1992

The San Antonio Dance Umbrella was founded and non profit status obtained.  This grew out of the dance panel for the then Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of San Antonio.  The Founding members were:  Catherine Cisneros, Dora Ruffner, Annie Sauser (president: 92-95), Marene Gustin (Director, 1992) and Paul Bonin-Rodriquez.  The exploratory activities to identify viable dance organizations in the city and develop methods to serve them were supported by a technical grant from the Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs.

1993

The first SADU Newsletter was published, with the purpose of letting the community know about the collective accomplishments of the dance community and to discuss issues facing the dance community.  Field Forums were introduced, to be conducted four times a year.  These were facilitated meetings to discuss issues facing the dance community, its achievements and to identify and discuss the long and short range goals of the emerging organization.  The first strategic planning session was completed with a commitment to conduct planning sessions every two to three years.

1994

• The first series of sponsorships began.  Two individual projects were “umbrellaed” and presented to the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) for funding.  Simultaneously, the dance community was notified that they could be umbrellaed under the non- profit status of SADU.
• The First collaborative project was undertaken:  Encanto en La Mision, with the Department of Parks and Recreation, The National Park Service, The Franciscan Order at Mission San Jose.  SADU helped to restore the stage.  Subsequent collaborations were developed with the Carver Community Cultural Center and Jump Start Performance Company.  Also that year, the first residency and Master Classes were held with the Jose Greco Dance Company.
• SADU moved into an office space donated by the Rutherford Law Firm.  The office was donated free of charge and remained the office of SADU until December 2002 when the building was sold.  This arrangement was made possible in part because Linda Rutherford was on the SADU Advisory Board.
• Josie Neal was director from January 1994 to September 1994 at which time a mediation was held with her.  Dora Ruffner and Gemma Kennedy served as interim directors.

1995

• From a series of collaborations with Jump Start Performance Company conducting workshops about performance and dance the Works in Progress/Wednesdays in Performance (WIP) was launched in the spring of 1995.  It was created to facilitate the development of new works and create an atmosphere for choreographers to get feedback on their works.  WIP uses the Liz Lerman Critical Response Process.
• Juerga! A series of performances at the King William’s Fair were begun April 1995 and ended March 2003.
• Dance Partners began in August 1995 and lasted until May 2003.  It was conceived and operated by Dora Ruffner and Barbara Peck as a curriculum based approach to teach dance in the schools.  It began with 123 students at the Kate Schenk Elementary School in SAISD.  The program was funded by TCA, the Department of Cultural Affairs and SAISD.
• Paul Bonin-Rodriquez was president from June 1995 to January 1996.  Penny Boyer was the director from January 1995 to January 1996.

1996

• The Julia L. Cauthorn Scholarship program, though created in 1995, it was implemented in January 1996 at a reception honoring Merce Cunningham and Julia L. Cauthorn.  It was designed initially to provide an annual $500 scholarship award to a promising young local dancer.  It was to be revised in 2005 (see attached Julia L. Cauthorn Scholarship information).  The first fundraising luncheon was also held, Margaret King Stanley was the speaker.
• San Antonio Dances!  Began in June 1996 as a collaboration between the SA Symphony, Arts SA and SADU to create a month long celebration of dance to start in May 1997.  It included an adjudicated performance: Showcase of Dance.  The celebration also included dance performances in libraries and bookstores, dance exhibits in museums, “Talking Dance” lectures, master classes, symphony performances with dance themes and performances, and, extensive newspaper coverage of all dance activities throughout the city.  The collaboration lasted from 1996 – 1998 at which time it became a program of SADU.  The Initial committee:  Paul Bonin-Rodriquez, Doris Miller, Margaret King-Stanley, Carolyn Young, Frank Villani, David Schillhammer, Anne Wilkins and Gemma Kennedy.  The first adjudicated competition for the first showcase performance at San Antonio Dances! was held in February.  The adjudicator was choreographer Margo Sappington.
• President: Natalie Peterson 1996-1997; Director: Carolyn Young, March 1996 to June 1998.  Padgett, Stratemann & Company became the tax accountants for SADU.  The bylaws were amended and mission statement was further clarified and approved by both the Board of Directors and the Office of the Secretary of the State Of Texas.

1997

• The first of a series of fundraisers, initially for San Antonio Dances! and later for SADU itself was held in February 1997 and was chaired by Edith McAllister.  The events involved dance bands and ballroom dancing.  It was chaired by Mrs. McAllister for three years.  She was honored twice for her contributions to SADU.  The last such fundraiser was held in February 2002.
• San Antonio Dances! began in May 1997 with its showcase performance held at the Carver Cultural Center.  It was the first month long celebration of dance in the city.
• SADU became a co-sponsor for the annual tap dance festival headed by Barbara Ryan (Phillips).  The organization was later named:  Third Coast Rhythm Project.  The festival became: Jazz on Tap.
• The president was Belinda Menchaca, who served from 1997 to 2000.

1998

• According to available records, the Director, Carolyn Young, stepped down in June 1998 and was eventually replaced in September 1998 by Georgina Morgan, dance professor at SAC, who served from September 1998 through May 2000.
• San Antonio Dances! celebrated its second year.  Choreographer Margo Sappington returned for another year to adjudicate the Showcase performance.  Funding for the month long celebration came from the San Antonio Area foundation, the San Antonio Dances! fundraiser and profits realized from the previous year. 
• The Julia L. Cauthorn scholarship was again awarded.
• The Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs (DACA) was reduced to the Office of Cultural Affairs and with it the budget and programming of DACA was also reduced drastically.  This was an event that would eventually seriously alter the funding for SADU and the rest of the cultural arts community.

1999

• The current SADU logo was designed.  This was the third logo design to be used by the organization.
• San Antonio Dances! became the sole responsibility of SADU.  Monies for the event were transferred to SADU in the amount of $26,000.  The adjudicating choreographer was Michael Blake.
• Although the records do not seem to indicate it, it may be assumed that the Julia L. Cauthorn Scholarship was awarded again.

2000

• San Antonio Dances! presented its last showcase performance which was adjudicated by choreographer Teo Morca.
• The Julia L. Cauthorn Scholarship guidelines were developed. 
• The current Website was designed and developed.  The Director, Eugene Martinez was the website coordinator.
• At the time, the director was also responsible for the newsletter (editor) and for membership development and maintenance.  Both these roles were given to Board members.
• San Antonio Dances! Showcase was discontinued and was replaced by Dance Around the World (DAW).  The first DAW was held at Sunset Station.  It was also held at the Institute of Texan Cultures and the Arneson River Theater.  Held twice a year, it was directed by Mona Lisa Gonzales (Montgomery), currently Director of Special Programs for the Department of Parks and Recreation. 
• The programming emphasis of SADU shifted to develop more programming opportunities for the dancers in the community.
• The President was Dr. Malathi Koli (June 2000 to August 2002)
• The director was Eugene Martinez (June 2000 until his death, February 2002).  Mr. Martinez had been director of DACA for several years.

2001

• The Dance Around the World program continued under the leadership of Mona Lisa
  Gonzales (Montgomery).
• The Julia L. Cauthorn scholarship was awarded. 
• Contracts to govern Sponsorship/Umbrella activities were rewritten by an attorney and approved by the Board of Directors.  The Third Coast Rhythm Project Tap Festival continued, uninterrupted since 1997, and was supported in part by pass through grants (umbrella) from DACA and later OCA (Office of Cultural Affairs).

2002

• The Rutherford building, which housed SADU for several years, was sold in December 2002.  All office materials were placed in storage until temporary facilities were obtained in June 2004.
• The last annual SADU fundraiser was held.  It was chaired by Paula Gorman.
• San Antonio Dances! became a year round celebration of dance with emphasis on May which is Dance Month.  It is not clear what the relationship with Dance Around the World was.
• The President was Rene’ Parks, who served from September 2002 to June 2004.  The directors were:  Mona Lisa Montgomery:  January 2002 to November 2002; Grace Hines: December 2002 to May 2003.

2003

• The Dance Partners program, for which there is very little information on file, ended in May 2003.  This was precipitated by a change in the funding for this type of program by the Texas Commission on the Arts.  Dance Partners was an in school dance education program run in conjunction with area school districts.
• SADU restructuring:  SADU was placed under suspension by the Office of Cultural Affairs due to inadequate office management.  Advisory Board members assisted in the restructuring and took over the duties of the director.  Financial records were corrected and past due OCA reports were completed and submitted with the assistance of Ed Conroy, Gemma Kennedy, Carolyn Young and Dora Ruffner.  The acting directors, Carolyn Young and Gemma Kennedy (interim and voluntary), together with Dora Ruffner and the Board began the restructuring of the organization while maintaining services to its members and the community.  Management had suffered due to the death of the Director, E. Martinez, in February 2002 and inadequate training of the new director.
• OCA reinstated SADU in November 2003 and released frozen grant monies in January 2004.

2004

• SADU was offered space in the emerging Radius building in October 2003.  However, there were continuous building remodeling delays, which resulted in temporary space being obtained at the Network for Young Artists building on South Main Street.  Contracts were finally signed with Radius in the fall of 2004, though the move itself was delayed until February 2005.
• A strategic planning session was held at the Non Profit Resource Center.  The facilitator and session was paid for by the Office of Cultural Affairs.
• Field Forums, begun as a way to obtain feedback from the membership and to identify and address their needs, was reinstituted in the fall of 2004.
• Tool Kits, modeled after the Toolkit of the Texas Commission on the Arts, was designed by Suzanne Dunmire to assist members.  The first toolkit, based presumably on feedback during the Field Forums, was focused on the media; the second on theater space.
• There were two directors in 2004.  Cynthia Langston: March 2004 to September 2004; and, Suzanne Dunmire:  October 2004 to May 2007.

2005

• SADU moved into Radius office in February 2005.  New computer and office equipment were obtained.  All membership and financial records were placed on line.
• As part of the Radius agreement, monthly dance performances began in September 2005.
• Enterprise Workshops were designed to offer topics relevant to dance organizations and other non profits.  The workshops were to be held quarterly.  The first workshop was on marketing.
• SADU became a member of the Cultural Alliance of San Antonio (CASA).  As an arts organization receiving funds from OCA, SADU was invited to participate in the Cultural Collaborative.
• The Julia L. Cauthorn Scholarship committee voted to expand the number of scholarships offered to between 4 and 6 each year.  They also updated forms and contracts and obtained donations from corporate sponsors for the scholarships.  The Cauthorn fundraising luncheon was reinstated.
• SADU continued to umbrella Third Coast Rhythm Project’s Jazz on Tap festival.  It also added the Greater San Antonio After School All Stars Ballroom dance program.
• Kristina Kuest-Mistry volunteered to improve the website design and to serve as the webmaster.
• Kausi Subramanian became president (October 2005 – September 2007)

2006

• SADU co-sponsored several dance studios and companies at various venues around the city, using its 501©3 status and liability insurance to facilitate the use of those venues.  It also co-sponsored a major Flamenco performance at the McCombs Theater.
• The Center Stage Awards were held for the first time.  It was designed to recognize individual contributions to dance in San Antonio.  It was also the resumption of the annual fundraiser for SADU.  The event was held at the Hyatt Riverwalk Hotel.
• SADU co-sponsored the San Antonio Folk Festival held each year at San Antonio College.
• The Dance Month celebration included a SADU sponsored Dance in the Libraries, in conjunction with the San Antonio Public Library.
• The SADU newsletter was published.  Dance at Radius continued periodically throughout the year.
• The website under the management of Ms. Kuest-Mistry expanded its audience as it continued to receive more and more national and international “hits.”
• SADU became member of the newly formed Arts Education Taskforce, and continued it membership in CASA.
• Received stabilization funds from OCA to hire a development staff person.

2007

• The entire dance community was shaken by the illness and death of Dora Ruffner.  Ms. Ruffner had continued to be a vital leader in the development of dance in San Antonio and in the organization and growth of the San Antonio Dance Umbrella.  SADU organized a Tribute to Dora concert at the Carver Cultural Center in the spring.
• Dance at Radius continued; as did the Dance Month at the Libraries.
• Hired a Marketing Development staff person.
• Directors:  Suzanne Dunmire (resigned May 2007); Adrienne Westlake (May – September 2007) Hildegard Mayorga (September – October 2007); William Lewis (interim November 2007 – March 2008)
• Chairperson-elect:  Erica Wilson Perkins (resigned to become the treasurer in November 2007).  Interim Chairperson: Carolyn Young (November 2007 to March 2008).

2008

• Dance at Radius program attracted over 250 persons in February.
• Barbara Phillips became president and William Lewis director in March 2008.
• A Strategic conversation was held, facilitated by Alonzo Villarreal
• Orsinger awarded SADU a grant to support the outreach efforts of Third Coast Rhythm Project’s summer festival.
• SADU co-sponsored the African American Community History project.
• Board recruitment became a priority.  Dr. Douglas Hall became president in September 2008.
• OCA awarded SADU an operational grant which included funds for a part time office manager.  Traditionally, SADU had received project support funds from OCA.

2009

• Board retreat was held in January 2009.  It was facilitated by Dorinda Rolle.
• New office manager was hired and began work in February
• The Diversity Month Dance performance was held at the Carver Cultural Center.
• Dr. Hall resigned due to his forthcoming three year sabbatical leave to Dubai
• David Kinder became president of the board