FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, DC – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, DC-based nonprofit organization CityDance has taken their dance and academic programming online so that they can continue to provide training and a support system for their students and the community. Across the institution, CityDance has transitioned more than 160 in-studio classes to virtual classrooms. CityDance will continue to provide virtual programming solutions until it is safe to re-open.

CityDance launched the COME TOGETHER Fund to ensure that they are able to continue offering vital programming to students across the socioeconomic spectrum, nurture the talent of tomorrow’s dance professionals and retain the strong local community of dance faculty and artists. The fund helps ensure that CityDance remains positioned to return to the studio with strength and fortitude. Fundraising events for the COME TOGETHER Fund include donation-based workshops, master classes and virtual parties. The Barbara Epstein Foundation announced a matching gift of $125,000 for donations made to the campaign.

“The transformative power of dance is needed now more than ever as we look to our future of collective healing,” said Alexe Nowakowski, CityDance President & CEO.

• CityDance DREAM School for Dance, a tuition-free scholarship training program for talented youth living in the District’s most underserved neighborhoods, rolled out remote programming through the free mobile app BAND. Students receive continued dance instruction, and academic support including English Language Arts classes, tutoring and college mentorship.
• CityDance School & Conservatory is delivering its full class curriculum of 118 weekly classes for 700 students ages 4-18 through Microsoft Teams. Five of CityDance’s Conservatory Dancers were selected to compete in Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) finals, the world’s largest international ballet competition, in NYC this spring. The finals have been postponed, but Conservatory Dancers have been receiving coaching online to ensure continuity of training.
• CityDance POP! transitioned to online classes for all Youth and Adult programming. Youth classes have been offered pre-recorded and live classes through Google Classrooms and Zoom. POP! also launched their Adult program and Family friendly workshops that are offered to the public via Zoom.

To schedule a press interview with Alexe Nowakowski, CityDance President & CEO, contact Megan Piluk, CityDance Senior Manager of External Relations, at meganpiluk@citydance.net.

For more information on the COME TOGETHER Fund, visit our website.