A community where every child can access the benefits of arts education, and where world-class dance is available to all: since 1996, CityDance has pursued this vision for DC, touching thousands of lives each year. The DREAM Center for Dance offers year-round, tuition-free dance training for students ages 8-18, alongside wrap-around services that prepare them for college and career. A professional dance curriculum is paired with on-site homework help, tutoring, college readiness services, and family support leading to outstanding results. Last year, 100% of seniors graduated from high school and enrolled in higher education. CityDance also delivers free dance programming to 10 public elementary schools, brings world-class professional dance performances to DC stages, and runs a conservatory to prepare students for professional dance careers. In dance and in life, these kids have big dreams. Lets help them come true.

COVID-19 Update: CityDance has remained fully operational throughout COVID-19, with no layoffs or furloughs of full-time staff or termination of faculty contracts. It has found silver linings to the pandemic the capacity to enlist overseas artists who have worked with students online, providing masterclasses and technique training. All CityDance programs launched fall classes in September with schedules crafted to ensure they can move between in-studio and online, or a hybrid of the two as needed to promote the health and safety of staff and students.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 2

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide; MD-Montgomery County

Age Groups Served: Pre-K (3-4); Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17); Young adult (18-24); Adult (25-49)

Ethnic Groups Served: African American; Asian American; Caucasian; Latino/Hispanic

Population(s) Served: Women/Girls; Students; Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members

Schools They Work In: DREAM Program Sites; C.W. Harris Elementary, Ward 7; Brightwood Educational Campus, Ward 4; Turner @ Green Elementary, Ward 8; JO Wilson Elementary, Ward 6; Oyster Adams Bilingual School, Ward 1; Thomson Elementary, Ward 2; CityDance also partners with KIPP DC: Charter Schools, DEA and Washington Performing Arts.

Awards & Recognition

National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award Recipient (2015)

National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award Finalist (2013)

DC Mayor's Arts Award for Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education (2010)

Mayor's Arts Award for Excellence in an Artistic Discipline (2009)

Washington Business Journal's Green Business Award (October 17, 2008)

DC Mayors Arts Award for Innovation in the Arts (2005)

DC Mayors Arts Award for Outstanding Emerging Artist (2003)

Press

  • CityDance Opens New Black Box Theater at Strathmore
    Sun Oct 9 2011, About.com Washington, DC  
    CityDance has announced the opening of its Black Box Theater at Strathmore and its partnership with Christopher K. Morgan & Artists.
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  • Performing Arts: CityDance Ensemble
    Mon Jun 16 2008  
    Whatever CityDance Ensemble presents, the choreography sits on its dancers like a cat on an easy chair: The performers look comfortable, whether rendering early modern dance works or mounting a contemporary look at environmental disaster.
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  • Born to Dance "Born to Run:" CityDance at Strathmore
    Wed Jun 11 2008  
    n the day they sweat it out, all right â€" but not on the streets, as Bruce Springsteen’s classic ‘‘Born To Run” puts it. No, the dancers in the CityDance Ensemble do most of their sweating in the rehearsal rooms of the Music Center at Strathmore. And when they perform their interpretation of the Boss’ anthem â€" choreographed by artistic director Paul Gordon Emerson â€" the company will evoke the misty beaches and jammed highways of Jersey right on the North Bethesda stage.
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  • Stories of Life, With Passion in Common
    Mon Feb 4 2008  
    CityDance Ensemble has made a name for itself in Washington, where it is one of the leading modern-dance troupes. On Friday night at the Joyce SoHo, where the company was making its New York City debut, it presented an impressively varied program of work by nine choreographers, including Doug Varone and Jane Dudley.
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  • "Jungle Books" With Kick
    Mon Dec 17 2007  
    With an easy-to-follow narrative, imaginative costumes and bits of comic relief, CityDance Ensemble's Saturday performance of "Jungle Books" at the Lansburgh Theatre was fine kid-friendly fare.
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Budget (FY2014)

  • $3 million or higher
  • The current budget for CityDance is: $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

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About the Catalogue for Philanthropy

Each year 120 expert reviewers evaluate applicants for distinction, merit, and impact. Each featured charity has been successfully site visited and its financials given the thumbs up. The Catalogue for Philanthropy charges no fees and raises funds separately to support its work. Since 2003, it has raised over $40 million for charities across the Greater Washington region.

The Catalogue for Philanthropy looks to friends like you to keep our services independent and entirely free of charge. Consider a small contribution to the Catalogue to cap off your gift and help the causes you care about get the full support they deserve!

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