Empowering Young People
Our programs give students the opportunity to work with a mentor to create original dance pieces. Through this experience, students discover new paths to accessing their creativity and transform the relationship they have with dance and movement.
We offer a number of programs to meet the needs of our students and community partners. We pride ourselves in meeting our students where they are at. Many of our students have not had opportunities to take formal dance classes.
We enjoy working with students who are new to dance. We are committed to making our programs accessible to students of all backgrounds. Our programs:
- Are inclusive, collaborative, and non-competitive.
- Meet Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) content standards.
- Use choreography as a framework to teach important life skills.
- Focus on the creative process and less on the end result.
- Provide both one-on-one and group instruction to students.
- Are open to all different skill levels and dance styles.
How It Works
1
We connect students with local dance professionals
2
Dance professionals provide mentoring to students
3
Students create and showcase original dance pieces
Quality Instruction
We work with LA’s top professional dancers and choreographers to provide students with a unique and memorable experience. Our instructors and mentors:
- Are passionate about their crafts.
- Have unique backgrounds in dance.
- Enjoy sharing the knowledge they have gained throughout their careers.
- Teach students that dance goes beyond looking good and can be used to express themselves.
Learn more about our mentors and instructors.
Bring YCP to Your School, Dance Studio, or Arts Program
We offer many programs to meet your students’ needs. Areyou interested in bringing Young Choreographers Project into your school, dance studio, or organization? Email us at [email protected].
10-Week Choreography Program
We recommend this program for students who are already engaged in some sort of dance activity, such as dance team or dance classes. However, having dance experience is not a requirement.
During our 10-Week Choreography Program, students can participate as a young choreographer or a dancer. Each Young Choreographer is matched with a dance professional who guides them through the process of creating an original dance piece. Students who participate as dancers perform in our Young Choreographers’ dance pieces at a student showcase, which takes place at the end of the program. We generally rent out a venue for the showcase and students get to experience what it’s like to present work on a real stage.
6-Week Fundamentals
Our 6-Week Fundamentals program is great for beginners or students who desire to learn technique and dance fundamentals. Each week students explore a new dance genre, learn dance vocabulary, and add new dance steps to their dance “toolbox”. They also learn how to apply what they have learned to create original movement.
Weekend Workshops
Our weekend workshops are packed with dance exploration. The weekend starts with a blank canvas where anything is possible. By the end of the weekend, each student will create and present an original dance piece. Students get plenty of one-on-one time with dance professionals. They are encouraged to enjoy the process of creating and to detach themselves from the outcome. This workshop provides students with a sense of freedom and accomplishment.
Online Programming
We have free dance and choreography videos available on our IGTV.
In response to the pandemic, we recently completed our first entirely online 8-week program. It was so successful that we are making it available to teens again. Join us for YCP’s Dance Choreography Intensive 2022. Learn more about this unique and engaging online program.
