UPDATE!: In Continued Service to the Dance Community, Jane Raleigh Launches DCDN: The DC Dance Network

UPDATE! 9/9/2025 – This campaign has succeeded, and surpassed its goal!!

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The DC Dance and Arts community has long been about showing up.

At its core lay the running joke poking fun at its incestuous nature. “You come to my show, I come to yours”. Peter pays Paul, and Paul pays him back.

So who makes any money? How do we survive this way?

Championing dance is a task that of a monster. There are organizational logistics, communications and, of course monetary tentacles to ward off. In the climate of Trump’s anti-artist policies and practices, it becomes that much greater a beast. (This president came into office on the winked, and unspoken promise of removing “politics” from everyday life, and now we are seeing just how synonymous Art is with politics.) With entities like Dance Metro DC no longer operating, venues like The Kennedy Center alienating those most loyal to them, and grants drying up, there are fewer swords in the armory than ever.

-Enter Jane Raleigh. Who, on September 2nd, proudly announced the creation of DC Dance Network. (@dcdancenetwork)

I invite you to join the DC Dance Network.

Add your name to the list of those making, supporting, funding, or watching dance work across the DMV. Share some of your resources (whether financial or skills-based) to make our community more connected.

Benefit from the expertise and generosity of others.

We can only achieve so much alone – the network is ALWAYS stronger when we build it together.

-Jane Raleigh

All of this comes on the heels of Raleigh’s unwarranted termination from The Kennedy Center as Director of Dance Programming (along with two other team members) but Raleigh’s spirits are high, and the dance community has continued to rally behind her. Even during the creation of this article, her DC Dance Network GoFundMe campaign has ballooned to $1,740 raised. Game recognizes game and it’s clear the Arts community does, while The Kennedy Center does not. You can join Jane via her LinkTree where you can donate to the campaign, follow DCDN on instagram, sign up for emails and apply for a choreographer commission.

Art, like raising a child, takes a village to succeed.

-but it also takes a leader with the common touch. A people’s touch.

Jane Raleigh has the track record, and she has been on, and behind the stage for many years.

If anyone can do it, It is Jane Raleigh. You can count on Jane to show up.

This is a project that has been in the dream phase for over a year, but after everything our city and our community have been through these past 10 months, I couldn’t think of a better time to bring these dreams to all of you and invite you to join me!

I DREAM of a dance community where artists are celebrated for their choreography and performances, but are also recognized (and compensated) for their skills as graphic designers, stage managers, panelists, writers, and more.

I DREAM of a dance community where folks who are looking for mentors, collaborators, or advisors can ask questions, and be met with peers who are happy to share how they have navigated, or make a connection to a contact they rely on.

I DREAM of a dance community where no one has to go it alone. Where all of us are here to help build connections and forge relationships that help all of our visions come to life.

– Jane Raleigh