Dance to Unite

Hearing the impact of Dance to Unite in our communities never gets old. We’re honored to help young people build confidence, teamwork, cultural awareness, and joy through dance! 💜

With Gratitude and Hope: Honoring Bill Ritter

Today, we want to send our love, gratitude, and support to Bill Ritter.

Bill was one of Dance to Unite’s earliest honorees, and we will always be grateful for the kindness, integrity, and compassion he has shown throughout his remarkable career with ABC7.

Like so many New Yorkers, we welcomed Bill into our homes for years, not only as a trusted journalist but as someone who genuinely cared about the people and communities he served. He became a friend of our families through the TV screen.

Recently, when Bill shared his diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s disease and his decision to step away from the anchor desk, our hearts were with him and his family. While this chapter is undoubtedly challenging, we are inspired by the courage and honesty he has shown in sharing his journey. Through his personal challenge he is a source of strength, an inspiration and a beacon of light to so many people 🌟

One thing I will always remember is Bill’s love for the movie Shall We Dance, a beautiful reminder that life is about connection, joy, and continuing to move/ dance forward even when the path is uncertain.

At Dance to Unite, we believe in the power of hope. We believe in resilience. We believe in Positive Intention, and we definitely believe in miracles 🌟

Thank you, Bill, for all you have given to New York and beyond. Thank you for being a part of the Dance to Unite family. We are cheering for you and holding you in our thoughts and prayers.

With gratitude and admiration,

Galit and the Dance to Unite Family 💜

When leaders in the dance world recognize the impact of our work, we are reminded why we do what we do! 💫 Thank you, Paul Boos, for your kind words and encouragement as we continue to build unity through dance! 💜 ✨

Reminiscing on our Educational Alliance event! Thank you for celebrating with us! 🧡⭐️ Thank you to our partnering agency, Educational Alliance, for highlighting Dance to Unite for the second year in a row celebrating our 13 year long partnership! Our hearts are so full, thank you! ✨💗

This week’s testimonial comes from our new social media manager, Evie Peterson! Evie is from a small town in Nebraska, but recently moved to New York City where she attends Pace University. She has been dancing her whole life and has a passion for performance and theater. Evie was brought in to be a guest artist and absolutely fell in love with the organization. She is honored to showcase Dance to Unite on the Instagram! 💙✨😁

This week’s testimonial comes from Tayna, the mother of a former DtU student, who shared how Dance to Unite has been truly transformational for their family ⭐️ DtU helped her daughter, who had been diagnosed with ADHD, channel her energy and attention into learning choreography, staying focused, and striving to improve. Her words remind us how powerful a social-emotional curriculum can be when paired with movement 🩷 at Dance to Unite, students are not only learning steps. They are learning how to listen, how to stay present, how to believe in themselves, and how to grow alongside others! to witness a student discover that kind of focus and confidence is nothing short of a miracle 🥰🫶

Happy last day of classes at P.S. 160! 💛 As one of Dance to Unite’s newest classes, our P.S. 160 students in Brooklyn brought so much heart & openness to their first DtU season 💌 in particular, while working on the Unity Banner together, they wowed us with their own colors, ideas, and creativity! This is what unity looks like when everyone contributes something unique. Although our classes draw to a close, we know our students will carry these values with them forever ✨

At CPC Chrystie Street, Jessie, one of our 2nd grade students, reminded us what makes Dance to Unite so special: students are not only moving together, but also growing together! ⭐️ throughout the year, our wonderful students built confidence, connection, and language around values like respect, kindness, and unity. For Jessie, this year was about the joy of dancing with her classmates while discovering new words and ideas along the way! 🩷

At Dance to Unite, we have a very special opportunity - the chance to reflect on growth, connection, and the values our students carry with them beyond the classroom 📚🩷August, our superstar student at CPC Chrystie Street, shared how this year helped him grow in compassion, peacefulness, and approaching others with positive intentions 🫶 Moments like these remind us why Circle Talk matters so much. Creating space for students to reflect, listen, and connect helps values move beyond conversation and into everyday life!

Welcoming a new voice to our DtU family!! 💗 At P.S. 140 with Educational Alliance, Taryn has stepped into the DtU space and quickly found a rhythm in these weekly classesc something uplifting and easy to look forward to! ⭐️ Through movement and Circle Talk, each week builds connection, trust, and a sense of belonging that stays with you 🌀