The Impact of Giving
Co-Founders Stephanie Jojokian and Amber Yancey formed Capitol Movement’s multigenerational dance company in February 2005, and it was established as a non-profit organization in October 2006. Dismantling barriers to the field of dance and promoting wellbeing for women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ dancers is core to our mission. Our founding members brought top choreographers from New York and Los Angeles to Washington, DC, to work with the Capitol Movement Dance Company and co-create original pieces uplifting social and racial justice. Capitol Movement’s inaugural concert took place on June 10, 2006 at the historic Lincoln Theatre with an original cast of 45 dancers. After the concert, then Executive Director of the Lincoln Theatre, Janice Hill, requested that Capitol Movement become the resident company of the Theatre. Her words still resonate today: “[Capitol Movement] represented the diversity of the people in DC where audiences could see people that looked like them.”
Now in its 19th season, CMI has made it possible for more than 20,000 youth, senior citizens, and community members to patronize our annual dance concert. The CMI Kidz and GenerationNext dance companies have engaged 350 historically excluded DC youth (ages of 3- and 18) annually through weekly open dance classes, outreach classes, workshops, and camps.
What does the cost of breaking down barriers look like every month?
25 after-school classes at a DC public school = $1,500
Eight weekly classes open to the public at Capitol Movement Studio = $400-$500
Program scholarships for youth and adults in need =$540
Rent for studio space = $1,860 - $2,200
This equals $4,740 a month.
This monthly amount does not even include payment for master instructors to conduct workshops where our professional-level dance companies collaborate with prominent local and national choreographers, such as Neil Schwartz (NYC), Rob Rich (LA), Nia Hutchinson (DMV), and Shontal Snider (DMV), to co-create new works. This also doesn’t cover theatre rental and fees when our companies perform these pieces on stage for shows such as our Free Day of Dance matinee for DMV area schools, or the $675 per bus to transport DC students to the free show.
Our unique perspective on dance and its power to bring all backgrounds together to learn from one another and grow together has been passed through several generations of dancers since the inaugural show in 2006. Our grassroots foundation is to care for our local communities and has created a culture of artists giving back to our community. This helps CMI to continue to level the playing field in dance and remove barriers to elite training, performing, and mentorship opportunities.
How can you help build better lives through dance?
We currently need to raise $10,000 to cover our studio space rehearsals since rent has nearly doubled since 2018. Additionally, the cost to bus DMV students to our Free Day of Dance Matinee increased from $450 to $675. We transport five schools each year by bus to engage with our companies.
We need YOU and the help of our community to continue to make our unique, local, and grassroots efforts possible for another 19 years. Donate today to help us reach $10,000 by December 31st. Every dollar helps us sustain the vision and the mission of the organization – to build better lives through dance.
