The Cleveland Modern Dance Association

What it reported doing in 2024

Presenter: dancecleveland is proud to be one of just a few non-venue organizations in the us dedicated to the presentation of modern and contemporary dance. Our success over 69 seasons is evidenced by the more than 400 world-class dance companies that have performed on our curated seasons. Danceclevelands history mirrors that of the art form itself, highlighted by the companies we have presented at the height of their artistic trajectories. We have remained on the cutting edge of the art form and pride ourselves on the open, collaborative relationships we have with other presenters, dance organizations, and artists both locally and across the country, which enable us to continually keep our finger on the pulse of what is new in modern dance and what our audiences will benefit from seeing. Our curatorial process includes a focus on presenting artists who are often under-represented in the field, including artists of color and female dance makers. Dancecleveland is committed to equity, ensuring the diversity of our northeast Ohio community is reflected on stage. Dancecleveland is committed to building new audiences for dance by creating bridges of understanding about contemporary dance as well as the creative process. Dancecleveland reaches an audience with a great diversity of age, ethnicity, physical ability, lifestyle, socio-economic backgrounds, and experience with the art form of dance. The joyful, expressive attendees of our performances have often been cited by both visiting artists and other arts presenters as one of the most uniquely fun and engaged bases in the performing arts world. We create a welcoming and inclusive performance series by keeping ticket prices strategically low, offering free tickets to each performance to underserved communities in our region, planning family-friendly matinees and pre-performance family activities (for select engagements), offering free community events, and by tapping into the resources of playhouse square to offer a fully accessible experience for guests with disabilities. Performances in fiscal year 2025 served more than 7,800 audience members. Audience engagement activities: each performance is accompanied by an invigorating series of audience engagement activities, which enhance the performance experience and enable audience members to establish special connections to the visiting companies through informational eblasts, pre-performance lectures, post-performance q&a sessions and behind the curtain video features. Community programs: hundreds of community members, including youth, adults, and senior citizens of all abilities, are introduced to dance through community residencies that include movement classes, demonstrations, and conversations with visiting artists. Our annual community dance day builds on this work by offering free outdoor exercise classes, dance demonstrations, community dance lessons, and a showcase of student dancers from across northeast Ohio. This event served 830 community members in july 2024. Masterclasses: educational success lies in our ability to provide direct and free hands-on dance experiences at the advanced and professional levels to dancers in our community as well as special classes for early dance students. Professional, pre-professional and student dancers are invited to attend free masterclasses led by members of the visiting dance companies we present, thereby honing their techniques, enhancing their expressiveness, and networking with the very best in their field. Artist development: in addition to masterclasses, dancecleveland regularly finds opportunities to provide artistic development for members of the northeast Ohio dance community with visiting artists on our performance season. In fiscal year 2025, dancecleveland engaged raphael xavier with his production of skiff. Xavier worked with four northeast Ohio based dancers to incorporate them into the production. In addition, we worked with xavier and lake erie ink to conduct a creative

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 73.9%; rating input score 74
• Program expense ratio: 80.3%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.9 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 8.5%; rating input score 58; 58th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.3; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.18; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 14.7%; rating input score 24; 24th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -3.2% per year; rating input score 0; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 0.3% per year; rating input score 100; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 8.6% per year; rating input score 100; 54th percentile among comparable filings