Anne Bluethenthal and Dancers

Overview Anne Bluethenthal and Dancers (ABD), a U.S. nonprofit organization founded in 1984, is a multicultural, multi-ethnic dance company based in San Francisco. It is committed to inspiring social change through the arts by creating new dance works in collaboration with diverse communities. The company focuses on fostering social change, especially within women-centered and queer communities, emphasizing intersectionality and cross-identity connections.

Artistic Focus ABD's work is deeply rooted in the belief that relationships are the first site of social change. Through a long-term process of building relationships and engaging with communities through the arts, ABD facilitates expression and promotes creative problem-solving. Over the years, ABD has collaborated with numerous communities to develop a repertoire of more than 100 original dance works addressing urgent social and environmental issues.

Notable Achievements and Collaborations ABD Productions has presented over 200 public performances both locally and internationally, including notable venues like the International Festival of Movement and Dance on the Volga (Russia) and the American Dance Guild Festival (New York). Under Bluethenthal's artistic leadership, ABD has received multiple awards, such as the San Francisco Bay Guardian’s Goldie Award for Achievement in Dance and the Rhinette Award for Best Choreography. Bluethenthal herself was honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship.

In 2010, Bluethenthal initiated a new project called SKYWATCHERS in the Tenderloin area of San Francisco. This community-driven ensemble collaborates with professional artists from across the Bay Area, focusing on building interpersonal relationships to achieve large-scale social change.

Organizational Structure Anne Bluethenthal and Dancers is a federally registered nonprofit organization with a tax-exempt status. It operates as a corporate entity with Woman Owned Business self-certification. The organization's financials show total revenues of $343,620 for the fiscal year ending December 2023, with expenses of $323,000 during the same period.

Grants and Funding In recent years, the organization has received grants from notable foundations. For instance, in 2022, it received $10,000 from the Zellerbach Family Foundation for general operating support. As a nonprofit, ABD relies on grants, contributions, and program services to sustain its operations.