About

We believe…

…In providing people of all ages and abilities a respectful environment to learn, collaborate and perform, using movement, rhythm and language.

…That all children should have access to the arts.

Fort Wayne Dance Collective goes out of its way to allow at-risk children to participate in its programs. Our on-site school offers full scholarships to those who need it, as well as a work-study program to allow students to not only take classes at a heavily discounted rate, but to volunteer in the organization and learn how it operates. We have an extensive outreach program, and work with generous funders to reach schools serving children who wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to the arts.

…In establishing a strong foundation before exploring different genres of dance.

Our school offers a wide variety of dance classes, from modern to ballet, from belly to ballroom. But before children can explore these specific genres, we expose them to various creative movement and technique classes first. That way, their movement vocabulary will be better developed, and they can move across different disciplines easily. That’s the mark of a good dancer.

…In a collective approach to management.

The Fort Wayne Dance Collective has an innovative and unconventional technique to running its organization. There is no executive director; rather, decisions are made collectively, through a consensus among the three full-time directors.

…In taking care of our body as well as our mind.

We offer a full range of wellness classes, including Iyengar yoga, T’ai Chi, and Pilates. We strive to be on the forefront of offering movement-based wellness, such as Transformational Movement, and Yumana Body Rolling.

…That dance is for people of all body types.

Don’t fit the profile of a typical ballerina? Want to dance, but just had a knee replacement? We think you can follow your dreams. Our classes are flexible enough to be able to tailor-fit your studies around your abilities. Our staff is professional, and compassionate.

…That movement can change the world!

Have you ever wondered why dancers often have their heads in the clouds? Because we are dreaming of a better world: an environmentally conscious, tolerant, empathetic world that resolves conflicts peacefully and without hostility. A pipe dream? Maybe. But we work toward that goal every day on a grassroots level while trying to bring the community together through drumming circles, improvisational dance pieces, and a multitude of other ways that makes the Fort Wayne Dance Collective unique in this community.