Educational Programs

Since our founding in 2018, Accent Dance NYC has reached over 30,000 school-aged children with our educational programming — many of whom have little or no access to arts education within their schools. Through these programs and our professional dance company, we celebrate multiculturalism and self-expression using a wide variety of global dance traditions, with a specific focus on cultural appreciation, inclusion, and personal growth.

Through our K-12 dance education residencies, we offer schools a wide selection of dance styles, as well as high school units focusing on topical issues like climate change and immigration. Our educational performances showcase global dance forms performed by our professional company, narrated within a socio-historical context, including programs dedicated to Black history, Hispanic heritage, and multiculturalism.

We recently added master class offerings, an affordable option for schools which cannot commit to longer programming. We also added new genres, including Flamenco and Chinese/Tibetan folkloric dance, and an in-school performance celebrating AAPI Month.

Amidst the daily challenges many of our students face, we provide a safe space for them to connect with others; gain confidence in their strengths, experiences, and points of view; and see their identities reflected and celebrated. All residencies are driven by basic dance technique, creative movement, and student and educator-guided choreography, culminating in a celebratory performance. Residencies are rooted in the culture and history of the dance style, and lessons are tailored to the learning objectives of each school.

Schools can choose between residencies focusing on a specific dance style and a residency (for high school students) that explores topical issues like immigration, climate change, and self-discovery. The high school residencies are based on pieces created through the NEXT program and are co-taught by 2 teaching artists (including an original cast member from the work).

3rd graders from PS 55x in their culminating performance

Educational Goals

The positive impact of arts education on educational and career outcomes is well-documented. By creating character-building activities and opportunities for students to create and collaborate, we help them to:

• Increase confidence, creativity, and critical thinking;
• Increase cultural awareness and mutual respect;
• Achieve steady progress towards individual and collective goals;
• Develop peer-to-peer bonds & collaborative skills;
• Cultivate leadership skills;
• Participate enthusiastically in activities; and
• Achieve a successful culminating performance

4th graders from PS 226x during their culminating flamenco performance

Teaching Artists

Our teaching artists are passionate, highly qualified educators and have had extensive experience teaching in schools. They are majority BIPOC and/or immigrants whose identities reflect our student populations. Most of our teaching artists are multi-lingual, and all are nurturing instructors experienced with diverse student populations. Many are members of our professional dance company. They have extensive experience with underserved schools/students and creating culturally responsive, adaptable curricula. Our teaching artists are from all over the world, including from Colombia, Japan, China, Europe, Venezuela, Argentina, West Africa, NYC, and the greater United States.

What’s Included

Programming includes onboarding, orientation, curriculum planning, teaching artists, oversight and coordination by our Education Director, costumes, supplemental educational materials, and administrative support.

A portable stage and musical accompaniment (including drumming for West African dance residencies) also is available upon request, for an additional fee.

We offer flexibility in terms of implementation and integration into a school’s physical education, social studies, arts education, or other academic programs. Programming can take place during the school day, after school hours, weekends, or during the summer months.

We also frequently participate in community activities, graduation ceremonies, and a variety of festivals/celebrations.

Get Started

For information, please contact our Education Director and Associate Artistic Director, Kim Johnson, at kim@accent.dance.