Danspace Project (New York, N.Y.)

The Danspace Project was founded in 1974 in New York City by dancers Barbara Dilley and Mary Overlie, and poet Larry Fagin in response to the lack of quality performance space options available to dancers and choreographers. Danspace sought to present, support, and encourage new work in dance and performance, by both young and more established artists, within a supportive environment that was conductive to experimentation and risk taking. To this end, Danspace commissioned and presented new work, supported choreographers and dancers at all stages of their careers, and produced dance performances.

The founders secured the stewardship of the landmarked St. Mark's Church In-The-Bowery, an Episcopalian church in the East Village, with performances taking place in the main sanctuary of the church. With this arrangement, they re-established an association and tradition which began in the 1920s and 1930s when many distinguished artists, including Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, Ruth St. Denis, and Charles Weidman, gave performances at the church. A fire damaged the church in 1978 and performances were temporarily held at the Third Street Music School. By 1982, the St. Mark's Church space was reconstructed and the electronics underwent rewiring to support a full theatrical lighting and sound system.

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