Education and Youth

Education and community engagement are foundational components of CityDanceNY’s mission. For more than eighteen years, Michael Buoni has conducted arts residencies and educational dance programs throughout New York City and surrounding communities. These programs use movement and cultural dance traditions to foster confidence, discipline, teamwork, creativity, and self-expression among young people. CityDanceNY views arts education not as a supplemental activity, but as an essential component of healthy community development and personal growth.

 

The company currently maintains a long-standing residency at PS 84 in Manhattan serving students in Kindergarten through second grade. Over nearly two decades, this residency has become an important part of the school community, introducing thousands of students to dance and live performance. The consistency and longevity of this partnership demonstrate the value of sustained arts education relationships within public schools. Students participating in the program gain exposure not only to movement technique, but also to collaboration, musicality, discipline, cultural appreciation, and creative confidence.

 

CityDanceNY also continues its multi-year residency at Wood Glen Elementary School in Clarkstown, New York, where fifth-grade students participate in world dance programming that emphasizes cultural understanding and artistic exploration. Additional outreach programming has included assemblies and workshops at William Cottle School in Eastchester, with upcoming educational performances scheduled in Jamestown, New York. These programs introduce students to global dance traditions while encouraging respect for cultural diversity and collaborative learning.

 

The educational residencies culminate in participatory performances that allow students to experience the excitement and responsibility of live theatrical presentation. For many students, these performances represent their first opportunity to participate directly in the performing arts. CityDanceNY believes these experiences are transformative because they help students develop self-confidence, communication skills, and a sense of belonging within a collaborative artistic  process. Dance education also provides alternative pathways for students who may struggle within traditional academic structures, allowing them to discover new forms of personal expression and achievement.

 

A particularly important aspect of CityDanceNY’s educational mission is the mentorship of young performers. The company frequently integrates local students into professional productions, allowing them to work alongside experienced dancers, actors, and musicians. These opportunities expose young artists to the realities of professional artistic life while helping cultivate future generations of performers and arts supporters. By involving students directly in productions, CityDanceNY demystifies the performing arts and makes artistic careers feel tangible and attainable.

 

This mentorship model also serves a broader audience development purpose. CityDanceNY understands that future audiences are created through exposure and participation. Students who engage directly with dance and live performance are far more likely to remain connected to the arts as adults. By creating meaningful artistic experiences for young people, the company is investing in the long-term cultural vitality of New York City and surrounding communities.