At an invitation-only Halloween gala in Dallas, the Marcella Raneri D&M Foundation awarded $55,000 in grants to four emerging dancers. The event, themed around Alice in Wonderland, provided financial supprot and mentorship to winners selected from a pool of more than 800 applicants nationwide.
Four choreographers split $55,000 in unrestricted dance grants
Four rising stars in the dance world have been selected to receive significant financial backing to advance their creative practices. According to the report, the recipients include Audrey Skodis of New York, Kylah Kuura of Dallas, Riley Roberts of Los Angeles, and Tsai Hsi Hung of New York. These artists were chosen from a massive competitive pool of over 800 applicants.
The funding is structured to provide varying levels of support, including a $30,000 Grand Artist Development Award, a $15,000 Artist Development Award, and a $10,000 Emerging Vision Award. Unlike many traditional scholarships, these grants are unrestricted, allowing the winners to invest in training, new choreography, or any resource that advances their professional practice.. Beyond the cash, the awards include travel, accommodation, and professional mentorship.
An immersive 'Wonderland' at FIG featuring Alyssa Edwards
The awards were presented during a theatrical, invitation-only event at FIG in Dallas, which was transformed into a "Wonderland" by Atelier L Events Production. The gala blended high-fashion costume with live performance, creating a multidisciplinary atmosphere that mirrored the foundation's goals. Marcella Raneri herself made a statement in a custom crystal-and-rhinestone creation by the Italian brand ROCHART.
A competitive panel of experts evaluated the applicants' portfolios and interviews to select this year's winners. As the source notes, this panel included the well-known drag performer and television personality Alyssa Edwards. The selection process was designed to look beyond raw talent,focusing instead on creative vision and the resilience required to sustain a career in the entertainment industry.
The Brooklyn-to-Dallas journey behind the D&M Foundation
The mission of the D&M Foundation is deeply rooted in the personal history of its founder, Marcella Raneri. After moving from Brooklyn to Dallas as a child, Raneri found that dance served as a "safe place" where she felt accepted and understood. This personal connection to the art form drives her desire to provide the same sense of belief and encouragement to others that she received from her own mentors.
The formalization of this support was a collaborative effort between Raneri and her husband, Daniel Nutkis. Recognizing Raneri's passion for both creating elaborate experiences and giving back to the arts, Nutkis suggested connecting the two. This partnership turned a personal passion into a structured philanthropic platform, using the annual Halloween gala as its primary stage.
Will the foundation's 2026 expansion include fashion and costume design?
While the current focus remains on performance and movement, the foundation is planning a significant multidisciplinary expansion. future editions of the awards are expected to move into areas such as scenic design, installation, world-building , and wearable art. This evolution aims to support the entire ecosystem of creative production rather than just the performers themselves.
However, several questions remain regarding how this expansion will be managed. It is currently unverified how the foundation will adapt its rigorous selection process to vet talent in non-dance categories like costume design or scenic installation. Additionally, while the 2026 cycle is focused on choreography, the specific timeline and criteria for these new categories have yet to be fully detailed by the foundation.
Comments 0