Heart Of Dance

TO TRANSFORM LIVES THROUGH THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF PARTNER DANCE. OUR VALUES ARE RESPECT, ELEGANCE, AND TEAMWORK. HEART OF DANCE DELIVERS THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF PARTNER DANCE TO THOSE WHO WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THEM. DANCING CLASSROOMS, OUR FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM, TEACHES CRUCIAL LIFE SKILLS LIKE CONFIDENCE, CULTURAL AWARENESS, CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND GENDER RESPECT THROUGH THE LENS OF PARTNER DANCE IN SCHOOLS ACROSS MINNESOTA. IN CLASSROOMS OF THIRD THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE, WE ENGAGE STUDENTS WITH THESE CONCEPTS AT AN AGE PROVEN TO HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT. PARTNER DANCE LEADS TO CONFIDENCE, SELF-EXPRESSION, JOYFUL MOVEMENT, DISCIPLINE, HUMAN CONNECTION, AND MORE.

WHEN YOU GET INTO DANCE FRAME AND LOOK DIRECTLY INTO YOUR PARTNER'S EYES, YOU UNDERSTAND THEM AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL. OVERCOMING DIVISIONS OF RACE, CULTURE, AND OPPORTUNITY, IN DANCING CLASSROOMS EVERYBODY DANCES WITH EVERYBODY AND STUDENTS LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM THEMSELVES. THIRD THROUGH EIGHTH GRADERS CONTINUE TO TACKLE THIS CHALLENGE WHILE DISCOVERING MORE ABOUT THEMSELVES AND CONNECTING WITH OTHERS. MORE THAN DANCE STEPS, WE'RE SEEING CONFIDENCE, GENDER AND CULTURE RESPECT, TEAMWORK, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, AND MORE. BOTH EDUCATORS AND PARENTS REPORTED INCREASED CONFIDENCE, PEER RESPECT, AND LESSENING OF BEHAVIOR ISSUES AS A RESULT OF STUDENTS' PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM. 83% OF EDUCATORS SAW POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE WAY THEIR STUDENTS TREATED EACH OTHER, 70% OF PARENTS NOTICED POSITIVE CHANGES IN HOW THEIR CHILD FELT ABOUT THEMSELF, AND 70% OF TEACHERS NOTICED A POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT. WE LAUNCHED OUR NEW SENIOR ADULT WELLNESS PROGRAM TWO YEARS AGO. WE HAVE GROUPS OF SENIOR ADULTS COMING TOGETHER TO EXPERIENCE THE HEALING COMBINATION OF MUSIC AND MOVEMENT TO STRENGTHEN BALANCE AND COGNITIVE FOCUS, WHILE IMPROVING PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND STAMINA, AND INCREASING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.