For over a decade….
our organization has been a home for movement—not just in dance, but in growth, healing, and collective power. We’ve spent the last 10+ years creating brave, joyful spaces where young people step into their power, artists feel supported, and community thrives through creativity, connection, and care. We’ve moved and grooved over 10,000 wonderful people in our time as a dance home.
Through it all—leadership transitions, economic uncertainty, and shifting realities—we’ve stayed grounded in our mission by listening, adapting, and remaining deeply committed to the people we serve. In the face of challenge, we’ve danced forward
Research shows what we’ve always known from experience: access to the arts and creative expression is directly tied to improved mental health and well-being, especially for youth and BIPOC communities. These spaces of joy, movement, and belonging are essential—not luxuries. Sustaining this work, especially now in the midst of an authoritarian regime, a looming recession, and ecological crisis, impacts ALL of us.
Our Legacy
337 artists paid to teach or create
814 youth have moved and grooved with us
10,500 adult students inspired to keep dancing
~ 12,000 lives fueled into movement
The numbers: As many of you know, in early May the National Endowment for the Arts officially rescinded our $35,000 award due to priority shifts within the presidential administration. Additionally, our grant through SouthArts, partially funded by the NEA resulted in a loss of $62,500. Combined with other recent funding cuts totaling $200,000, these losses have forced us to reduce our class schedule, reinstate tuition for our youth programming, and reduce our staff size. This attack on the arts ripples outward, impacting not just our organization, but the people and communities that we hold dear.
We need to raise $120,000 to rebuild our reserve fund and secure our future as an organization. This is only possible with your support. Without your support, we risk the ability to continue offering affordable programs or potentially pause programming altogether. As job creators for New Orleans’ culture bearers, and as role models and safe havens for our city’s youth, it is imperative that we be able to continue our arts and advocacy work. We cannot allow this work to disappear.
Here’s how you can help!
Make a donation today
Share your story with us to help highlight the impact of DG - complete this survey or email us at info@dancingrounds.org
Pay it Forward Membership - you can now add $10, $20, or $30 on to your monthly membership to support us in keeping classes affordable
Sponsor a youth in programming - Pay it Forward when you register your child to support another student who may need a scholarship
Join our Street Team - we need all you wonderful boots on the ground types to make sure our reach is as far as possible. Stay tuned for more info or email Chanice@dancingrounds.org to join the team!
With your support, we can:
Ensure that New Orleans Youth have regular access to a safe, creative, and empowering spaces
Ensure our amazing teaching artists who pour their energy into every class can earn a living while inspiring the next generation.
Keep our dedicated staff working to connect, advocate, and serve.
Your gift fuels possibility, protects culture, and keeps our community moving forward—together.
