Free 2 Be Me Dance is a non-profit organization that centers around sharing the joy of dance with all—especially those that have historically been excluded from the arts. Our mission is to be a vehicle for self-expression through dance by providing a nurturing, non-judgmental environment. We believe that dance is for ALL and that having equal access to the arts is fundamental to human development. In 2009, Free 2 Be Me Dance started out supporting dancers with Down syndrome. Their parents and families all reported tremendous benefits including increased mobility, improved physical fitness, ability to focus and follow directions, formations of new friendships and lifelong bonds, as well as a multitude of cognitive and emotional improvements---such as their excitement to attend dance classes every week! These results are backed up by numerous scientific articles in the burgeoning field of dance science, which cite dance as an effective form of therapy due to its sensorimotor integration, which strengthens the mind-body connection and improves development, health, and cognitive skills (The Benefit of Movement: Dance/Movement Therapy and Down Syndrome).

Through the hard work and dedication of everyone at Free 2 Be Me Dance, we are proud to announce that we have expanded to support all forms of neurodiversity and disability, with up to 200 dancers as of date by becoming fully inclusive!

Two years ago, we started a Peer Mentor program where our most experienced dancers volunteer as "Special Friends" in the beginner's classes. This resulted in the development of leadership skills, improvements in interpersonal communication and relationships, and stronger rapport between two classes of dancers who previously did not have the chance to interact. In previous years, we also hosted a Caregivers' Support Group that discusses topics such as Self-Compassion and Understanding the Mind Body Connection. After we lost our studio space, we were no longer able to run this support group, but we endeavor to revive this opportunity for the loving parents of our dancers.

In our 15 years as an organization Free 2 Be Me Dance has never turned down a dancer due to financial hardship, and 70% of our dancers are supported by scholarships provided directly by Free 2 Be Me Dance through amazing donors. Free 2 Be Me Dance also provides bilingual support for Spanish-speakers, ensuring that language is not a barrier for our dancers. Our organization runs on the goodwill, donations, and volunteer hours of our staff and community, as we all have strong personal commitments to the mission.

Right now, we desperately need your help. Free 2 Be Me Dance is running short on funds and will need to shut down if we cannot raise enough money now. Grant money is never guaranteed and funding for the arts has hit a historic low. It is critical for the dancers to have access to classes at Free 2 Be Me Dance, as many of our parents and families have stated that such a welcoming, loving, and understanding community is rare for them and must be preserved. It would be devastating for our dancers to lose this opportunity, and our staff have been working diligently around the clock to prevent this from happening, but we need support. Please spread the word of our campaign. We are eternally grateful for your support and want nothing more than to continue fostering this special environment for even more special dancers. All funds go directly to supporting operations for our dancers. All donations are tax-deductible.