Soul Sanctuary Dance – Purpose, Organization, and HISTORY
Purpose
Our purpose is to produce a welcoming and inclusive, all-ages, community freestyle dance that supports free expression, community, physical and emotional health, and a spirit of generosity.
Organizational Structure
The dance has been 100% produced by volunteers, and has had no admission fee since May 2010.
Organizers:
A group of volunteer organizers make the major decisions affecting the dance. All decisions must be in alignment with our mission and support the values of the dance. Examples of organizer-level decisions include: strategic planning, changing the organizational structure, issues pertaining to the venue, admission policy, music policy, general structure of the dance, determining volunteer roles, special events, financial and legal decisions, addition of new organizers, and changing the mission. In addition to decision-making, organizers are expected to play an ongoing role in the hands-on production of the dance (examples: greeting dancers, serving as DJ, facilitating closing circle).
Non-organizer volunteers:
Participants who are not organizers carry out all the tasks and decisions not undertaken by the organizers. For example, a non-organizer volunteer may facilitate the welcoming circle and decide how they would like to manage that task, within the constraints of established guidelines.
Participants can be invited to become organizers through a consensus decision by existing organizers. Participants who want to become organizers can also request consideration. Organizers will consider whether the participant has a demonstrated record of supporting the mission of the dance and working productively with the existing organizers. Decision-making about the addition of new organizers is the only organizer process that is kept private, and feedback and/or confirmation will be made to potential new organizers privately in order to avoid any awkwardness or discomfort and to ensure a complete sharing of issues among organizers and between the organizer team and the potential new organizer.
Organizer Decision-Making Process
Transparency and responsiveness to community input are paramount.
Any community member (organizer or non-organizer) can submit a proposal for an organizer-level decision (see above) by emailing the proposal to the organizers at [email protected]. (Community members without email access may give a written proposal to any organizer.)
Notice of any pending proposals will be made via the weekly email and during closing circle at the dance. During closing circle, the person submitting a proposal presents the proposal; alternately, they can delegate that role to an organizer.
The discussion period for a proposal is 21 days from the date the proposal is submitted. At the end of the 21-day discussion period, if all organizers who have responded are in favor, the proposal will be approved.
In the unlikely event that any organizer-level decision must be made in less than 21 days in order to prevent or reduce harm to the organization or to an individual, organizers can act alone or by consensus to make that decision, and then inform the community.
Decision-making about adding new organizers is the only organizer process that is kept private, and feedback and/or confirmation will be made to potential new organizers privately (see above).
Music
Our DJs play an eclectic mix including soul, world music, funk, positive hip hop, dance classics, reggae, electronic, Latin, blues, jazz, swing, folk, rock, alternative, classical and more. We do not play music that promotes hatred, violence, prejudice or stereotypes. We keep the volume low enough so that earplugs are not needed. Live musicians are sometimes invited to play. Selecting DJs and selecting musicians for live music are organizer tasks.
Community Traditions
The traditions that support our mission and culture include: welcoming each participant and orienting newcomers to the dance, having a brief welcoming circle, including people of all ages and abilities in the dance, keeping conversation to a minimum (and on the sides of the room), providing a “free table” for gifts offered and received, providing art activities off the dance floor, offering a closing circle (including introductions, sharing, and community announcements), sharing organic fruit during closing circle, and an invitation to gather after each dance for a meal. We maintain a weekly (opt-in) email list and Facebook group to keep participants informed and connected.
Finances and Legal Status
We accept gifts at any time to sustain the dance. Our balance sheet is publicly available through our website. No one takes any income from the dance. The dance is a sole proprietorship of one of the organizers, all income and expenses are reported, and federal and state self-employment taxes are paid. Our financial goal is to be sustainable and maintain a small cash reserve for unforeseen needs.
History
Valerie Chafograck co-founded Soul Sanctuary with Eva Vigran in 2003, and Valerie organized the dance until early 2006, when Patrick Numair (with Leah Joy’s help) took over. In October 2006, Christina Tuccillo and Zach Pine took leadership (and changed the name to Soul Sanctuary Dance). In May 2010, the dance became all-volunteer produced, with no admission fee, with three initial co-organizers: Daniel Ari, Kristi Coombs, and Zach Pine. In 2012, Kristi Coombs left the area, leaving Daniel Ari and Zach Pine as co-organizers. In 2014, Farzana Khan joined as co-organizer. In 2018, Michelle Blair joined as co-organizer. In 2020, Daniel Ari and Farzana Khan stepped down, Kristi Coombs rejoined as co-organizer, and Herb Heinz joined as co-organizer. In 2023, Michelle Blair stepped down as co-organizer, and Chris Fenaroli joined as co-organizer. In early 2024, Zach Pine stepped down as co-organizer, and Amy Neuburg joined as co-organizer. In mid-2024, Chris Fenaroli stepped down as co-organizer.
Our purpose is to produce a welcoming and inclusive, all-ages, community freestyle dance that supports free expression, community, physical and emotional health, and a spirit of generosity.
Organizational Structure
The dance has been 100% produced by volunteers, and has had no admission fee since May 2010.
Organizers:
A group of volunteer organizers make the major decisions affecting the dance. All decisions must be in alignment with our mission and support the values of the dance. Examples of organizer-level decisions include: strategic planning, changing the organizational structure, issues pertaining to the venue, admission policy, music policy, general structure of the dance, determining volunteer roles, special events, financial and legal decisions, addition of new organizers, and changing the mission. In addition to decision-making, organizers are expected to play an ongoing role in the hands-on production of the dance (examples: greeting dancers, serving as DJ, facilitating closing circle).
Non-organizer volunteers:
Participants who are not organizers carry out all the tasks and decisions not undertaken by the organizers. For example, a non-organizer volunteer may facilitate the welcoming circle and decide how they would like to manage that task, within the constraints of established guidelines.
Participants can be invited to become organizers through a consensus decision by existing organizers. Participants who want to become organizers can also request consideration. Organizers will consider whether the participant has a demonstrated record of supporting the mission of the dance and working productively with the existing organizers. Decision-making about the addition of new organizers is the only organizer process that is kept private, and feedback and/or confirmation will be made to potential new organizers privately in order to avoid any awkwardness or discomfort and to ensure a complete sharing of issues among organizers and between the organizer team and the potential new organizer.
Organizer Decision-Making Process
Transparency and responsiveness to community input are paramount.
Any community member (organizer or non-organizer) can submit a proposal for an organizer-level decision (see above) by emailing the proposal to the organizers at [email protected]. (Community members without email access may give a written proposal to any organizer.)
Notice of any pending proposals will be made via the weekly email and during closing circle at the dance. During closing circle, the person submitting a proposal presents the proposal; alternately, they can delegate that role to an organizer.
The discussion period for a proposal is 21 days from the date the proposal is submitted. At the end of the 21-day discussion period, if all organizers who have responded are in favor, the proposal will be approved.
In the unlikely event that any organizer-level decision must be made in less than 21 days in order to prevent or reduce harm to the organization or to an individual, organizers can act alone or by consensus to make that decision, and then inform the community.
Decision-making about adding new organizers is the only organizer process that is kept private, and feedback and/or confirmation will be made to potential new organizers privately (see above).
Music
Our DJs play an eclectic mix including soul, world music, funk, positive hip hop, dance classics, reggae, electronic, Latin, blues, jazz, swing, folk, rock, alternative, classical and more. We do not play music that promotes hatred, violence, prejudice or stereotypes. We keep the volume low enough so that earplugs are not needed. Live musicians are sometimes invited to play. Selecting DJs and selecting musicians for live music are organizer tasks.
Community Traditions
The traditions that support our mission and culture include: welcoming each participant and orienting newcomers to the dance, having a brief welcoming circle, including people of all ages and abilities in the dance, keeping conversation to a minimum (and on the sides of the room), providing a “free table” for gifts offered and received, providing art activities off the dance floor, offering a closing circle (including introductions, sharing, and community announcements), sharing organic fruit during closing circle, and an invitation to gather after each dance for a meal. We maintain a weekly (opt-in) email list and Facebook group to keep participants informed and connected.
Finances and Legal Status
We accept gifts at any time to sustain the dance. Our balance sheet is publicly available through our website. No one takes any income from the dance. The dance is a sole proprietorship of one of the organizers, all income and expenses are reported, and federal and state self-employment taxes are paid. Our financial goal is to be sustainable and maintain a small cash reserve for unforeseen needs.
History
Valerie Chafograck co-founded Soul Sanctuary with Eva Vigran in 2003, and Valerie organized the dance until early 2006, when Patrick Numair (with Leah Joy’s help) took over. In October 2006, Christina Tuccillo and Zach Pine took leadership (and changed the name to Soul Sanctuary Dance). In May 2010, the dance became all-volunteer produced, with no admission fee, with three initial co-organizers: Daniel Ari, Kristi Coombs, and Zach Pine. In 2012, Kristi Coombs left the area, leaving Daniel Ari and Zach Pine as co-organizers. In 2014, Farzana Khan joined as co-organizer. In 2018, Michelle Blair joined as co-organizer. In 2020, Daniel Ari and Farzana Khan stepped down, Kristi Coombs rejoined as co-organizer, and Herb Heinz joined as co-organizer. In 2023, Michelle Blair stepped down as co-organizer, and Chris Fenaroli joined as co-organizer. In early 2024, Zach Pine stepped down as co-organizer, and Amy Neuburg joined as co-organizer. In mid-2024, Chris Fenaroli stepped down as co-organizer.
