The Dance Foundation marks its 50th anniversary in 2025. Throughout this year, we are celebrating our legacy and making plans to increase our impact.
Our comprehensive approach to dance is unique. DanceStudioClasses are available for everyone from toddlers to teens and adults. DanceStudioRental makes professional studio space available for community organizations and artists to have a home to do creative work. DancePartners takes our work out to schools and organizations in the community, using dance to help young children meet developmental goals and school-aged students grasp math and language arts concepts. This unique comprehensive and inclusive approach is a primary reason for our growth and success over the last 5 decades.
Every Body Dance
“The Dance Foundation began with a big idea, which is that everyone can participate. We celebrate the dancer in every body and the dance in every movement,” said Executive Director Diane Litsey. “From our beginning 50 years ago until today, we’ve danced with everyone, from people with different abilities to dancers pursuing in-depth study of the art form in our studio program. We’ve danced in underserved schools, our studio in Homewood, and all kinds of places in between. We dance with everyone because we believe dance is a wonderful experience that can help anyone gain skills, express themselves, and feel connected with the world around them.”
Jennie Robertson founded The Dance Foundation in 1975 with a record player, a rented classroom, and a dream. Today we reach thousands of students and dancers every week through our facilities in Homewood and in the community. Jennie’s daughter, Melissa Turnage, believes her mother would be delighted.
“The atmosphere at The Dance Foundation today is exactly what my mother would have wanted to create. It’s absolutely inclusive. We want to dance with you, and we want to be with you and explore this magic together. ”
Looking to the Next Five Decades
As we celebrate the last 50 years, we are looking toward how we can perpetuate the idea that every body is a dancing body and dance is for everybody in the next 5 decades. Your engagement helps us carry the mission forward, and we invite you to participate, volunteer, and donate. We cannot grow without your help.
“Our studio space is bursting at the seams. Our classes and studio rental space are at capacity. That is a happy problem, but it is one that we want to solve,” said Litsey. “We are looking toward a capital campaign to expand the building and access for families, dancers, and community artists. We want to ensure we have space to support our growing work, both inside and outside our walls.”
Your Support Makes This Possible
Our work in the community and the studio depends on support from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Support enables all families to participate, regardless of resources, and it enables us to take our work to underserved schools and organizations.
Join the Celebration – tickets to our February 23rd Anniversary party
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