named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Performance Production
Year-end theatrical dance showcase choreographed and performed by students, held at venues such as Miller Theatre at Columbia University, featuring original works on social and personal themes
Child-Centered Dance Curriculum
After-school dance program where children create their own choreography using improvisation, movement theater, and diverse dance styles including modern, hip hop, and West African dance
Peer Leadership Program
Opportunity for older students to mentor younger peers, lead classes, and participate in teaching and choreographic responsibilities
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Ballet and Dance Education Programs 2 activities
- Facilitating student-led choreographic development and artistic expressionOffers children opportunities to choreograph their own dance pieces, develop individual styles, and collaboratively create original and innovative dance works as part of an ongoing arts education program.
- Operating a children's dance theatre program with professional artistic directionProvides dance instruction, choreography, and artistic direction to children through Loco-Motion Dance Theatre for Children, producing annual performances of professional quality under the leadership of Artistic Director Lisa Pilato.
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Original Dance Performance Production 2 activities
- Presenting annual professional-quality dance performances in New York City venuesOrganizes and produces annual spring performances at established New York theaters, including the Miller Theatre at Columbia University, featuring original works by student dancers and reaching audiences through public performances and arts publications.
- Using dance as a medium for emotional processing and community supportCreates dance works in response to collective and personal trauma, such as the 9/11 attacks, and provides emotional support and community for students experiencing adversity through artistic engagement.
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Dance Program Access and Scholarship Support 1 activity
- Providing long-term, scholarship-supported dance education for underserved childrenOffers full tuition scholarships to hundreds of children, particularly from P.S. 3, enabling continuous participation in dance programs from kindergarten through high school graduation, regardless of financial circumstances.
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High School Placement Support 1 activity
- Supporting student advancement in arts educationProvides recommendation letters and guidance to students applying to specialized arts high schools, including LaGuardia High School, as part of its long-term artistic development program.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$156K
Contributions & grants$126K81%
Program service revenue$30K19%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$154K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$114K
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$17K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$17K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +22.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa Pilato | Artistic Director | 40 | $74K |
| Susannah Page | Managing Director | 30 | $40K |
board members · 7
- Catherine McClarin — Board Member
- Deborah Reynolds Juantorena — Board Member
- Dr Louis Re — Board President
- Jane Stile-O'Hara — Board Secretary
- Jennie Miller — Board Treasurer
- Leigh Silverman — Board Chair
- Michi Osato — Board Member
relationships · 5
Who they work with
- Kelpie Arts Partner — Managing Director Susannah Page works part-time for Kelpie Arts, an independent theater production company.
- Miller Theatre at Columbia University Partner — Hosts Loco-Motion’s annual performances for the past three years.
- P.S. 3 in Greenwich Village Partner — Collaborates with Loco-Motion through shared curriculum development, workshops, and performances; many Loco-Motion students come from this school.
- St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery Partner — Provides venue space for Loco-Motion Dance Theatre for Children's programs and performances.
- St. Veronicas church Partner — Provides basement space used as dance and choreography studio for over twenty years.
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.
- Child-Centered Embodied Learningmethodology: child-centered_educationBy centering dance and movement theater on the child's individual mind, body, and spirit, we foster self-discovery and self-ownership because bodily-based, intuitive practice enables deep, language-transcendent learning and personal growth.
- Community-as-Family Model for Emotional Resiliencemethodology: community-as-familyBy building a supportive, family-like community through shared creative practice, we foster emotional stability and resilience in children because belonging and relational safety are foundational to personal growth.
- Creative Autonomy Through Student-Led Choreographymethodology: student-led_choreographyBy empowering children to choreograph their own work from an early age, we cultivate creative agency and personal expression because ownership of the artistic process deepens engagement and identity formation.
- Intuitive Movement as Non-Judgmental Practicemethodology: intuitive_movement_practiceBy using an intuitive, internally guided approach to movement, we reduce performance pressure and foster authentic participation because rejecting technical correctness as the primary goal allows children to explore movement as personal expression.