Past Community Outreach
"Eastside Academy Youth Outreach" 6th Day Dance partnered with Eastside Academy to bring a 10 week intro to modern dance class to youth who attend this school. Class to these individuals was free and supported in part by generous donations from 6th Day Dance patrons. Classes were Mondays from 3:15-4:15 in the Chapel April 5th thru June14th (no class May 31st 2010). Students had the opportunity to perform their new skills June 16th 2010 at 11:30 and June 19th 2010 at 6pm, at the end of the quarter and graduation ceremonies. Class was taught by 6th Day Dance company member Hannah Cook. Students at Eastside Academy interested in attending class should contact Toni Esparza, Executive Director of Eastside Academy (425-452-9920 or 425-442-9829).
"Harambee Youth Hip Hop Classes" February -May 2010 This class was a 12 week FREE hip hop class taught by 6th Day Dance members April Cunningham and Amy Maranan to youth ages 13-19, beginning/intermediate level. Classes were held at Harambee Community Development Association in Renton. No registration necessary. Students had an opportunity to perform their skills at 6th Day's concert "Unleashed" on May 22nd, 2010.
"Harambee Youth Hip Hop Classes" September -November 2009 This class was a 11 week FREE hip hop class taught by 6th Day Dance members April Cunningham and Amy Maranan to youth ages 13-19, beginning/intermediate level. Classes were held at Harambee Community Development Association in Renton. No registration necessary. Students had an opportunity to perform their skills at 6th Day's concert "Transformation" on November 14th, 2009
"Seven" Dance Concert May 2009- 6th Day Dance donated 30 complimentary tickets to individuals who received services at Sound Mental Health to our May show titled "Seven". Show featured performance by individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health issues who participated in our year long dance class outreach to Sound Mental Health. With only a handful of dance companies in the world that incorporate people with disabilities with non-disabled dancers, a piece using dancers exclusively with a developmental disability and mental health issues was truly groundbreaking.
"Sound Mental Health Dance Classes" March 2008 -May 2009- 6th Day provided weekly classes to Sound Mental Health clients who had a developmental disability and mental health issue. Classes took place once a week at Sound Mental Health. We provided an environment that was fun and expressive, while incorporating movement therapy techniques into the milieu. Dance Movement Therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement for emotional, cognitive, social, behavioral and physical conditions and can greatly impact our self image and help define our place in the world. Each class taught modern movement technique that focused on the aesthetic or artistic appearance of the movement. Additionally, dance therapy explores the nature of all movement and allows each class member to internally work on procedural memory chaining, self esteem, self image, relationship building, and exploration of the world around them through movement. Within this environment, individuals learn to express themselves through movement and dance, that which cannot be put into words.
"Harambee Youth Hip Hop Classes" May and October 2008, Jan-April 2009 6th Day Dance in partnership with Harambee Community Development Association and the H.A.L.L. (after school program outreach program) have brought 21 FREE hip hop classes to youth ages 13-19 of Renton since May 2008. Classes are taught by Outreach Manager April Cunningham and Instructor Amy Maranan. Classes in 2009 brought to the community in part by grant funding from Renton Municipal Arts Commission and 4Culture
"Burden" May 2008- Through smArt grant funding from the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, 6th Day Dance will be donating complimentary tickets to individuals with developmental and physical disabilities to 6th Days Annual Spring Dance Concert "Burden", May 17th, 2008. 15 tickets will be donated to individuals who receive services at Sound Mental Health of Seattle, an organization committed to improve the lives of their clients by delivering excellent health and human services. In addition, 6th Day will donate 15 tickets to Very Special Arts of Washington, a non profit dedicated to providing arts opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities throughout the state of Washington.
"Glass House Project" May 2007- "Glass Houses" is a four part work exploring and exposing the issues surrounding disabilities, and was inspired by a true life story of one man with a developmental disability and mental health diagnosis and his struggle with living in the community. Work featured dancers who were both disabled and non disabled, and incorporated a gentleman with spastic dysplasia who uses a wheelchair and another gentleman with a developmental disability. In an effort to impact the community with this message about disabilities, 6th Day took it one step further to outreach to those individuals with disabilities. Through funding from ABC Missions, Individual Donors and 6th Day, 6th Day Dance donated complimentary tickets to developmentally and physically disabled individuals from the ARC of King County, Service Alternatives Inc, Eagles Wings Ministries, Life Ministries, and New Horizons. These organizations serve individuals with disabilities via housing support, personal care taking, arts training, family and individual support. Each organization received 20 complimentary tickets.
"Love is in the Air" February 2007- Thru funding from the City of Seattle Mayors Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, 6th Day Dance donated 15 tickets to Pike Place Market Senior Center. Pike Place Senior Center serves low income and homeless seniors living in the downtown district. In addition, 6th Day Dance taught 4 free hip hop classes to homeless youth who utilize New Horizons Drop-In Center in Seattle. New Horizons focuses on providing resources and spiritual support to homeless youth in Seattle. 15 youth attended class and were given complimentary tickets to "Love is in the Air".
"Project Dance New York City" April 2006- 6th Day Dance participated in Project Dance New York, which brings live professional dance performances to the public of New York City in a 2 day weekend event. Free performances take place on an outdoor stage located on Broadway in the heart of the city. The mission of Project Dance is to communicate a message of hope and healing through the language of dance.
"Project Warehouse" March 2006- Through grant funding from the City of Redmond, 6th Day in partnership with Outdoor Adventures provided a free 6 week hip hop dance class to at risk youth of the City of Redmond. 6th Day Company Members taught basic hip hop skills and encouraged students to explore their own freestyle movements. 20 students attended.