An experiment: funding an independent dance theater piece like a startup

Hi HN,

I’m a dancer and small business owner who runs a Pilates studio in NYC. Recently I decided to do something slightly irrational and produce an evening-length dance theater piece independently.

Normally projects like this rely on grants or institutions, but I’ve been curious whether it’s possible to approach funding a piece of art more like a startup experiment.

The “product” is the performance itself. The costs are things like rehearsal space, paying the second performer, costumes, and building a small set.

Instead of waiting on grants, I started trying to raise the budget directly from people who believe in independent work.

It’s an unusual experiment and I’m learning a lot about what it takes to make something exist without institutional backing.

If anyone here has thoughts about creative funding models or ways artists might approach this differently, I’d genuinely love to hear them.

And if you’re curious about the project itself, I’m happy to share more.

Thanks for reading.