American Youth
Dance Theater
Where joy and technique take center stage
Aydt & the Community
Supporting and Building Relationships By Giving Back
The Firebirds
Founded in 2007, AYDT’s community service dance company is comprised of multi-disciplined upper-level dancers, selected yearly by audition. The company performs at senior centers, nursing homes, fundraisers, and community events throughout NYC. Interested in having the Firebirds perform at an event? Contact us.
Lucy Walsh Fund
The Lucy Walsh Fund was created as an outreach program in memory of a student who died tragically in June 2011. Lucy Walsh was a ballet student who began dancing at AYDT at the age of four and continued until her death at age 14. She had reached the stage in her training where she was a regular soloist in our recitals and a role model for many younger students, and had just been accepted to the Professional Performing Arts High School.
Through the Lucy Walsh Fund, we aim to honor Lucy’s commitment to dance by offering free or low-cost classes to children in need, to afford them an opportunity that might not otherwise be available. Donations from private individuals and corporations are used to cover administrative expenses and supplemental costs for this program.
The Lucy Walsh Fund is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for The Lucy Walsh Fund must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Donations may be made by check made payable to “Fractured Atlas” and mailed to:
American Youth Dance Theater
428 East 75th Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10021
AYDT and Beyond
Day of Dance
Sponsored by the Lucy Walsh Fund, AYDT instructors visit schools throughout NYC to share a day of dance workshops at no cost to the school. Interested in hosting a Day of Dance for your school? Contact us for the next steps.
School Residency Programs
Partnerships created with NYC schools where AYDT sends teachers to work with a specific grade or group of classes for a 6-10 week residency, culminating in a performance to showcase the students’ achievements. If you are interested in a residency program for your school, contact us for more information.
Broadening Our Horizons
AYDT Elevates.
American Youth Dance Theater is committed to staying the course and making long-term commitments to social justice through creating a more diverse and well-informed coalition of dancers.
Workshops aimed to broaden our students’ horizons and raise money for a charity coinciding with the featured style of dance or Culture are offered throughout the year. Past AYDT Elevates workshops have highlighted Salsa and Bachata, West African Dance, Bollywood, Classical Chinese Dance, and accomplished female artists for Women’s History Month.
As part of the Elevates effort, AYDT has pledged to donate monthly to organizations that promote growth and opportunities to young people who have not grown up with the advantages that we and our student body often take for granted. Black Girls Code, My Brother’s Keeper, and Running Strong for Native American Youth have been selected for this initiative.
Charitable Donations
American Youth Dance Theater donates to annual fundraising auctions in many local schools and makes a number of annual donations on behalf of its student body to charitable organizations, including:
