Accent Dance NYC offers custom-designed dance residences that culminate in student performances, from a series of eight sessions to a full academic year, during in-school, afterschool, or summer sessions. Dance forms include West African dance, step, Afrobeat, Hip Hop dance, ballet, Latin dance (flamenco, cumbia, salsa, bachata, merengue), modern techniques, jazz, contemporary, theater dance, and creative movement and can incorporate topical issues such as social justice, identity or explore historical themes. Classes provide opportunities for students to collaborate and create, and explore the origins and history of each dance style within its cultural context(s). For high school students, special curriculums are offered based on Accent Dance NYC’s commissioned works. These include: Narcissus, focusing on self-exploration, The Waters, addressing issues of climate change and fresh water access, and A Place For Us, fostering connections through immigrant stories. Programs can be implemented as part of physical education classes, arts integration programs, or as part of a community organization’s activities. Programs also include pre- and post-implementation planning with teachers and administrators and pre- and post-activity surveys, and can also include Career Day and Parents’ Night for students, faculty and parents.

Photography – left: Joy Malone, right: Lori Carlton

Accent Dance NYC offers schools and sites 45-minute to 1-hour educational performances featuring its multicultural dance company performing a wide range of dance styles while shining a light on particular cultures, holidays or themes. Each narrated performance incorporates diverse dance styles, presenting each segment within a cultural-historical context that embraces the artistry and influence of each style. Students are afforded an opportunity to join in and participate during interactive dance segments and a Q&A with the artists. Assembly performances are customized for each school/site and can include celebrations of Hispanic Heritage, Black History, World Diversity, Juneteenth, and multiculturalism. Performances showcase a range of styles, including classical ballet, Hip Hop dance, West African dance, step, tap, Latin dance (tango, flamenco, cumbia, salsa, bachata, merengue) Chinese folkloric dance, Broadway jazz, and contemporary dance.

This intergenerational program brings together students and their parents/caregivers, and cultivates community connections. The program includes a range of social dances from Afrobeat to step, and West African to Hip Hop to Latin dances. Family engagement workshops can be ‘stand-alone’ events from 1-hour, 90 minutes to 2 hours long, or given in a series of separate sessions, offered when parents/caregivers/siblings are available. These workshops are fun and festive events that foster community engagement.