HOPE is not entirely lost as far as funding for dance is concerned.

There is a good chance that one organisation set up by the government to distribute funds for good causes will come on board.

There is great excitement among Johannesburg' s dance enthusiasts because their favourite dance extravaganza, the Dance Umbrella, is on from February 24 to March 6.

There was great concern last year when sponsorship from First National Bank was discontinued after two decades of a fruitful relationship.

Because of this development festival organiser Georgina Thompson was left with no choice but to put her faith in the National Lottery Distribution Board to fund this year's festival.

But this funder's track record is not very impressive because it continues to sit on public funds, said to be running into billions of rands, that should rightly go to charities and also to arts projects such as the Dance Umbrella.

And besides, when the National Lottery Distribution Board decides to fund a project the money is often late.

Hopefully this time, those in charge will release the money well in advance for the people's dance festival to go ahead.

The Market Theatre, University of Johannesburg Arts Centre, Wits Theatre and the Dance Factory will once again host the Dance Umbrella. Contact them for a full programme of the event.

Established dancers and choreographers will once again take part in the festival.

Jozi will once again have the unique opportunity of seeing South African contemporary dance in all forms when Dance Umbrella 2011 takes to the stage .

There will be dancing around the clock, celebrating 23 years of being the largest contemporary dance festival in Southern Africa.

The programme is jam-packed with new and exciting works from local choreographers that include Mark Hawkins, Lulu Mlangeni, Mamela Nyamza and Sello Pesa.

Other companies that are appearing in Dance Umbrella 2011 include the Flatfoot Dance Company from Durban and the Remix Dance Company from Cape Town.