At Halestone our mission is to provide access to quality dance experiences and education in nurturing environments and to foster the creative process, artistic excellence, and joy. We recognize that access to and inclusion in arts education and artistic experiences is often not equitable. We recognize that the students of all ages (toddlers through adults) that we serve and seek to serve have different lived experiences and different entry points to artistic experiences and education. Halestone is committed to fostering an inclusive community of dance and dancers that honors people of all races, body types, abilities, ages, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and ethnicities in both words and actions.
We want to share the following words from the National Dance Education Organization: “Racism has no place in the dance world, yet we know that it has profoundly affected dance educators, administrators, choreographers, and students of color for generations. We acknowledge that many of the dance styles taught and practiced today are rooted in the history and current artistry of the Black diaspora, yet that connection is often overlooked or outright erased in the practice of teaching dance in studios, schools, and universities. We recognize the vast contribution of Black dancers, educators, and choreographers, yet we know that they are often marginalized in dance degree curricula, neglected in funding, left out of the textbooks, the course syllabus, the canon, and representation in leadership.”
We are moved by recent national events to recommit ourselves to equitable arts programming. Some actions that Halestone has been taking and will continue to take include:
- Review our curriculum to reflect diversity in the dance world and dance history, recognizing the contributions of artists of color. We will continue pursuing resources and best practices for our teachers to meet the different needs of our students, and foster classroom communities that are inclusive, loving, and effective.
- Promote our scholarship program, providing assistance to students who seek support
- Provide dance education in the public schools and preschools of Rockbridge, Lexington and Buena Vista
- Work to find solutions to transportation barriers for students
As we strive to serve our community through the arts, we always welcome dialogue on our educational approaches and programs.
Mauri Connors, Artistic Director & the Halestone Board of Directors
