Kickstarter

Yesterday I passed the halfway mark in pledges and days right on track.  I am in awe of the support. 

It made me reflect on the economy of the arts world and the new (old) act of being an individual patron to an individual artist. 

As an artist, if you want to keep pushing yourself forward, you must work every day.  As a dancer, this means paying for class or space or both ($15 - $100) every single day.  At the end of it, you do not have a record, painting, book, film or product to sell.  Nothing that other people can own or invest in or have a repeat experience of other than the ephemeral memory, the feelings, or traces of a performance.   This at least partially explains why dance is the least funded of all artistic forms and why it may be the hardest career to sustain.

The advent of performance artists being able to solicit their own support is an easy and straightforward format is incredible (through Kickstarter, USA Projects, etc).  The possibility that anyone, not just folks with money, can be a patron of an individual artist is also incredible. 

I'm thrilled to be able to give DIRECTLY to the artists I want to support (many other amazing dancers and choreographers are running campaigns now as well).  It is simple yet profound.  Much like the feeling I have towards the FORTY-ONE (!!!!) people who have backed this project.  Simple and profound gratitude. 

OKAY, real updates. . . I added a new video of solo performances I've done in the past year.  Slightly higher quality and caliber than my home video of "dance a day" rehearsals, for those interested.  I just finished working an office job for six weeks, a contract I took so that I could spend the next three months dancing every day.  Hallelujah (both for being able to get a job and being able to work as an artist).  

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.  THANKS ALSO FOR SPREADING THE WORD. 

humbly,

shannon