Keep Westlake Dance Center Alive!

Westlake Dance Center (WDC) is Seattle’s premier adult drop-in dance studio and has been creating a fun and dynamic community for dancers of all levels and backgrounds since 1993.  Led by Sheri Lewis, a beloved mentor, teacher, and choreographer, WDC has nurtured Seattle dancers’ technique, hearts, and souls for decades, and many of its students have gone on to dance professionally. 

WDC has survived relocations and other challenges through the years, but has never faced a challenge like COVID-19.  WDC was fully closed for nearly four months. It is now is reopened on a limited basis in Phase II of of the Safe Start Reopening Plan, but can only have 5 students in class at a time and has a very limited schedule in order to ensure  student and teacher safety. 

WDC, with Sheri at the helm, has been creatively adapting to this COVID-19 reality to keep serving the dance community and keep revenue coming in: WDC has had more than 20 virtual dance day Saturdays with an incredible line-up of teachers teaching from their homes, and WDC is hosting monthly Isolation Cabarets on Facebook which are donation-based and give WDC  and community artists the opportunity to perform.

Unfortunately, all of these offerings provide only a fraction of WDC's usual revenue and WDC is struggling to survive. WDC's rent is over $11,000/month and while WDC has been working with its landlord during the COVID-closure, it's unclear how long that accommodation will last.  Each month WDC is falling farther and farther behind and this will be the reality for the foreseeable future as King County remains in Phase II.  

WDC NEEDS YOUR HELP! WDC is such an important part of the Seattle dance community and has been a home for so many dancers over the years. Now is your chance to help keep it alive. We want to raise at least $33,000 to cover 3 months of rent. That way, all the money WDC is making right now can go to paying teachers and covering overhead costs. ANY DONATION HELPS!  If we want WDC to still be here once COVID-19 is gone, we all need to act now. Please give what you can and share broadly.


Westlake Dance Center http://westlakedancecenter.com/