CMDance

Hello, Colorado dance lovers and community enthusiasts! Are you intrigued by the rhythm and grace of vintage and social dances, or looking for an organization that passionately brings the joy of movement to schools and communities across our state? Then you need to know about CMDance (Community Minded Dance), a remarkable non-profit organization right here in Denver, CO. This article is your comprehensive guide to understanding why CMDance has been a vital part of Colorado's arts scene for 25 years, keeping historical folk dance and social dancing alive and thriving for all ages and backgrounds.

Founded in 1999 by Caryn Carrasco, CMDance emerged from the global revival of American swing music and dance, inspired by legends like Frankie Manning and Norma Miller. What began as an effort to bring the spirit of these roots dances to new generations in Colorado has blossomed into a multifaceted organization. CMDance is committed to building healthy, thriving communities by cultivating the next generation of artists through world-class arts education programs that bring the global culture of both solo and partnered vernacular dancing to youth and adults.

We understand that finding an organization that not only teaches dance but also fosters cultural appreciation, communication skills, and self-expression is important to our Colorado families and individuals. Whether you're a school administrator looking for unique educational programming, an adult seeking engaging social dance events, or simply a fan of captivating performances, CMDance offers something truly special. Join us as we explore the convenient location, diverse services, and unique highlights that make CMDance a cherished local resource for movement, culture, and community connection in Denver, Colorado.

CMDance, a non-profit organization serving the greater Denver area and Front Range, has its office located at 6445 E Ohio Ave, Denver, CO 80224, USA. While CMDance primarily operates through its extensive school outreach programs and various community events held at different venues across Denver and Colorado, this address serves as its central administrative hub.

The location on East Ohio Avenue places CMDance within a well-established commercial and residential area of Denver. This area generally offers accessible routes for those traveling by car from various parts of the city. As an administrative office, direct public access might be by appointment, but its central Denver location makes it a convenient base for coordinating its widespread educational and event activities.

For those attending CMDance's numerous public events, such as the Denver Jazz Festival, Lindy on the Rocks, or Hot Night Fusion Weekend, the venues often include iconic Denver locations like the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the Gaylord Rockies Resort, and other beautiful spaces with spacious dance floors. These event locations are chosen for their accessibility, often with ample parking and sometimes public transportation options, ensuring that attendees from across Colorado can easily participate.

While the physical office address is key for administrative purposes, CMDance's true accessibility lies in its widespread presence through school programs in Denver Public Schools, Jeffco Schools, and Aurora Public Schools, as well as its many community-wide events. This strategic approach ensures that CMDance's mission reaches thousands of youth and adults throughout Colorado, making dance and cultural education broadly available.

CMDance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, offers a rich tapestry of services designed to bring the global culture of social dancing to Colorado youth and adults, fostering healthy and thriving communities through arts education and vibrant events. Their services are broadly categorized into three main pillars:

• School Programs & Youth Education: This is a cornerstone of CMDance's mission. They reach over 10,000 students annually in schools throughout the Front Range, with a strong emphasis on the six counties of the Greater Denver area. Programs include:

  • One-of-a-kind Social Dancing and Historical Folk Dance: Instruction in various vernacular dance styles such as Swing, Jazz, Lindy Hop, Argentine Tango, Cueca, Chacarera, and Rapanui. These are delivered during school hours and after-school programs for Pre-K through 12th grades.
  • Curriculum Integration: Programs use dance to empower youth, teaching communication, improvisational thinking, problem-solving, risk-taking, and interdisciplinary learning with historical and cultural studies.
  • Accessibility and Trauma-Informed Practices: All instructors are trained in trauma-informed practices and work with students regardless of disability, providing accommodations based on IEPs. They have specialists in ASL for deaf/hard of hearing students and instructors trained for those with special needs or limited mobility. Bilingual staff (Spanish, French) also help reduce language barriers.
  • One-Time Workshops & Mini-Series: Featuring visiting international artists-in-residence to provide unique and immersive experiences.
  • Jazz Clinics: Specialized workshops for middle/high school jazz bands with internationally acclaimed jazz musicians, fostering the connection between music and dance.
  • Student Performance Programming: Custom choreography for school balls, showcases, or cotillions (e.g., basic Swing, Lindy Hop, 1920s Charleston).
  • Activity Days: All-day programs for Field Days or Health/Wellness Days, offering dance as a fun form of exercise.

• Community Events & Festivals: CMDance hosts several annual, nationally recognized dance events that draw participants from across Colorado and beyond. These events support youth programs with 100% of their proceeds:

  • Lindy on the Rocks: A weekend-long festival for swing, blues, and tango dance, featuring workshops, performances, and open forums.
  • Denver Jazz Festival: A unique vintage jazz and blues festival (1920s-1940s) with live music, social dancing, theme nights, and contests. It runs concurrently with Lindy on the Rocks and Hot Night Fusion Weekend.
  • Hot Night Fusion Weekend: Focuses on fusion dancing, blending various dance techniques and genres.
  • Hot Jazz Jamboree: A vintage swing dance event featuring collegiate shag and balboa with classes, live music, contests, and social dancing.
  • The 1940s Ball: An immersive vintage experience with live big bands, WWII planes, and themed attire.
  • Follow the Drum & Neo Dance Stories: Cultural fusion projects highlighting the heritage of musical and dance genres rooted in communities of color (Jazz, Blues, African, Latin) and fusing styles like Argentine Tango, Cuban Salsa, Dominican Bachata, and American Hip Hop and Blues.

• Performance & Outreach: CMDance engages the broader public through performances and outreach initiatives, such as the widely viewed "Denver Airport Flash Mob" on YouTube, further promoting dance and cultural appreciation.

CMDance in Denver, CO, distinguishes itself with a remarkable set of features and highlights that underscore its impact and value to the Colorado community:

• 25 Years of Community Impact: Celebrating a quarter-century of service, CMDance has a proven track record (founded in 1999) of bringing world-class arts education and social dance to Colorado. This longevity speaks to its sustained success and deep roots in the community.

• Deep Commitment to Inclusivity & Accessibility: A standout feature is CMDance’s dedication to welcoming everyone. As highlighted by reviews, "All kids are welcomed and treated well! Boys, girls, those with challenges and disabilities, tall, short, thick or thin, lots of experience or little, everyone is accepted, everyone performs if they wish." They employ trauma-informed practices, have ASL-fluent specialists, and instructors trained for special needs, ensuring that dance is truly for all.

• Unique & Comprehensive School Programs: CMDance reaches over 10,000 students annually in Colorado schools, offering "one-of-a-kind social dancing and historical folk dance." Their curriculum is designed not just for dance steps but also to empower youth, enhance brain function, motor skills, social-emotional learning, and cultural appreciation through diverse styles like Swing, Lindy Hop, Argentine Tango, and Hip Hop.

• World-Class Events & Festivals: CMDance hosts nationally recognized annual events (e.g., Lindy on the Rocks, Denver Jazz Festival, Hot Night Fusion Weekend, Hot Jazz Jamboree, The 1940s Ball) that attract participants from across Colorado and internationally. These events feature top artists, live music, workshops, and performances, serving as major cultural highlights for the community and providing the sole funding for their youth programs.

• Exceptional and Patient Instructors (Including Michelle): Reviewers consistently praise the "patient and knowledgeable instructor," Michelle (likely the founder/director Caryn Carrasco, known by a different name, or a key instructor), and her staff for their dedication. This ensures high-quality instruction delivered with genuine care and support.

• Focus on Community Building: CMDance actively fosters a strong sense of community. Not only do students "thrive" and parents form a "community that can't be beat," but the organization itself uses dance to "build healthy, thriving communities" and connect people through the universal language of dance and music.

• Cultural Enrichment & Historical Preservation: By keeping vintage dance alive and focusing on the global culture of social dancing, CMDance serves as a cultural preservationist, bringing historical and diverse dance forms (like those rooted in communities of color through "Follow the Drum") to new generations.

• Non-Profit Model with Direct Impact: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, 100% of the proceeds from their successful community events directly support their impactful youth programs, demonstrating a clear and effective model for community benefit.

These highlights collectively paint a picture of CMDance as a vital, influential, and deeply cherished organization that profoundly enriches the lives of countless individuals and strengthens the cultural fabric of Denver and Colorado.

For our Colorado neighbors interested in connecting with CMDance, whether to inquire about school programs, upcoming events, or general information, here is their primary contact information:

• Address: 6445 E Ohio Ave, Denver, CO 80224, USA

• Phone: (303) 883-6691

You can reach out via the provided phone number for inquiries regarding their various school outreach programs, details about their nationally recognized annual dance festivals, or to learn more about how you can support their mission as a non-profit organization. It is also highly recommended to visit their official website (cmdance.org) for the most current information on event schedules, program details, and opportunities for involvement. Connecting directly will allow you to explore the myriad ways CMDance brings the joy and benefits of social dance to communities across Colorado.

For residents across Denver and the broader Colorado region, CMDance stands out as an exceptionally suitable and highly recommended organization for engaging with dance, cultural education, and community building. Its unique non-profit model and comprehensive approach address a wide array of local needs and interests, making it a true asset to our state.

Firstly, while its administrative office is centrally located in Denver, CMDance's true suitability for locals lies in its extensive reach and accessibility throughout Colorado. By delivering programs directly within Denver Public Schools, Jeffco Schools, and Aurora Public Schools, and hosting major community events at various accessible venues, CMDance brings the joy of dance and cultural enrichment directly to where people live, work, and learn. This ensures that a diverse cross-section of our community can easily participate.

Secondly, and perhaps most profoundly, CMDance's unwavering commitment to inclusivity is a paramount reason for its local suitability. The explicit welcome extended to "boys, girls, those with challenges and disabilities, tall, short, thick or thin, lots of experience or little," ensures that "everyone is accepted, everyone performs if they wish." This deeply compassionate and equitable approach resonates strongly within a diverse state like Colorado, ensuring that dance is a universally accessible avenue for growth and self-expression. Parents seeking an environment where their children will "thrive" regardless of background or ability will find an ideal home here.

Furthermore, CMDance's dual focus on world-class arts education in schools and vibrant community events creates a synergistic benefit for locals. Students not only receive high-quality instruction in various social and vintage dance forms, enhancing motor skills, communication, and cultural appreciation, but they also get to experience the living history and joy of these dances through participation in lively festivals. For adults, these events provide unique opportunities for social engagement, learning, and entertainment, fostering a strong sense of community and connection.

Finally, as a non-profit celebrating 25 years of service, CMDance demonstrates a proven track record of sustainability and genuine commitment to its mission. The fact that proceeds from their popular public events directly fund their youth programs highlights a community-minded ethos that directly benefits local children, making support for CMDance a direct investment in Colorado's future.

In conclusion, for any Colorado resident interested in experiencing the rich cultural heritage of social dance, providing impactful arts education for their children, or simply seeking fun and engaging community events, CMDance is an indispensable local resource. It’s a true gem that enriches lives, cultivates talent, and strengthens the fabric of our vibrant Colorado community through the power of dance.

CMDance

6445 E Ohio Ave, Denver, CO 80224, USA