Our Commitment Toward More Equity and Inclusion in Dance 

We strive to remove barriers that harm, discriminate, and exclude. We acknowledge the ways systemic racism, and other types of oppression and inequities show up in the dance field. We are actively pursuing a future for dance education that includes students diverse in race, gender, age, body-type, intellectual/developmental ability, and other aspects of identity, who are confident, collaborative, creative thinkers and engaged citizens in their communities and the world. 

What this looks like in practice: 

• Teaching more complete histories of studio dance forms
• Removing financial barriers through scholarships, discounted rates, and subsidized programming 
• Removing transportation barriers by providing youth residencies at neighborhood recreation centers
• Offering gender-neutral dress codes and using of preferred pronouns
• Using books, videos, and other resources in our youth dance programs that include diverse dancers and dance forms 
• Authentically diversifying staff, clientele, and board of directors 
• Providing equitable pay to teaching and performing artists  
• Providing teaching artists with professional development related to diversity, equity, and inclusion 
• Providing allyship and anti-racist trainings to board, staff, and teaching artists

This is an ever-evolving conversation that will remain at the core of our organization. We invite you into this ongoing conversation that pushes and challenges limited viewpoints, and makes space for the voices of marginalized and oppressed people in dance.