From 2021-2026, Dance Key West was pleased to partner with Grace Lutheran School to offer K–8 students quality dance education, designed to inspire individual creativity and collaboration.

Part of DKW’s collaboration with GLS included The Dance America Program, a program that introduces students (K-8) to Classical Ballet, Social Dances, African, Jazz, and more. This program takes place in a learning atmosphere where students learn not only the specific dances of a given era but also the historical settings in which those dances took place. This gives students a better understanding of the socio-historical relationships in which these dances were created, and a better overall understanding of the importance of historical events in creating cultural expressions. To further enrich the program, Dance Key West company dancers all the way from NYC to Key West, and beyond, taught these classes, offering the students the opportunity to learn from exceptional teaching artists of various backgrounds. To cover the costs of the program, Dance Key West wrote and received grant funding. This program was sponsored in part by The Florida Keys Council of the Arts, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and private donations.

Through The Dance America Program, Dance Key West also purchased and donated three Gtech 6x6 glassless rolling mirrors, providing the children of GLS with an opportunity to gain a better dance foundation and experience. Additionally, DKW wrote and received a grant from The Florida Keys Council of the Arts to purchase ballet barres for the program. The mirrors and the barres truly helped elevate the dance program to the next level.

Dance Key West was proud to offer education to school-aged students in a fun and a physically active way, inspiring new methods of learning and self-expression.