NEA Awards Karen Peterson and Dancers $25,000 for 2027 Forward Motion Dance Festival
Karen Peterson and Dancers (KPD) has received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for fiscal year 2026. This funding will support the eighth annual Forward Motion Dance Festival, scheduled for May 8–9, 2027, at the Sandrell Rivers Theatre. The festival aims to showcase inclusive choreography, featuring performances by The Resident Island Dance Theatre from Taipei, Taiwan; Dancing Wheels from Cleveland, Ohio; and Karen Peterson and Dancers from Miami. According to Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, the NEA is committed to supporting opportunities for Americans to experience and participate in the arts, especially as the country celebrates its 250th anniversary. Karen Peterson Corash, Founder and Artistic Director of KPD, highlighted the instrumental role of NEA support in the festival's success since its inception in 2018. KPD is also holding auditions for its 2026–2027 season, seeking individuals with and without disabilities.