Project D.A.N.C.E
Diversity supports Accepting & Nurturing Community Equality
Six years ago after several conversations with African American mothers in our community who had daughters who wanted to take ballet, we began Project D.A.N.C.E., an inclusive outreach program to help nurture students of color in our community. We reached out to the Meeting Street Academy, located in downtown Spartanburg, to begin a partnership with a vision to support students of color with yearlong ballet lessons. Project D.A.N.C.E. focuses on learning life skills such as respect, dedication, responsibility, perseverance, self-esteem, honesty, confidence, and resilience in concert with the highest of quality ballet training. Diversity and inclusivity are key to strengthening cultural relationships in our community.
The program has grown over the past six years to support well over 26 dancers. These young students share the desire to train in dance each week, to hone their skills and to develop meaningful and useful life skills. Since the inception of the program, we can now support 12 students on full annual scholarships for Project D.A.N.C.E. Our goal is support 20 students during our 2021/2022 season.
The scholarships for Project D.A.N.C.E. are funded by generous community members, leaders, businesses and foundations to support these students to follow their passion for ballet. We are forever grateful to these community members, leaders, businesses and foundations who share our vision for this programming. Project D.A.N.C.E. students and parents thank you for your passion, desire, and commitment. Community members, leaders, and donors we thank you.
- Susu and George Dean Johnson, Jr. (2015)
- Bill and Valerie Barnet (2015)
- Sam's Club (2015)
- The Episcopal Women of the Church of the Advent (2016)
- Walmart Foundation (2017, 2019,2020)
- Dr. and Mrs. Julian Josey (2017)
- Ms. Lindsay Webster (2018, 2019, 2020)
- Mrs. Linda West ( 2018)
- Purpose Financial (2019/2020)
- Walmart Foundation ( 2020/2021)
- Johnson Management, LLC. (2020/2021)
- Colonial Trust, Co. ( 2020/2021)
If you are interested in Project D.A.N.C.E and would like to help with this scholarship program, you may donate to the program by clicking here. $531 a year will support one dancer for a full year of dance lessons. As a sponsor of a student of Project D.A.N.C.E.
- Your sponsorship is tax-deductible
- We invite you to meet the dancer and his/her family (This opportunity is on hold due to COVID-19)
- We invite you to observe your dancer/dancers take lessons in our studio (This opportunity is on hold due to COVID-19)
- We invite you to attend your dancer's end of the year dance demonstration in May
Education. Outreach. Performance.
The joyful picture above of children from Sidewalk Hope, an inner-city ministry in Spartanburg, captures the essence and innocence of joy, hope, and the connections that are created when we dance. Sidewalk Hope participated in the 2018 So You Think You Can Dance, Spartanburg! community event, a fundraiser in partnership with 10 local organizations. The picture above reflects opportunity, joy, happiness, dance and above all, who we are as an organization: education, outreach and performance.
The happiness in dancing on stage is reflected in this precious little dancer's eyes and body. Arms open, lights aglow, feet planted firmly on the stage, basking joyfully from a successful performance. This is the feeling we have as we anticipate returning to the stage this October with the premiere of Carlos Agudelo's, The Wizard of Oz. Ballet Spartanburg and its Board of Trustees and staff will monitor and adjust all health and safety precautions as directed by the CDC. We are ready to dance. We are ready to see our audience. We are ready.
Thank you for your continued love and support for 55 years. Onto our 56th season we go! Now follow the yellow brick road and grab your SEASON TICKETS TODAY!