Dance/USA Institute for Leadership Training (DILT)

Geographic Scope: National (United States)

Program Description:
DILT is a mentee-driven national dance mentorship and leadership development program designed to build leadership and resiliency skills of early-career dance leaders representing the vast scope of the national dance community.

Focus Areas:

• Leadership development and professional advancement
• Mentorship between established and early-career leaders
• Self-direction and self-reflection
• Networking and exposure to field opportunities

Target Population:
Specific focus on supporting individuals who identify as:

• Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
• Disabled
• Queer, transgender, agender, gender fluid, genderqueer

Eligibility:

• Early-career dance leaders (mentees)
• Established dance leaders (mentors)
• Open to all regardless of Dance/USA membership status
• Represent the vast scope of the national dance community

Program Structure:

• Virtual format (as of 2024)
• 6-month duration (March-September 2024)
• One-on-one mentorship relationships
• Monthly mentor-mentee meetings (2 hours minimum)
• Cohort calls: kickoff call, closeout call, and four Zoom check-in meetings
• Optional site visits to mentor locations

History:

• Launched as pilot in 2011
• Formalized as DILT in 2012 with American Express Foundation and Mellon Foundation support
• Evolved in 2015 to focus on supporting emerging leaders of color and addressing inequity in dance ecosystem

Funding Support:

• The Mellon Foundation
• The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation
• Doris Duke Foundation
• The Harkness Foundation
• National Endowment for the Arts
• The Shubert Foundation
• The Wallace Foundation

Application Process

Applications for 2024 are closed. Information about future application cycles to be announced on Dance/USA website.

Program Timeline (2024 example)

• Program Launch: March 2024
• Program Conclusion: September 2024
• Cohort Calls: Kickoff call at launch, closeout call at conclusion, plus four Zoom check-in meetings scheduled throughout program
• Mentee-Mentor Meetings: Monthly one-on-one meetings scheduled and driven by mentees (2 hours minimum per month)

Program Elements

1. Cohort Calls
   • Virtual format via Zoom
   • Two check-in meetings for mentees
   • Two check-in meetings for mentors
   • Purpose: cultivate community, track relationship progress, identify common interests, address questions/concerns
   • Guest speakers may be invited to address topics of interest
2. Monthly Mentee-Mentor Meetings
   • Consistent one-on-one communication required
   • Two hours minimum per month
   • Scheduled and driven by mentee
   • Recommended tools for geographically dispersed pairs: Zoom, Google Meet, or alternative communication methods
3. Optional Site Visits
   • Mentees may visit mentor's location
   • Not required
   • Arranged based on mentee interest and logistics

Application Requirements (based on historical information)

For Mentees:

• Early-career dance leaders
• Commitment to 6-month program
• Availability for monthly mentee-mentor meetings
• Interest in specific areas of professional development

For Mentors:

• Established dance leaders
• Availability for monthly mentoring
• Willingness to provide guidance and support
• Alignment with mentee goals and interests

Selection Process

• Limited number of mentee-mentor pairs matched
• Matching based on:
  • Experience level
  • Area of interest
  • Geographic location
  • Professional affiliations
• Mentees selected first, then mentors identified and matched
• Selection made by Dance/USA DILT Selection Panel