Heart of Dance delivers the Dancing Classrooms program to Minnesota youth and Dance for Life to older adults. Dancing Classrooms does more than teach social dance steps: the program is about young people overcoming social anxieties and learning gender respect, conflict resolution, teamwork, and social etiquette. It is a highly-developed curriculum that is integrated into other subjects like cultural studies, writing, visual arts, music, math, and physical education. For seniors, Dance for Life improves strength and balance to prevent falls, increases social connections to prevent isolation and depression, and strengthens focus and cognitive ability to diminish the effects of dementia by up to 76%!
Our mission is to transform the social- and self-perception of individuals living with a variety of challenges by personally experiencing the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of social dance. Our vision is that youth, seniors, veterans, and any individuals living with mental, emotional, or physical illness or challenges are renewed through the connectivity of partner dance.