We are thrilled to announce the start of another exciting year of Dance eXchange! Our 2024-2025 theme, “Rhythm of Unity”, emphasizes the power of dance to bring people together through acceptance, compassion, and creativity. This year’s theme encourages our young dancers to find their unique rhythm while moving as one, reinforcing the idea that unity thrives in diversity.
Our journey began this season with dynamic training led by the renowned National Dance Institute’s Tracy Straus and musician Tony Kieraldo. Their expertise and passion for arts education have energized our teaching artists and musicians to take on the year with renewed purpose and vision. Over the course of the three days, we immersed ourselves in innovative teaching techniques, rhythmic exploration, and a variety of engaging games designed to inspire creativity and connection. This intensive experience has strengthened our team, providing them with new tools and perspectives to enhance student engagement and foster a deep sense of belonging in all of our Dance eXchange classes.
This year, we proudly welcome back our five dedicated partner schools: Albert M. Greenfield, Bache-Martin, Francis Scott Key, Marian Anderson Neighborhood Academy, and Stephen Girard. These schools have been instrumental in making Dance eXchange a powerful tool for creative expression, and we’re excited to continue building on this foundation.
We are also excited to introduce some new faces to the Dance eXchange team! Our new teaching artists, Caleah Allen, Kristen Smith, Samantha Sam, and Em Godfrey, bring fresh energy, creativity, and passion to the program. Joining them are new musicians Joel Gleiser and Jeff Beiter, who will help weave music into the fabric of all our classes and performances. In addition, we are thrilled to welcome our intern from Drexel University, Georgia Parsons, whose enthusiasm and dedication will contribute to the growth and success of the program this year.
We also want to extend a warm welcome back to our returning teaching artists, Kevin Harris II, Karly Meehan, and Kathryn Schweingruber, along with returning musician Joshua Shaffer, all of whom have been invaluable in shaping the success of our program.
As the year unfolds, we look forward to nurturing creativity, building confidence, and fostering a sense of belonging for all our young dancers. Stay tuned for updates as we dive into the magic of “Rhythm of Unity”!
Alisa Moore | Education & Outreach Manager
