ABOUT US
Fort Wayne Dance Collective was formed in the summer of 1978 when five women met at a modern dance workshop sponsored by the Fort Wayne Women’s Bureau. After the workshop, Cathy Craighead, Ranny Levy, Liz Monnier, Krista Schloss and Lisa Tsetse decided to continue the momentum of creative expression by starting a non-profit modern dance organization. Fort Wayne Dance Collective was born.
The mission of Fort Wayne Dance Collective is to inspire and empower people of all identities, abilities, and stages of life through movement arts.
We also believe…
...all people should have access to the arts.
Fort Wayne Dance Collective strives to engage and inspire a diverse range of individuals to participate in its programs. Our on-site school offers scholarships to those in need to allow students to not only take classes, but to learn how our organization operates. We have an extensive outreach program, and work with generous funders to reach schools serving children who wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to the arts.
...movement can change the world.
Have you ever wondered why dancers often have their heads in the clouds? Because we are dreaming of a better world; one in which all people embrace and have access to the performing arts. A pipe dream? Maybe. But we work toward that goal every day.
...in establishing a strong, non-competitive and experimental foundation of dance training.
Our school offers a wide variety of dance classes, from modern to ballet, from jazz to hip hop, with experienced instructors who have degrees and certifications in dance as well as professional dance experience! Fort Wayne Dance Collective is set apart from traditional dance studios by offering the only non-competitive dance experience in the region. We believe in training strong dancers, but also allowing for students to creatively express themselves while fostering a love of dance for their entire life. By doing this, our dancers movement vocabulary is better developed, they are more confident, and they are empowered to become stronger storytellers with their own unique movement vocabulary.
...in taking care of our body as well as our mind.
Fort Wayne Dance Collective offers a full range of movement-based wellness classes such as: T’ai Chi Chuan, Dance for Seniors, GROOV3®, Movement Fundamentals, Taiko drumming and Feldenkrais: Awareness Through Movement®.
...dance is for everyone.
Just starting out? Just had a knee replacement? Our classes are flexible enough to be able to tailor-fit your studies around your abilities. Our staff is professional and compassionate, and students are encouraged to wear attire that makes them feel comfortable and allows them to move freely.