The UMEZ Mertz Gilmore Seed Fund for Dance, a partner of Dance/NYC, is a new initiative to invest in the originality, insight, and potential that exists within the grassroots dance community in Upper Manhattan. The program will provide $5,000 grants to support 16 dance projects taking place in Upper Manhattan from January 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023. Funding is intended for dance-centric projects, ranging from folk/traditional forms to contemporary and socially engaged artistic practices. These projects must be available to a public audience and can be concerts, performances, festivals, or other ventures that foster community engagement through dance.