FLEX - DANCE SAVES

For all of us dance serves a function - and for most dance saves!  Whether you dance professionally or alone - dance saves! We are excited to officially launch our Dance Saves campaign. 

We are passionate about the power of dance and music to bring about positive transformation for youth in difficult circumstances. We look at dance as an instrument for change. In New York City’s  poorest communities, young people are going to detention at a rate of close to 70%. Nationally, 70% of detained youth are accused of nonviolent offenses. And this is a vicious-cycle - even if/when they come out, 80% go back in. FDP’s primary audience are the estimated 1,000 - 5,000 youth in detention and foster care facilities in NYC, the majority of FDP’s students are African-American and Latino, and low-income, with limited access to both art and mental health services. According to OCFS

-        80% of youths released from detention centers return within three years. 

-        95% of youths entering detention are of African-American or Latino descent. 

-        83% percentage of youths in detention require mental health services [MMR08] 

-        68% = percentage of youths came from areas where poverty rates are between 32% and 46% [DHMH]. 

Detained youth suffer disproportionately from: lack of access to mentors and the arts (platforms to express and create); lack of positive community engagement; stigma, including low self-esteem and prevents access to jobs; and lack of engagement with school. FDP believes in building the access for youth to develop their artistic talents and professional skills through internships and opportunities to perform. FDP aims to transform others´ attitudes, values, behaviours, beliefs that discriminate against youth and artists including institutional discrimination, racism and other barriers. 

For FDP Dance Saves is connected to our model FlexIN FlexOUT:

FlexIN”, is the on-site program provided in secure detention centers, foster care and other facilities in New York, and “FlexOUT”, provides free dance workshops for high school students in various neighborhoods. FlexOUT includes performances transforming public places through the arts.

Dance is at the core of what we do. FDP uses dance and music to bring about positive transformation for youth in difficult circumstances. The way we do that is through dance mentorship sessions for youth in institutions and in the community.

It is our hope that students see dance as a form of non-verbal self expression and an outlet for coping with difficult challenges.

Since the pandemic we hosted classes on zoom up to four days a week even collaborating with New York Youth Justice as one of our partners reaching over 200 kids. 

This campaign aims to raise funds to keep operations going during this challenging time, and to include youth in our paid internship program. Through this campaign, our goal is to raise $1000 in 10 days. We want our community of partners, donors and students to participate #DanceSaves2022