Diversity in Arts and Nations for Cultural Education, Inc. (DANCE) is a 501 (c) (3) arts organization based in the Bronx. It was founded by Gilda Rivera-Pantojas as a response to the under-representation of Puerto Rican and Latin American folk and traditional artists working with the community and fostering the arts in the inner city neighborhoods of New York City. DANCE has gained a reputation for its stunning performances and educational programming.
The mission of DANCE is “to maximize the awareness of the cultural diversity of Puerto Rico and the Americas through dance, music and theater”, “to foster the arts through education by paving the way for the continuation of our heritage from one generation to the next” and “to delight our audiences while introducing them to Puerto Rican and Latin American traditions as medium to promote and preserve our culture”
The organization is composed of three branches; Danza Fiesta: Baile y Teatro Puertorriqueño, the Arts in Education program, and the Open Studio.
DANCE is excited to be involved in the founding and production of the South Bronx Folk Festival in collaboration with Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education, the first event of which will take place on December 10 and 11, 2010. This is the first of a yearly event that will expose the diversity of cultures in the Bronx through the showcase of their folklore.