Dance Arts Network and Continuing Education

A young girl who struggles at school, but loves ballet, finds her passion and develops self-confidence. A young woman, with vision in only one eye and nearly blind in that one, overcomes her challenges and performs on pointe. An elderly woman who always wanted to learn ballet, but didn't have the chance until late in life dives into classes and finds her second home, a place of meaning, joy and connection, not to mention all the health benefits she reaps. Teens searching for self and for acceptance dig into the meat of the demands of ballet together, building bonds as they develop confidence and enjoy a place to explore and release the depths of their emotions. An audience member sees a young black man dancing the role of a prince in a ballet and their world of possibility opens up.    

Dance touches us, moves us - not only on the outside, but also on the inside.

As a somatic art, dance has the power to elicit what lies deep within us, below the surface of our conscious minds. Moving together as dancers is an experience that reaches beyond intellect, beyond conscious emotions and has the ability to connect us at a fundamental level. Audiences are moved in unexpected ways through the intensity of expressive choreography and beautifully trained dancers. This art and its ability to connect humanity should be available to all - both those who wish to learn to dance and those who wish to experience it as an audience member.

Dance Arts Network and Continuing Education is a non-profit foundation created in 1996 to provide new outlets and opportunities for the dance community, including teaching dance, multicultural exposure, and dance scholarships.

DANCE has provided outreach performances for numerous communities including schools, libraries, and senior care centers, providing connection with audiences that likely otherwise not have the opportunity to enjoy such performances.  DANCE has also provided many scholarships to students wishing to pursue the art of classical ballet, which can be a very expensive proposition. Under the belief that ballet should be accessible to everyone, these scholarships are available on a first come-first served need basis to all who request assistance, regardless of age, ability, or desire to become a professional dancer.