Founded in 1988 by Cathy Levy and directed by Myles Warren since 1992, Dance Umbrella of Ontario was created as a non-profit, non-membership dance management and resource centre for Toronto's dance professionals. It has since grown to serve all of Ontario's independent professional dance artists and small scale dance companies, stewarding projects such as DUOcafes, Dance 2020, New Models and Arts for Change. The Board of Directors, which is comprised of at least fifty percent dance professional representation, establishes policies with the assistance of the Artists' Panel, an advisory group of Ontario dance professionals. Dance Umbrella is led by an arts manager and staffed by arts administrators who assist in the creation and dissemination of a dance professional's dance work through various programs and services offered at a reduced cost from the Toronto-based resource centre, the dance plant. This includes managerial and accounting packages and administrative services such as art grants preparation, budget analysis, marketing, promotional kits and tour co-ordination. In addition, Dance Umbrella of Ontario provides professional development seminars on various topics along with information resources relating to funding, grants, venues and employment.