By Tony Guzman
Critic at Large

As a critic, it’s an extraordinary and highly problematic feeling, to say the least, to be crossing over the line from analysis and description to advocacy and outright fundraising. But this has been an extraordinary and highly problematic year for the performing arts in South Florida. Virtually anybody who’s attended performances locally this year has seen and heard the fervent pleas preceding the shows as our performing arts companies struggle with the diminishing financial resources attendant to a slumping economy and a Philistine administration and legislature in Tallahassee that has ended in cutting direct arts funding literally to zero. It’s on us who are alive to and care about the arts, for now.

And so, at this time when we reflect on the arts groups that have enriched our lives over the past year, we’ve put together a list of performing arts companies that we especially commend to you as worthy of your contributions in an especially difficult time. We’ve included telephone numbers because, in lieu of or in addition to cash, most of these groups have wish lists of their own encompassing volunteering and donated goods and services. 

10300 S.W. 72^nd St., Suite 499, Miami FL 33173

305-275-5666 

Maximum Dance Company 

Florida Grand Opera 

GableStage 

Momentum Dance Company 

Giovanni Luquini & Dancers 

Dance Now! 

Dance Esaias 

Arts at St. John’s 

Bridge Theater 

Juggerknot Theatre Company