MOVE Inclusive Dance

What is the core mission of your organization? MOVE Inclusive Dance provides inclusive dance opportunities for people of all abilities, building confidence, friendships, and life skills through movement and community.

How do you measure impact and success in your programs? We measure impact through parent and dancer surveys, recital audience feedback, and annual student and teacher evaluations led by our Program Director.

How do you build long-term relationships with donors and supporters? We focus on personal donor stewardship: coffee catch-ups, handwritten thank-you notes, and personalized impact reports whenever someone makes a gift.

Can you share a story that shows your mission in action? My friend and former student, Preston, always comes to mind! Dance runs in Preston’s blood, as his mother was a professional dancer. Knowing firsthand how impactful dance can be, she brought Preston to MOVE in 2021. Preston was a young man with Autism, and he found it hard to build friendships and engage socially, so he was very hesitant to join class at first. With support from our staff, volunteers, and community, he slowly warmed up, became unbelievably expressive through dance, and started connecting with peers. His skills kept growing, and over time, dance class became one of his favorite places to be! Having a place like MOVE to practice social, time management, and focus skills made all the difference for him as he moved forward in adulthood. That’s exactly what we’re here for: helping every dancer thrive inside AND outside of our studio walls.