Irise Dance Project
Summer Program
A Three Week Summer Dance Program For Young Children Exploring Creativity, Expression, Community, and Culture
Our 2024 summer programming took place in July and concluded with a celebration and presentation with our families and community. This was the first year our summer program was under Irise Dance Project. We provided 30 children and youth with 21 hours of free programming over three weeks. The program offered classes in several styles of dance (for ages 5 through 18) as well as literacy, arts activities, choreography, and reflective exercises for children ages 5-9.
Big THANK YOU to:
Deidre Budzyna, our early childhood education advisor who runs the creative arts portion for our younger program.
Lilly Bernable, a member of our youth company, who earned a paid position this year as a counselor and mentor to our youngest group.
The guest teachers who taught and exposed our students to dance styles like Latin, jazz, hip hop, and creative movement.
We are excited to watch it grow in the summer of 2025!
This program was funded in part by The Greater Lawrence Summer Fund.
“For my child, it’s just been an incredible experience, we’ve had a hard time putting into words how important it has been. I think to be a part of not just a dance community where children feel accepted but also to be able to broaden that is so important. The experience of exploring culture and diversity and coming together in a community in ways that you can’t always do unless you have something in common. Dance, music, the arts, is the common denominator.”
— Summer Program Parent