We are a nonprofit dance organization providing access to dance education to the Washington Heights community.
We believe the art of dance is transformative for individuals and communities. There should be no barriers to everyone experiencing the magic that dance holds, so we work to remove the barriers that do exist.
DPWH currently serves over 700 students of different ages, backgrounds, cultures, and socio-economic statuses.
Here are some statistics regarding our student body:
creating performers, storytellers, dreamers, stars
#dancefriendsarethebestfriends
#mentorship
#socialjustice
#blacklivesmatter
#nokidsincages
#abolishice
#families
We're all in this together
creating leaders, teachers, creators
#takingupspace
DPWH faculty is hired for their high level of training, their passion for children and for social justice, and for the array of experience they bring to their classes. We hire teachers who reflect the diversity of dance and our community, who bring warmth and joy to the classroom, and who expect amazing things from their students.
JOIN OUR TEAM
Dance Project is hiring! CLICK HERE to see available positions and application instructions.
Originally from Washington DC, Amina Vargas is a professional dancer, commercial model, and arts administrator. In 2021, she graduated from The Ailey School where she trained in the Scholarship and Ailey/Fordham BFA program. While studying at The Ailey School, she began her work in arts administration as an assistant in Robert Battles’, artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater...
Max Pollak appears on a U.S. Postage stamp, is a Bessie Award nominee 2011, 2010 Individual Artist Grantee of the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance and 2008 fellow in Choreography from the New York Foundation of the Arts. He is one of the most prestigious names on the international tap scene today.
Amanda Castro is a Bessie award winning, Puerto Rican-American multidisciplinary artist rooted in rhythm. She was recently featured in Dance Magazine's 25 to Watch. Most recently seen as Anita in Chigaco's Lyric Theater's production of West Side Story, in Rhythm is Life by Dormeshia Sumbrey Edwards and Chasing Magic by Ayodele Casel, Castro is a graduate of California Institute of the Arts where she studied under Glen Eddy of Nederlands Dans Theatre and Andre Tyson from Ailey Company.
Sylvestre K. Akakpo Adzaku is a New York-based choreographer, performer and teacher originally from Togo, West Africa. He has presented his own works and performed locally and internationally for over 15 years.
Evabustamove aka EvaB Oricci is a Guatemalan NYC based creative artist. She is a 2023 Bessie award recipient for choreography under Les Ballet Afrik for the evening length work “New York is Burning”. From performing at The Joyce Theatre, Jacob’s Pillow and New Victory Theatre she has maintained her role as dance educator...
Originally from Hamburg, Germany, and graduated from the Martha Graham School under the artistic direction of Janet Eilber, where she danced principal roles in several of Graham's ballets...From the age of ten, Lili studied Hula under Kumu Hula Kalei'ulaokala Makekau to later join her company in Hawai'i and toured Europe and the USA.
Valentina Fory Olaya is a Colombian dancer and graduate of Incolballet. She has developed her artistic career in companies such as Danza Experimental and the Anna Pavlova Ballet in Bogotá, Azoe Danza in Cali, Albano Ballet...
Andres is a professional Latin dancer and choreographer. He specializes in Afro Cuban and Latin dance and is also classically trained in ballet, contemporary and jazz. He participates in international dance competitions as a Salsa Soloist as well as on professional teams...
As a performer, Josh has been seen in the Broadway Revivals of 42nd Street, La Cage aux Folles, A Chorus Line, and Ragtime, as well as the Off-Broadway productions of Cagney, Seussical and The Awesome 80’s Prom. He has taught dance at New York University, Molloy College, Dance Project of Washington Heights, the Eglevsky Ballet, as well as privately....
After graduating with a BFA in Dance from the Juilliard School, Mr. Hamilton joined Ballet Hispánico of New York where he was a principal dancer and assistant rehearsal director for 10 years...
