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The mission of Moving Arts Dance, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, is to engage diverse communities in the art form of professional contemporary dance, to enhance the role of dance as a medium for local at-risk youth to discover their physical and intellectual strength, and as a cultural bridge between ethnicities and between countries.

Description:
Moving Arts Dance is a professional touring company that runs Moving Arts Dance Center where students of all ages, levels and socio-economic backgrounds learn dance. The dance center teaches dance in the university style, training the whole person (mind, body and spirit) with the tools to become a professional dancer if desired, or to find a career in dance that suits the individual's need. All classes are taught by professionals, and the dance styles taught reflect professional requirements: ballet, modern dance, Pilates, improvisation, partnering, choreography as well as incorporating various historical techniques and information about contemporary choreographers in the classes.

History:
Moving Arts Dance has been officially incorporated since 1994. The company was founded by award winning choreographer and teacher Anandha Ray (recently inducted into the Women's Hall of Fame for her contributions in dance). The company has been in residence in Contra Costa County since 1993, and has now opened their own dance center in Concord.

Over 50% of the students at the dance Center are scholarship students who could not afford to dance without our assistance.

Many of our students come from Title One schools, at-risk neighborhoods and from under-served families. There is a high ethnic diversity.

The professional company has toured extensively: six countries. The apprentice companies often perform and tour with the professional dancers.

Students can begin training and performing extensively at age 8,working their way into the Moving Arts Dance apprentice company (Moving Arts II) when they are at a pre-professional level.

The school is volunteer run, and is a nurturing, supportive environment for dancers and their families.

Contact people:

Scott Belding, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Rhianna Ray, Operations Manager, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (925) 825-8399 call first)

Address:

2355 Whitman Road, Unit D Concord, CA 94518 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.movingartsdance.org

Directions:

Whitman Road (between Treat and Monument)in Concord