially proud to see on the list another Artburst funder, Miami-Dade County of Cultural Affairs as well as our partner the Arts & Business Council of Miami. Still, we hope you’ll agree that all the ideas below are winners and join us in wishing them the best when the winners are announced in November. 2011 Knight Arts Challenge Miami Finalists Camposition: To promote unity in South Florida through a series of dance-theater productions that suggest artistic solutions to the discord that threatens communities ERE. Bistoury: To foster improvisational performance through a weeklong, multidisciplinary festival offering free public performances Inkub8: To cultivate local performing artists by creating a residency program that offers time, space and a modest stipend in exchange for artists teaching classes and exhibiting works Karen Peterson and Dancers: To provide dance instruction to the 3,000 children with disabilities in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, who will perform their work at a gala performance Miami City Ballet: To broaden programming and support the future of ballet by establishing a fund for the creation of new works Peter London Global Dance Theater: To stem the flow of talented local dancers who pursue careers elsewhere by launching the Peter London Global Dance Theater in Miami Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre: To bring attention to Miami’s distinctive cultural voice by having the innovative Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre employ a full-time ensemble to create a repertoire Tigertail Productions: To promote innovative thinking in the local dance community through a series of artist-curated and site-specific performances that team visiting and local choreographers DANCE-ISH FUNDarte: To expand the visibility of Miami artists by creating a virtual office and interactive blog that will build partnerships among local art presenters Miami Dade College Cultura del Lobo Performance Series: To provide professional development training for Miami’s performers by creating a series of intensive summer master classes Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs: To “bring home” prominent and influential Miami artists now living elsewhere through a series of performances at the new South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center Miami Light Project: To introduce the community to the new Light Box at Goldman Warehouse through a campaign featuring monthly podcasts, open mic and dance jams, artist-community potluck lunches and a direct-mail campaign Teatro Avante: To promote Miami as the center for Latino performing arts by creating a bilingual website featuring the rich and diverse work Latino artists produce in the United States ALSO: Arts & Business Council of Miami: To broaden the number and diversity of board candidates accessible to arts organizations by developing a website where professionals can explore their interests, review opportunities and pursue board placement