Dance Happens was founded in January 2010 under the direction of Paula LeVere. Its students are given the wonderful opportunity to develop and utilize their technique of ballet, modern dance, jazz, hip-hop, African, and choreography through the understanding and knowledge of the essential elements needed to enhance their awareness of dance’s authentic tradition. Within a year Dance Happens doubled its student body from ten students to twenty-two students, and in June 2011, Dance Happens became incorporated and its dance company was launched. Company members have the pleasure of performing at the African American Heritage Festival in the summer 2011, the Morgan State University Dance Festival in November, 2011, and the Flower Mart Festival in May 2012. Dance Happens’ board of directors was established September 2011. With the help of the board of directors, Paula was able to establish Dance Happens as a nonprofit organization in May 2012. Dance Happens’ website, www.dancehappensinc.com, was completed in January, 2012 and became available for public viewing. Currently, Dance Happens is a success because of its students and parents, volunteer staff, board of directors, and donors. Dance Happens currently holds free dance classes Monday through Friday evenings at the Mt. Royal Recreation Center and serves approximately 60 students, aged 5-17. Due to the increase of students Dance Happens took on a volunteer assistant from The Baltimore School for the Arts. Dance Happens’ Company consists of 19 dancers who train three evenings per week. Dance Happens’ future goals are to be able to financially support its program, find a permanent location for its classes, help develop well train teachers, and start a scholarship fund for dancers who wish to study with major companies.
