Since 2015, LMU Dance has partnered with Movement Exchange to offer students transformative service experiences through dance.
Movement Exchange is a national organization committed to empowering under-resourced communities through accessible, sustainable dance education, facilitated by university chapters, international exchanges, and year-round programming in both Panama and the United States.
Each spring, LMU Dance majors have the opportunity to participate in a weeklong cultural exchange and service trip to Panama during spring break. Priority is given to students enrolled in the B.A. in Dance: Pedagogy and Social Action, though all dance majors are welcome to apply. Participants lead creative movement workshops in schools, orphanages, and community centers across Panama City, working directly with youth who have limited access to arts education.
For over a decade, this initiative has fostered cultural exchange, creative collaboration, and community empowerment. Students gain practical experience in culturally responsive pedagogy and develop leadership skills that prepare them to become changemakers in the field of dance education.
Our Movement Exchange partnership exemplifies LMU Dance’s commitment to social justice, global engagement, and inclusive arts practice.