DANCE Erie

Since our re-launch in 2025, DANCE Erie (formerly Erie Dance Consortium) has operated without an administrative budget. We have no paid full- or part-time staff. Our funding goes directly to programming, dance instructors and event expenses.

Our goals are to remain firmly based in education, building an audience, and supporting our collaborators in the dance community. 

For 2026-2027, our board of directors, volunteer committees, and dance organization collaborators have developed an exciting program plan to meet our mission: to celebrate the art, education, performance, and audience experience of dance in the Erie community. 

Support of DANCE Erie 2026-2027 Programming

This Erie Gives Day, we ask for your donation to provide dance/movement opportunities for young and old and performances for a new audience. We are dedicated to providing free and low-cost dance opportunities for the Erie region. 

Here are this year’s offerings that celebrate and build up dance artists, educators, choreographers, and bring dance performance experiences to our community.  

Body & Balance Class

• This summer, DANCE Erie developed a new movement class in partnership with Mercy Hilltop Senior Center, Body & Balance. For Erie residents age 55 and over, the class is gentle and low-impact, designed specifically for adults who want to improve strength, flexibility, posture, coordination, and overall well-being. After the first two classes in July with satisfied attendees, two more will be offered on August 11 and 25. Funding supports the promotion of the event and instructor fees. 

“Open Stage” at Blues & Jazz Festival 

• The annual Blues and Jazz Festival in Frontier Park opens a one-hour stage performance opportunity to the dance community. DANCE Erie coordinates "Open Stage", twelve dance spots for professional dance artists, companies, studios, cultural groups, and school-based dance groups. Having just presented 12 performances on August 2, DANCE Erie will begin to organize for the August 2027 presentations.  We aspire to add an educational master class that would be free and open to the public.  Funding supports the promotion of the event and instructor fees. 

Dance Forward High School Forum

• September 24, 2026: In collaboration with the Inner-City Neighborhood Art House, DANCE Erie brings high school juniors, seniors, and their families to learn about dance in Erie and beyond. Dance Forward High School Forum, facilitated by Hannah Filbeck, invites all attendees to explore current and post-graduation opportunities, ask questions, and connect with established dance community members and those who are succeeding in dance regionally and nationally. Funding supports marketing for the event. 

Vote for Family-friendly Dance Film at 10|20 Collective

• January 10, 2027: DANCE Erie is partnering with 10|20 Collective to present an inspiring Family-friendly Dance Film that the community will choose through online voting. DANCE Erie board member and filmmaker Jackie George will host the event. Funding supports the promotion of the event and film licensing fees. 10|20 staff will work the free event with a suggested $5 donation to help cover costs.

Ohio Contemporary Ballet and Master Class

• February 7, 2027: Performance meets education in this collaboration with Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture and DANCE Erie will co-present Ohio Contemporary Ballet along with Erie's own Dafmark Dance Theatre, Seiche Dance Collective, and SoMar Dance Works at the D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. Prior to the performance, attendees have three opportunities to learn more, with the goal to increase dancing skills or simply to learn more about dance throughout history.

  • An intermediate-advanced contemporary ballet Master Class taught by a member of Ohio Contemporary Ballet will be offered in the Mercyhurst University Dance Department Studios for a fee of $25.00 per participant. Proceeds support instructor and musician fees. Funding supports marketing the event. 

  • Ohio Contemporary Ballet Artistic Director, Dr. Margaret Carlson and DANCE Erie Board President, Tauna Hunter, will offer a pre-performance lecture and field questions on the evenings offerings in the Cummings Art Gallery.  

  • Screening of an Educational Film showcasing a historical tribute to the 20 years of work done for the community by DANCE Erie’s predecessor the Erie Dance Consortium and a look at the future of dance to come. Funding is needed to pay the filmmaker,  videographer, and editor, as well as to promote the event.

Creative Crowd for Dance 

• January 24, 2027: DANCE Erie partners with Erie Arts and Culture to offer a Creative Crowd gathering for the Erie dance community offering a social networking opportunity. This is an effort to grow as a network in the relationships we already and eagerly build one-on-one with our collaborators. Our goal is to continue offering these events and growing the attendance. Funding supports marketing and hospitality for the event.