Support Clyde's Legacy After Fire Tragedy

Help Us Rebuild Clyde Evans' Documentary and Preserve His Legacy.

For the past two years, the International Museum of Dance (IMOD) has been dedicated to documenting the extraordinary life and work of Clyde Evans, our Director of Education. Clyde is not only a trailblazing leader in the field of Hip Hop dance but also an inspiring educator, visionary, and friend who has touched countless lives through his craft.

Led by Ian Levine, our Film Director, and Hilary Palanza, IMOD’s CEO, this project has been a labor of love, involving Clyde, his family, and his community. The film was set to release in February 2025 and was intended to spotlight Clyde’s journey while celebrating the founding of his design and implementation of IMOD's national education program. It also incorporated priceless archival footage of Clyde’s life and career, documenting his profound impact on dance education and the Hip Hop community.

The video excerpt you are seeing was published in December as a "teaser" toward the whole film.

A Heartbreaking Loss

On January 7, 2025, the Palisades Fire destroyed Ian Levine’s home, claiming not only his possessions but also critical materials for the documentary. While some footage was stored in the cloud, the majority—backed up on three separate hard drives—was lost in the fire. Tragically, Clyde’s personal DV archives, representing decades of his life's work and valued at $150,000, were also destroyed.

Despite our strategic and heartfelt efforts to safeguard these materials, the fire took everything. Our two-year project, with a total cost of $50,000, now stands incomplete, and the story of Clyde’s incredible contributions to dance risks being lost forever.

Our Mission to Preserve Clyde's Legacy

As protectors of dance stories, we are devastated by this loss but determined to rebuild. We are seeking to raise toward our $200,000 goal:

Restore and Recover: Rebuild what remains of the documentary using the available footage stored in the cloud.

Digitize and Preserve: Work with Clyde and his community to recover and digitize any remaining materials and memories.

Complete the Film: Honor Clyde’s life and work by sharing his inspiring story with the world.

How You Can Help

We need the generosity and support of dance lovers, Clyde’s friends and community, and those who believe in the power of storytelling to make this possible. Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to completing this important project.

Clyde’s legacy deserves to flourish, and his educational program has the potential to impact future generations of dancers and learners. Together, we can ensure his story is not lost but shared, celebrated, and passed on.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Your kindness and support mean the world to our team and new museum.