PILOT PROJECT: In light of the challenges faced by dancers in these post-pandemic, financially uncertain times, the Dancers’ Necessity Fund was established to provide support to professional dance artists (18 years +) going through a difficult period.

• Financial assistance: Professional artists may apply for financial assistance of up to $150 to meet basic needs (e.g., food, rent) when in need of one-time non-permanent assistance.
• Assistance for healthcare services: Professional artists may apply for assistance for healthcare services up to $150 to have a one-time consultation with a qualified healthcare professional (e.g., psychologist, physiotherapist, registered dietician, ​assaulted women’s and children’s counsellor/advocate, bereavement and emotional loss coach), either to meet a specific/immediate need or for guidance about how to access on-going support. 

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Application requirements: 

• Proof of permanent residence in Canada (e.g., photo of your health card, driver’s licence) - please redact the health card/driver's licence number.
• Up-to-date 1-2 page resume including the years of your contracts.
• A short summary of your current situation and why you are in need of support, without disclosing any detailed or sensitive personal information.  
• The amount requested by the healthcare practitioner for the consultation session (psychosocial assistance applications).
• In order to ensure the applicant’s privacy, this personal data will be stored and secured in a strictly confidential file, accessed only by the custodian of The Dancers’ Necessity Fund, and kept for a period of no longer than 2 years.
• Submit applications to treasurer.healthydancercanada@gmail.com with the subject: Dancer's Necessity Fund Application.

Reimbursement procedures: 

• ​Financial assistance: As soon as the application for financial assistance is granted, the amount will be e-transferred directly to the artist.
• Assistance for healthcare services: ​As soon as the application for healthcare service assistance is granted, artists may make an appointment and meet with their healthcare provider. However, they must pay for their consultation and then submit their receipt to HDC who will quickly reimburse them via e-transfer. The receipt should include the name, profession, credentials, and address of the consultant as well as the date of the counselling session.

The Dancers’ Necessity Fund was initiated by Conditioning-with-Imagery for Dancers and Enhance Dance, in partnership with Healthy Dancer Canada. Support of this fund was provided by online pay-what-you-can Conditioning-with-Imagery Training (C-I TrainingTM) classes, as well as the generous support of private donors.