The Community Dance Project (CDP) at Loyola Marymount University is a community-driven initiative that brings the transformative power of dance beyond campus and into local schools and neighborhoods across Los Angeles. Supported by the Max H. Gluck Foundation, CDP reflects LMU Dance’s commitment to social impact, artistic engagement, and justice-centered education.
Students participate in this multi-semester course (DANC 3790: Dance Tour Group), collaborating with faculty and peers to design and lead dance workshops tailored to diverse populations. With a focus on accessibility, inclusion, and creative expression, the course prepares students for careers in arts education, community engagement, and socially engaged performance.
Students enrolled in the Community Dance Project gain hands-on experience through:
- Real-World Teaching Practicum: Students co-create and teach dance curriculum alongside faculty, bringing movement rooted in equity-focused pedagogy to K–12 partner schools across Los Angeles.
- Arts & Social Justice Integration: Through reflective facilitation and praxis sessions, students examine how dance can serve as a vehicle for cultural expression, empowerment, and social change.
- Partnerships & Professional Development: Collaborations with local schools and community organizations deepen intercultural understanding and provide students with valuable networking and teaching experience in the field of arts education.
The Community Dance Project bridges academic training with real-world impact, empowering students to use dance as a force for connection, creativity, and change.
