A Benefit to Aid Full-Time Vintage Swing Dance Instructors and Swing Musicians
Nick Williams, in partnership with the Pacific Swing Dance Foundation, is throwing a spectacular live-stream swing show coming straight to your home. The purpose of the benefit show is to raise money for full-time swing dance instructors and full-time musicians who have been financially hit by Covid-19. The money raised in the show will compensate the performers for their time, and all additional funds raised will go to a fund for dancers and musicians. Any full-time dancer or musician will be able to apply for the funds we raise through PSDF.
Stay up-to-date with the event on the Facebook Event page.
Apply for a Relief Grant
Rhythm Relief grant applications are now open. If you are are a full-time swing dancer or musician, or have otherwise had your normal swing-dance related income disrupted by COVID-19, you may be eligible.
THE CAST
Master of Ceremonies
Peter Flahiff
Dancers:
Peter Strom and Naomi Uyama
Kevin St. Laurent
Pontus Persson & Isabella Gregorio
Remy Kouakou Kouame
Laura Glaess & Brooks Prumo
LaTasha Barnes
Jenny Thomas
Nils Andrén & Bianca Locatelli
Jeremy Otth & Laura Keat
Steve Sayer & Chanzie Gomez
Carla Heiney
Mia & Charlie Halloran
Irina Amzashvili & Natalia Eristavi
Andreas Olsson & Olga Marina
Nikki Marvin
Mike & Dan Legenthal
Nick Williams
Rhythm Relief Band:
Keenan McKenzie
Laura Windley
Josh Collazo
Jonathan Stout
Paul Cosentino
Gordon Au
Marquis Howell
THE PLAN
What is the money for?
First, we will pay for the production costs of the Rhythm Relief show. We estimate a budget of about $5,000 with about $4,500 of that going directly to pay the dancers, musicians, and production staff involved in the production (each of them members of the swing dance community whose income is affected by COVID-19). The remaining $500 is reserved in case we have technology or equipment expenses related to the show.
Every dollar after that will go into an artist relief fund administered through Pacific Swing Dance Foundation. Swing dancers and musicians affected by COVID-19 will be able to apply for relief grants starting Saturday, May 9, 2020. Our current plan is to offer $500 and $1,000 grants although we are still ironing out some details—if plans change, we will post about it here.
If we meet our $30,000 goal, that means we can award up 60 grants to help swing dance artists do things like pay rent and pay for other living expenses. If we exceed our $30,000 goal, we may be able to award larger grants.
Who gets the money?
Although PSDF will administer the fund, PSDF is not collecting any fees. In other words: 100% of your money will go to helping those in need. The aim of this fundraiser is to help full-time swing dancers, musicians, and other artists who cannot make their normal living due to COVID-19 restrictions and safety concerns.
The grants will be awarded by a committee of well-known swing dance community leaders including dancers, instructors, and musicians. We will post their identities when the committee members have been finalized. The committee will be given a system for judging and scoring each application to ensure that every applicant receives the same consideration.
How will I know what happens?
After the show, we will continue to make posts here and on Facebook about the progress of this campaign (although applicants’ identities will not be shared). PSDF is committed to providing an open accounting throughout this process. In addition, when you donate, you may opt-in to receive PSDF’s very occasional newsletter.
If you have any questions about PSDF or this fundraiser, contact Jason Swihart, PSDF Treasurer at finance@pacificswingdancefoundation.org.