CFAs: Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants (US)

Deadline: 04-Aug-2026

The Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants Program provides one-time grants of up to $3,000 to professional dancers facing urgent financial hardship caused by the loss or lack of recent paid live performance work. The programme helps dancers cover essential personal expenses such as housing, healthcare, utilities, food, and transportation when career disruptions occur due to circumstances beyond their control.

The grant supports professional dancers experiencing emergencies related to cancelled performances, reduced contracts, lost touring opportunities, illness, injury, or other unexpected interruptions affecting their ability to earn income from dance.

Overview of the Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants Program

The Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants Program is designed to provide short-term financial assistance to professional dancers experiencing serious economic challenges.

The programme helps dancers maintain financial stability by supporting essential living expenses during periods of unexpected income loss.

The grant focuses on emergencies involving:

• Loss of paid dance work.
• Cancelled performances.
• Reduced contracts.
• Lost touring opportunities.
• Illness or injury affecting dance employment.
• Other uncontrollable career disruptions.

Purpose of the Grant Program

The main purpose of the programme is to provide emergency financial relief for professional dancers whose livelihoods have been affected by unexpected circumstances.

The programme aims to:

• Support dancers during financial emergencies.
• Help cover essential personal expenses.
• Provide stability during career interruptions.
• Recognize challenges affecting the professional dance community.
• Support continued participation in the dance field.

The programme acknowledges the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other disruptions affecting dancers’ careers.

Grant Amount and Funding Details

The Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants Program provides:

• Maximum grant amount: Up to $3,000.
• Grant type: One-time emergency assistance.

Funding may help cover up to three months of essential expenses.

Eligible Emergency Expenses

The financial emergency must involve essential needs that are at risk because of lost or reduced dance income.

Eligible expenses may include:

• Housing costs.
• Healthcare expenses.
• Utility bills.
• Food expenses.
• Transportation costs.

Expenses must be:

• Personal costs.
• Paid directly by the applicant.
• Incurred within the United States.

Geographic Eligibility

Applicants must reside in:

• The United States.
• District of Columbia.
• Tribal Nations.
• U.S. Territories.

Requested expenses must also occur within these eligible locations.

Emergency Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate that:

• The financial emergency occurred within approximately the past six months.
• The emergency involves essential living needs.
• The loss of income resulted from reduced or missing paid dance work.
• The situation was caused by circumstances beyond the applicant’s control.

Examples of qualifying circumstances include:

• Cancelled performances.
• Loss of employment contracts.
• Reduced performance opportunities.
• Injury.
• Illness.
• Unexpected career interruptions.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must meet individual, artistic, and emergency eligibility requirements.

Eligible applicants must:

• Be professional dancers.
• Be at least 21 years old.
• Live in an eligible U.S. location.
• Demonstrate ongoing professional dance activity.
• Meet income requirements.
• Have experienced an eligible emergency.

Income Requirements

Applicants must meet income limits based on recent federal tax returns.

Income eligibility requirements include:

• Individual applicants: Adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less.
• Joint filers: Adjusted gross income of $160,000 or less.

Income is calculated using the average of the applicant’s last two federal tax returns.

Previous Grant Restrictions

Applicants are not eligible if they:

• Received a Rauschenberg Medical Grant within the past five years.
• Received a Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grant within the past five years.

Education Requirements

Applicants must not currently be:

• Enrolled in a degree-seeking programme.

The grant is intended for active professional dancers rather than students pursuing formal dance degrees.

Professional Dance Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate an established professional dance career.

Applicants must have:

• Worked as paid live dance performers for at least five years.
• Maintained regular public performances since 2021.
• Completed at least one paid dance engagement each year since 2021.

Applicants must show ongoing professional involvement in dance performance.

Eligible Dance Forms

The programme supports a broad range of professional dance practices.

Eligible styles include:

• Contemporary dance.
• Modern dance.
• Ballet.
• Hip-hop.
• Street styles.
• Tap dance.
• Traditional dance forms.
• Cultural dance practices.
• Circus-based movement work.
• Improvisation-based performance.
• Interdisciplinary performance where movement is the primary focus.

Dancers Performing Their Own Choreography

Applicants who perform their own choreography may apply.

However, they must clearly identify that they served as:

• Choreographer.
• Performer/dancer.

The application should distinguish between creative roles to demonstrate professional dance activity.

How to Apply for the Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grant

Applicants should follow a structured application process.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Applicants should verify that they:

• Meet age requirements.
• Meet residency requirements.
• Meet income limits.
• Are professional dancers.
• Have an eligible emergency.
• Have not received restricted previous grants.

Step 2: Document the Emergency Situation

Applicants should explain:

• What caused the financial emergency.
• When the emergency occurred.
• How dance income was affected.
• Which essential expenses require support.

Step 3: Demonstrate Professional Dance Activity

Applicants should provide information about:

• Dance performance history.
• Paid engagements.
• Professional experience.
• Current artistic activity.

Step 4: Identify Eligible Expenses

Applicants should clearly describe:

• Essential expenses requiring support.
• Amounts needed.
• How funds will provide emergency relief.

Step 5: Submit the Application

Applicants should provide complete and accurate information demonstrating:

• Professional eligibility.
• Financial need.
• Emergency circumstances.
• Requested support.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their application by:

• Clearly explaining the emergency timeline.
• Providing specific details about lost dance income.
• Demonstrating professional performance history.
• Describing essential expenses accurately.
• Explaining how funding will provide stability.
• Ensuring all eligibility requirements are met.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Applying for non-essential expenses.
• Requesting support for business or organisational costs.
• Failing to explain how dance work was affected.
• Applying without meeting professional experience requirements.
• Including expenses outside eligible locations.
• Providing unclear information about performance history.
• Applying while enrolled in a degree-seeking programme.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants Program

What is the Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants Program?

It is an emergency assistance programme that provides financial support to professional dancers experiencing urgent financial hardship caused by loss of paid dance work.

How much funding can dancers receive?

Eligible dancers can receive a one-time grant of up to $3,000.

What expenses can the grant cover?

The grant may support essential personal expenses such as housing, healthcare, utilities, food, and transportation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Professional dancers aged 21 or older who live in eligible U.S. locations and meet artistic, income, and emergency requirements may apply.

What caused emergencies qualify?

Qualifying emergencies include cancelled performances, reduced contracts, lost touring opportunities, illness, injury, and other uncontrollable events affecting paid dance work.

Can students apply?

No. Applicants currently enrolled in a degree-seeking programme are not eligible.

Can dancers who perform their own choreography apply?

Yes. Dancers who perform their own choreography can apply but must clearly identify their roles as both choreographer and performer.

Conclusion

The Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grants Program provides critical short-term financial support for professional dancers facing unexpected economic hardship. By offering grants of up to $3,000 for essential personal expenses, the programme helps dancers manage career interruptions caused by circumstances beyond their control.

Professional dancers who meet the artistic, income, residency, and emergency requirements can use this opportunity to maintain stability while continuing their creative careers.

For more information, visit New York Foundation for the Arts.