When DA:NCE Awareness was founded in 2016, few could have imagined how far our work would travel. Ten years later, we have shared the DA:NCE message and empowered an army with resources and tools to advocate and implement age-appropriate choreography, costumes and music for kids. From California to New York, Canada, China and beyond, the movement continues to grow.

In a decade of showing up for children in dance, DA:NCE has launched the first-ever international Healthy DA:NCE Directory, built a thriving DA:NCE Coalition, published a free eBook, created free educational presentations for concerned adults to use in their own communities, and taken the stage at countless national and state conferences across the United States. We launched the inaugural Leslie Scott Zanovitch Trailblazer Award to honor those leading the charge, celebrated our first Healthy DA:NCE Showcase, and produced the She Loves to Move competition, which included an original song written and produced for DA:NCE. We’ve also built a strong foundation from within, building an incredible team, establishing a Board of Trustees as well as a volunteer and intern program to carry this work forward.

And this is only the beginning. Later this summer, we are preparing to celebrate 10 years in a bigger way. A celebration that will honor how far we’ve come, spotlight the people who have made it possible, and cast a bold vision for what’s ahead. We are just getting started. 

Whether you’ve been with us since day one or are first discovering DA:NCE now, welcome. All kids deserve the opportunity to enjoy the art of dance free from exploitation and hypersexualization. Children in dance need your voice. Join us. 

About the author: Elizabeth Knight serves as DA:NCE’s Director of Communications and Volunteer Programs. She has been a member of the DA:NCE team since its inception.