Dance Companies Are Giving Back by Distributing Meals and Groceries to Their Communities
As dance studios remain empty, some companies have found alternate uses for their buildings. By swapping slippers for aprons, two major dance organizations continue to make an incredible impact on their communities during this difficult time.
San Francisco Ballet Hosts a Pop-up Food Pantry
San Francisco Ballet has partnered with the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank to turn its Chris Hellman Center for Dance into a pop-up food pantry. The idea came about after company member Max Cauthorn, who’d been delivering groceries to some of his high-risk neighbors, asked SFB executive director Kelly Tweeddale how the company could help out on a larger scale.
Since April 13, volunteers, including SFB dancers and staff, have been distributing bags of groceries to community members in need. They intend to continue every Monday, from 9 am to 1 pm Pacific, until San Francisco’s shelter-in-place order is lifted.
A volunteer packs free meals for World Central Kitchen.
Courtesy Mark Morris Dance Group
Mark Morris Dance Group Distributes Meals to Locals
On the East Coast, the Mark Morris Dance Group has partnered with Dance/NYC to become a distribution site for World Central Kitchen. Since April 20, the Brooklyn dance hub has been offering free, pre-packaged meals to local residents and employees. Meals are available for pickup weekdays from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm Eastern, or until supplies last.
“This is a dire situation,” said Mark Morris in a press release. “I am heartened and grateful that the Mark Morris Dance Center is ready and capable of participating with Chef Andrés and the Word Central Kitchen in making pick-up meals available to anyone who needs them.” Need a lunch? Dancers are welcome.
Even as these dance organizations are financially struggling, they are doing what they can to offer kindness to strangers.
