THREADS DANCE PROJECT
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Mission Statement
Threads Dance Project's Mission is - to examine, expose and celebrate the threads that connect us. We pursue our mission through our 3 pillars of dance, education, and outreach as we: • Create dances that touch on themes of human connectedness • Promote dialogue, understanding, and acceptance of all individuals • Celebrate the human spirit through dance performance, arts education, and community-building Our vision is to be a national organization that betters humanity through dance and reflect our core values of: Diversity, Artistic Excellence, Accessibility, Storytelling, and Human Connection.
About This Cause
Threads Dance Project was founded by Karen L. Charles in 2010 when her father passed away, leaving her just enough money to produce one professional performance. Karen’s father, a U.S. Postal Clerk, always wished to become a doctor. Karen decided to learn from his legacy, and realized a 10-year dream of becoming a choreographer and director of her own dance company. Since then, Threads has successfully produced 2 shows every year, toured nationally, and collaborated with local and national artists and musicians including Grammy-nominated Sweet Honey In The Rock. Threads has produced over thirty works since its first performance in 2011 and was nominated for a MN SAGE Dance Award in 2015 for its evening-length work The Secrets of Slave Songs. The company was selected to co-host the McKnight International Choreographer, Salia Sanou, in 2017. Threads Dance Project not only seeks to connect people via their performances, but also works to connect youth in under-served communities through dance outreach in schools and the community. Since 2011, Threads has offered ballet and modern dance instruction to students in the Twin Cities Metro area and has reached over 2000 youth with matinees and workshops. Additionally, Threads offers the community open showings, panel discussions and movement-based workshops related to their mission. Threads Dance Project also serves the community by presenting emerging choreographers via its Tapestries Program. Tapestries supports emerging choreographers by providing them the space, dancers, and technical support to produce a new work that can be added to their professional portfolio. The program has a special emphasis on supporting choreographers of color and female choreographers. Since Its inception, Tapestries has supported twelve choreographers with over half of the choreographers identifying as female or a choreographer of color. Threads is currently developing a strategic plan for Dance Nexus, a physical space that will accommodate administrative, rehearsal, and classroom needs for the organization and its outreach constituents. Dance Nexus will be a movement center that aims to utilize the talents and resources of Threads and the dance community at large, to serve the Twin Cities through the arts, education, health and wellness.