DanceStart

"DanceStart" is an innovative outreach initiative pioneered by DanceAspen and in partnership with Aspen Dance Connection, aimed at fostering a deeper appreciation for the arts and dance among young students. This program takes high-caliber dance directly into schools, providing an immersive experience that ignites creativity and fosters an enjoyment and appreciation for dance in students of all ages.

ENGAGING PRESENTATIONS

Through DanceStart, DanceAspen brings the world of professional dance directly to schools, offering students a unique opportunity to connect with the art form up close. Artists begin by demonstrating elements of a ballet class while sharing insights into the life of a dancer, followed by a live performance of an excerpt from their current repertoire. This experience goes beyond performance alone, as students are invited to ask questions, explore movement themselves, and engage interactively, gaining a rich, firsthand understanding of dance.

OPENING DOORS: DANCE FOR ALL

One of the core objectives of DanceStart is to enhance accessibility to the arts, particularly for communities where exposure to dance may be limited. By bringing dance directly into school environments, DanceAspen ensures that students of all backgrounds have the opportunity to witness the transformative power of movement and expression. Research has shown that exposure to the arts can enhance cognitive development, improve social-emotional well-being, and inspire lifelong creativity.

OUR COMMITMENT

DanceStart embodies DanceAspen's commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive arts community .By igniting the spark of curiosity and passion for dance in young minds, this program lays the foundation for a future generation of culturally aware and artistically inspired individuals.

Making dance approachable: DanceAspen launches educational outreach program

DanceAspen launched its first ever educational outreach program with a performance at Aspen Elementary and Aspen Middle School on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

Professional dancers from DanceAspen performed at the elementary and middle schools and participated in a question and answer segment with the students. It was the first of what DanceAspen hopes is many performances through DanceStart, the local dance company’s new educational outreach program.