Desi Dance Network Incorporated

THROUGH THE INTERSECTION OF PERFORMANCES ARTS EDUCATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT DEIS DANCE NETWORK SEEKS TO: - EMPOWER SOUTH ASIAN ARTISTS BY CREATING AND DEVELOPING SAFE SPACES FOR ARTISTIC AND CREATIVE GROWTH - INCREASE DIVERSITY IN THE ENTERTAINMENT WORKFORCE BY PROVIDING A CONTINUUM OF WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES - PROMOTE SOUTH ASIAN PERFORMING ARTS IN THE UNITED STATES - BUILD A SUPPORTIVE AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITY WITHIN THE COLLEGIATE AND HIGH SCHOOL DESI DANCE CIRCUITS

LEGENDS DANCE CHAMPIONSHIP IS THE NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE AND INDEPENDENT BOLLYWOOD FUSION DANCE COMPETITION. WE INVITED VER 400 DANCERS TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF 1500 PROVIDED DANCE WORKSHOPS AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES WITH PROFESSIONALS IN THE PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY. OUR PROGRAM ALSO OVERSEES 20+ REGIONAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND SETS THE STANDARD FOR ENSURING A QUALITY EVENT. THE EVENT HAD TO BE HELD VIRTUALLY DUE TO COVID-19 AGAIN THIS YEAR.

DESI DANCE CONVENTION IS THE ONLY DANCE CONVENTION DEDICATED SOLELY TO SOUTH ASIAN PERFORMING ARTS IN TEH UNITED STATES. WE INVITED APPROXIMATELY 400 YOUTHS TO ATTEND THE 3 DAY CONVENTION WITH OVER 40 CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS BEING TAUGHT. APPROXIMATELY 10% OF OUR PARTICIPANTS WERE ABLE TO ATTEND FREE OF COST.

THE SAFETY & WELLNESS OF OUR COMMUNITY COMES FIRST. WE ARE A GROUP OF CURRENT DANCERS AND ALUMNI OF DDN INC. WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT CULTIVATING A SAFER BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. FAR TOO MANY COLLEGIATE DANCERS ENTER THE CIRCUIT WITHOUT PROPER EDUCATION AROUND SUSTAINING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS MAINTAINING SEXUAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OR PARTICIPATING IN SAFE DRINKING HABITS; THESE FACTORS COMPOUND LEAVING OUR COMMUNITY AT-RISK FOR A MYRIAD OF DANGEROUS THINGS INCLUDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT. IN AUGUST OF 2021 DDN INC. FOUNDED ITS DDN SAP SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION COMMITTEE IN RESPONSE TO CALLS-FOR-ACTION FROM CIRCUIT MEMBERS. OUR INITIATIVES HAVE EVOLVED INTO A BROADER CONVERSATION AROUND PROMOTING SAFETY & WELLNESS FOR ALL. WHILE PREVENTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT WAS OUR INITIAL GOAL WE REALIZED IT IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT ADDRESSING ALL FORMS OF SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION AND CREATING A COMMUNITY THAT IS TRULY ACCOUNTABLE TO PROMOTING SAFETY AND INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL. THUS WE'VE EXPANDED OUR EFFORTS. OUR APPROACH TO SAFETY & WELLNESS INCLUDES ENCOURAGING PROACTIVE CONFLICT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS AND REST PROMOTING PROSOCIAL BEHAVIORS AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS REDUCING HYPERCOMPETITIVE AND TOXIC TEAM COMPETITION ENVIRONMENTS AND MORE.