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Local Dance Company Gets Lucky With Funding
Mashup Dance Company
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Mashup Dance Company
Cultural arts in Los Angeles often bears the brunt of economic woes and this past year has been no different. The lights have been turned off at the Pasadena Playhouse. Concerts for the Pasadena Symphony have been canceled. The Getty has raised parking prices. MOCA came close to shutting down. So how is it that a small and relatively unheard of local dance company finds itself prospering these days?
MashUp Contemporary Dance Company is a troupe that was founded this year in Los Angeles that focuses on a multimedia dance show, combining an artistic yet technical contemporary style of dance with video, film, photography, live music, and other arts. Founders Sarah Rodenhouse and Victoria Brown saw a need in L.A. to bring more than just Hollywood -- they wanted to put on a show that stretched artistic talent beyond commercials and “stylized movement” while maintaining an element of entertainment.
Rodenhouse explains that many dancers in Los Angeles can't find jobs. Being in a company provides stability, as well as unique opportunities. But many of the contemporary dance companies remain hidden in the shadow of commercial dance and without funding, many are never given that chance. Mashup hopes to bridge that gap and bring talent the public can appreciate and understand.
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For a brand new organization, however, Mashup has to find funds and resources in unlikely places. Currently they are almost completely funded by investors, most predominately the company of Rodenhouse’s father. “We are really lucky we have some people that really believe in us and willing to invest in us” she said, admitting that they have no idea what they will do when their only option is government funding. “Lets get all the first shows out the way and then take time to focus on all other aspects”
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