Mission — Dance and Dialogue (D&D) believes that dance is a tool for communication that promotes personal and social change to bring about a better future for everyone in our community and beyond.

All of D&D’s programming is rooted in the cultivation of joy: the joy of gathering, the joy of dance, the joy of sharing, and the joy of expression. Aiming to guide people along their journey to living and leading with joy, D&D’s programs breakdown differences and promote healing, which sends ripple effects of optimism and hope into the community. Embodying the organization’s name, all D&D activities open and close in a conversation circle, where participants share personal stories, explore their feelings, listen, and learn from others. These dialogues support the establishment of brave, safe spaces within each community, thus allowing individuals to express themselves without fear of judgment.

By bringing together people of all ages, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, our programs deconstruct preconceived differences and fears of others. We prioritize process and healing over any sort of final project or performance and utilize dance as a creative outlet for physical and mental release. D&D aims to support the development of individual and collective empathy, confidence, self-expression, and compassion. Above all else, D&D actively builds community and a sense of connection between the many unique cultures of the region, while simultaneously expanding access to high-quality arts programming.