YPAD is run by dancers for dancers!
We believe dancers are some of the most intelligent, passionate and driven human beings! If you are like many of us, dance has the capacity to bring you both highs and lows. Many of us have said “Dance is My Life!” We believe that dance is a very important aspect of life but we also need to practice balance in order to keep our self-esteem and identity properly nurtured.
Whether you are a youth or adult, dance is an extension of your whole being, including your sexuality and feelings about your body. In today’s culture the packaging of female dancers has become increasingly hypersexualized. The representations we see for male dancers are many times limited to narrow definitions of masculinity. Through education and inter-active discussions we can become more mindful regarding the influence of entertainment media and advertisements over performing arts and help each other become more aware of the difference between exploitation and empowerment.
Regardless of your age each dancer is a role model to someone! As a community our individual decisions do effect the whole and trends start to take form, sometimes with little thought how they are effecting the younger dancers and even ourselves. As we choose which classes to take, YouTube videos to like, choreographers to follow, projects to be involved with and our professional work, we can make decisions from a healthy sense of self that has integrated our core values with our dance life. Once we merge those two aspects, we are truly dancing from our heart!
Y.P.A.D. offers dancers:
Articles on Self-Esteen and Identity in Performing arts
-Let your voice be heard and do an #Artists4Activism PSA
COMING SOON:
-Injury Prevention Tips
-Dance Tutorials by Y.P.A.D. approved instructors