Program Spotlight: The Young Women’s Leadership School Summer Program

Let’s Dance! Staten Island

Arts Ignite has officially reached all five boroughs! This August, we celebrated a brand new partnership with the Young Women’s Leadership School in Staten Island. The Let’s Dance! three-day residency was led by Arts Ignite Teaching Artist, Taylor, and supported by our Programs team. During this workshop, 32 young girls participated, ranging from grades 6th-12th. Taylor guided the YWLSSI students as they worked to build confidence and community through movement. Students learned how to trust their instincts through improvisational dance and learned dance terms and techniques in varied styles such as jazz, hip-hop, and funk. 

Through the dance workshops, students were able to strengthen their imagination, communication, and courage. They put their skills on display at a culminating community affirmation event where participants performed for an audience.

This school year, Arts Ignite will extend this program to a multi-month residency integrating the Young Women’s Leadership School’s arts learning goals with the Arts Ignite curriculum. Each workshop will also focus on cultivating social-emotional skills in relationship building and self-awareness as well as core skills like creativity, confidence, collaboration, and communication.