The California Arts Council awarded South Coast Dance Arts Alliance, one of only thirty-three grantees statewide, a grant as part of its Veterans Initiative in the Arts program. The Veterans Initiative in the Arts is rooted in the California Arts Council’s desire to address the needs and improve the lives of California's veterans through the arts. This grant program provides project and partnership support for nonprofit arts organizations, local arts agencies, and veterans’ assistance agencies to reach veterans, active military personnel, and their families through local arts programming.

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With support from the California Arts Council, South Coast Dance Arts Alliance created, “Veterans Expressions,” an arts project for the children of veteran and active military families. We offered workshops and performances in creative movement and dance forms, story-telling skills and digital photography. The goal was to assist the young people with telling their stories through the performing arts.

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According to Nannette Brodie, Artistic Director of South Coast Dance Arts Alliance, "Veterans Expressions will engage our military and veteran youth in order to develop artistic expression in an enjoyable and safe environment. The South Coast Dance Arts Alliance Board of Directors is proud to develop a new direction for the organization as part of our community outreach in the arts. This is our second grant for veterans in California. We are looking for partnerships with agencies that serve military and veteran families to assist with the project in terms of communication and space donation for the workshops."

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Their first performance with the Veterans Expressions Project took place on October 11, 2017, and was a collaborative event directed by Nannette Brodie, showcasing the Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre with several Veteran artists and performers. The name of the event was Patient Centered Care Day, and it was an opportunity to witness the talented artists at the VA and to become acquainted with the many programs available for veterans such as Tai Chi, yoga, movement expression, photography, visual arts and many more.

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For more information on the Veterans Expressions Project or to get involved please contact, Nannette Brodie, nannette@nbdt.net.

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