educational outreach

Throughout the year, Dance Parade commissions selected colorful Dance Organizations to educate and present the artistry of world dance with schools, senior and community centers.  Dance Parade’s certified educators have created a curriculm for students to learn about the world culture of a particulary genre and then to learn and perform ethnic dances in the parade.

Dance Parade’s own Tze Chun, Shireen Dickson, Karen Kriegel, Mariana Beckerman and Ruby Vandersee are qualified Dance Educators trained to present vibrant curriculum to make dance more relevant the lives of New Yorkers.  Three forms of Curriculum are offered: World Cultural, 20th Century American and Urban/Modern.  After school programs are offered from February to May and include costume making and participation in the annual parade.

For more information contact our Educational Outreach Director: 

After School...Special

When America elected its very first Black President, Dance Parade was there to salute The Commander In Chief and the entire country with a patriotic and colorful ad campaign to kick off the Dance Parade season for 2009.  Less than a year later, that salute has paid off well in the form of one, Susmita Saha, the new Dance Parade Educational Outreach Chair. 
When President Obama encouraged people to become involved in their community and give back to their community, Susmita answered his call by deciding she was going to volunteer but she didn’t know in what way or what area.  She looked to the internet and magically, Dance Parade appeared!

She recently shared with me, “Watching various parades in the city is always fun because everyone is lively and full of happiness.  I wanted to be part of it somehow.  My love for dancing, in combination with parade watching, Dance Parade seemed like it would be a good fit for me.”
The Educational Outreach Chair’s role is to bring dance into the K-12 educational curriculum.  It also acts as a promotional tool for Dance Parade itself to these schools, children and adults.  Susmita’s current project is working on grants to help fund after school dance programs.  She is looking forward to collaborating with others in Dance Parade and at the schools to create an enhanced dance curriculum.

Since she was a child, dance has been there as an extracurricular activity in her life.  Her mother started her in traditional Indian dance, but as she gets older she finds herself enjoying hip hop more.  Susmita is proud of her new position and happily adds that Dance Parade NY is “a parade that strengthens and unites the international diverse community of New York City.” We also look forward to updates concerning her work, progress and overall reception from teachers, parents and especially the students involved in these programs.  For information on how to get your school involved, how to volunteer in Susmita’s department or any other questions please email her at .