named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Dance Education Program
Dance instruction for 4th and 5th grade students with disabilities and high-needs at PS153 and other schools in New York City.
Original Modern Dance Performances
Production of inclusive dance performances featuring mixed-ability dancers, staged at venues such as New York Live Arts and Alvin Ailey.
Production Apprenticeship Program
Training program for apprentices in technical theater roles including lighting, sound, costume design, and stage management.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Ballet and Dance Education Programs 1 activity
- Deliver free, project-based dance education programs for students with disabilities and high-needs students in NYCOffers comprehensive dance education programs for students in grades 2–12 with disabilities or high needs, including newly arrived immigrants, through school-based residencies at institutions like PS153, PS75X721, and PS98. Programs include dance instruction, rehearsals, and culminate in live theater performances, increasing student confidence and exposure to the arts.
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Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
- Ensure inclusive audience access through ASL interpretation and audio descriptionProvides American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and live audio description for performances to ensure accessibility for Deaf and blind audiences, including targeted outreach to the Deaf community, as demonstrated during the premiere of "Wasted Love" at New York Live Arts Theater.
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Original Dance Performance Production 1 activity
- Produce original modern dance performances featuring dancers with and without disabilitiesCreates and presents original modern dance and dance-theater works, including multimedia productions, that integrate intergenerational dancers of all abilities, including those with disabilities. Performances have been staged at venues such as The Flea Theater, Riverside Theater, Martha Graham Studio Theater, and New York Live Arts Theater, with recent premieres including "So, Anyway..." and "Wasted Love."
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Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
- Provide dance production apprenticeships and internships for students with disabilitiesOffers structured apprenticeships and internships in technical theater and dance production for high school students, particularly those with Down syndrome and other disabilities, referred from partner organizations like Gigi's Playhouse. Apprentices receive training twice weekly for 8–12 weeks in stage management, costume design, lighting design, videography, and sound engineering, and participate in full-cycle production tasks from concept to live performance.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$108K
Contributions & grants$79K73%
Program service revenue$30K27%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$91K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$19K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$19K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +67.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa van Wijk | Executive and Artistic Director | 35 | $20K |
board members · 4
- Carey Cox — Board Member
- Charlie Martinez — Board Member
- Jackie Schiffer — Board Member
- Stolas Mares-Cluff — Board Member
relationships · 33
Who they work with
- Ailey Citigroup Theater Partner — Venue host for performances in December 2025, December 2022, and March 2016.
- Alvin Ailey Partner — Hosts performances and post-performance receptions for Born Dancing.
- Antoine Hunter Partner — Featured dancer and collaborator in performances, including work with student-dancers
- Arts on Site Partner — Hosted a performance of a duet from "Grey" at a monthly Performance Party in July 2018.
- City Council Government — Partners with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs to provide public funding.
- DANCE/NYC Funder — Provides support through its Dance Advancement Fund and Coronavirus Dance Relief Fund.
- Emily Bear Partner — Donates all proceeds from her DANCIN music video to Born Dancing and other dance charities.
- Executive Director of Born Dancing Partner — Interns work directly with the Executive Director and, at times, board members and production team.
- Gigi's Play House Partner — Partner organization providing programs for teens with Down syndrome
- Gigi's Playhouse Partner — Referral and collaboration partner for Dance Production Apprenticeship programs serving teenagers with Down syndrome.
- Heartache2Hope Partner — Collaborative governance and strategic initiative partnership
- Janet Nightingale Partner — Performer collaborating with BORN DANCING INC in choreographed works
- JohnBen Snow Memorial Foundation Funder — Has provided critical program support to Born Dancing.
- Jubilation Foundation Partner — Selected Melissa van Wijk as a fellow; supports individuals and organizations helping young people feel fully alive through rhythm in music and dance.
- Juliana Garber Partner — Performer collaborating with BORN DANCING INC in choreographed works
- Madeline Charles Partner — Featured dancer collaborating in performances with BORN DANCING INC
- Madison Ferris Partner — Featured dancer collaborating in performances with BORN DANCING INC
- Manhattan theater Partner — Hosted a professional dance concert featuring students from Born Dancing.
- Martha Graham Studio Theater Partner — Venue host for performances in December 2018.
- Misty Boyce Partner — Collaborated on multiple performances featuring live music and co-created works including "Wasted Love."
- NYC Department of Education Government — Born Dancing is a vendor for the NYC Department of Education and aligns its curriculum with city education standards.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides public funding in partnership with the City Council.
- New York Live Arts Partner — Venue host for performances in December 2023 and February 2017.
- PS153 Partner — School where student-dancers participate in Born Dancing rehearsals.
- PS153 The Helen Keller School Partner — School partner serving students with disabilities and high-needs youth
- PS75X721 Partner — School partner serving students with disabilities and high-needs youth
- PS98 Partner — School partner serving students with disabilities and high-needs youth
- Riverside Theater Partner — Performance venue for Born Dancing productions.
- StorageMart Partner — Supports Born Dancing through its Store it Forward program.
- The Flea Theater Partner — Performance venue for Born Dancing productions.
+ 3 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Adaptive Choreography as Expressive Inclusionmethodology: adaptive_choreographyBy using collaborative, adaptive choreography that incorporates assistive devices like crutches and wheelchairs as expressive elements, the organization transforms physical support tools into artistic assets, because this approach validates diverse bodies and movement styles as central to creative expression.
- Arts-Based Workforce Development Through Apprenticeshipmethodology: arts-based_workforce_developmentBy engaging students with disabilities in apprenticeships within professional theater production, the organization builds job-ready skills and social competencies, because hands-on, mentored work in real performance environments creates transferable vocational experience and long-term creative development.
- Arts-Integrated Education for Empowerment and Collaborationmethodology: arts-integrated_educationBy combining dance education with technical theater training and ensemble collaboration, the organization empowers underrepresented students and builds confidence through creativity and shared experience, because integrated, project-based learning in a supportive artistic community enhances personal growth and mutual respect across abilities.
- Inclusive Performance Integrationmethodology: inclusive_performance_modelBy integrating dancers with and without disabilities into original modern dance performances, the organization fosters inclusion and mainstream engagement in the arts, because shared artistic experience breaks down social barriers and challenges perceptions of ability.