Outreach Programs
CityDance Early Arts runs several outreach programs in communities and schools located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The goal of these programs is to reveal the joy of movement and dance to children of all ages and backgrounds.

D.R.E.A.M.
D.A.R.E. Dance
The Sitar Center
Montgomery County Arts & Humanities
Montgomery County Parks & Recreation
Concerts in Schools

D.R.E.A.M.

Since January of 2004, CityDance Early Arts and the Many Hats Institute have partnered to create the D.R.E.A.M. program, an ambitious initiative designed to bring after-school dance, arts education, and community-building programs to underprivileged youth in the DC metropolitan area.

The curriculum for the D.R.E.A.M. program empowers children to identify their dreams and gain the confidence and self-esteem to pursue those dreams through community-building projects. Developed by CityDance Ensemble in conjunction with the Many Hats Institute’s “Reach Your Peak” program, the D.R.E.A.M. curriculum teaches students through a variety of disciplines, including dance, creative writing, and financial literacy.

The D.R.E.A.M. program consists of a kick-off performance for the entire school by the CityDance Early Arts performing company, a 24-week after-school program that meets twice a week, and a student performance that brings children together from all the D.R.E.A.M. schools. Each spring, D.R.E.A.M. students also have the opportunity to perform during the half-time show at an NBA Washington Wizards game at the Verizon Center.

Today the CityDance D.R.E.A.M. initiative brings the beauty of the arts and the lessons of self-discipline, self-esteem, and community-building to 3rd – 6th graders in ten schools where arts have no other presence. The D.R.E.A.M. program also offers scholarship opportunities for students to continue their dance education at the CityDance Center at Strathmore. (top)

In the kids’ own words…

"D.R.E.A.M. has taught me to try my best and never give up."
- Christian

"It showed me what it takes to achieve my goals."
- Treyniqua

"This is the best day of my life, next to my birthday."
- D'Quinte

D.A.R.E. Dance

CityDance Early Arts is an active partner in the national D.A.R.E. Dance Program, an innovative venture in the effort to fight drugs and violence in our communities and schools. D.A.R.E. America launched this program in 2000 as an effort to bring dance—as an athletic, creative, fun, and healthy art form—to schools as a positive alternative to drugs and violence.

The D.A.R.E. Dance program offers dance classes with a strong anti-drug and anti-violence message during the after-school hours when students are most at risk.  Students have the opportunity to learn many styles of dance, including African, ballet, hip hop, jazz, modern, tap and more from the Early Arts D.A.R.E. instructors. D.A.R.E. students also have the opportunity to perform within their schools and communities.

The D.A.R.E. Dance program is hosted in more than 70 schools across the country, with 3,000 students taking after-school dance classes and more than 70,000 students, school officials, and family members viewing D.A.R.E. dance assemblies and performances each year. Each D.A.R.E. dance program runs one class per week during a 10-week session each semester.

CityDance Early Arts runs D.A.R.E. Dance program in eight schools in the D.C. metropolitan area. Each year, Early Arts’ D.A.R.E. instructors attend professional development sessions to receive training specific to the D.A.R.E. Dance curriculum. (top)

D.A.R.E.Dance News
Former CityDance outreach student, Diana Amalfitano, has been accepted into the CityDance Select program. Diana has been awarded a D.A.R.E. Dance scholarship for two consecutive years to extend her training in enrollment classes at the CityDance Center at Strathmore. CityDance and D.A.R.E. Dance are thrilled to offer Diana a full scholarship to the CityDance Select program for the 2007-2008 year. Congratulations, Diana!

In the kids’ own words…

“It helped me realize I can do something in this world.”
- Rachel

“It showed me that doing drugs is uncool. Why would you take drugs when you can dance?”
- Eluira

“D.A.R.E. showed me discipline and respect and teamwork.”
- Brianna

“It made me realize what I can do without drugs.”
- Shantise

The Sitar Center

CityDance Early Arts teaches weekly after-school dance classes to high school students at the The Patricia M. Sitar Center, a community arts organization offering arts education programs to residents of the Adams Morgan, Mount Pleasant, and Columbia Heights neighborhoods of Washington, D.C. The Sitar Center currently serves 300 students in the areas of music, dance, drama, writing, and visual art with programs that are accessible and affordable to the youth in the neighborhood. Most students pay a fee of $15 per semester for unlimited classes. As a partner with the Sitar Center, CityDance Early Arts provides students with the unique opportunity to express themselves physically while studying culturally relevant dance styles in a group setting. (top)

Montgomery County Arts & Humanities

The Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County funds CityDance Early Arts to run after-school dance programs in local elementary and middle schools. Early Arts currently teaches fully-subsidized dance classes to students at eight schools in Montgomery County, Maryland. (top)

Montgomery County Parks & Recreation

CityDance Early Arts offers youth and adult dance classes at a reduced rate through Montgomery County Parks & Recreation. Providing classes in pre-ballet, break dancing, hip hop, modern, and jazz, Early Arts is able bring the joy of dance and movement to new students in the Montgomery County, Maryland community. (top)

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Fri June 13, 2008

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