Sanctuary in Motion

Dear Friends,

In times like these, even the smallest gestures can be acts of resistance. A shared breath. A held hand. A body moving freely when the world demands stillness.  We believe these ordinary acts—of care, creativity, and community—are how we resist systems built on fear and control. It is how we remember, despite all that has transpired this year, that we belong to one another and, in connection, we can find sanctuary.

This year, both at our home in Takoma Park and across the country, dance is a sanctuary for so many, an ordinary act that has extraordinary significance:

• Artists, scientists, educators, and organizers find sanctuary at the OAC Climate Institute, where they  partner across generations to imagine more resilient and life-giving futures.

• Children and families across Prince George’s County Public Schools and Breakthrough Montessori discover sanctuary in their classrooms and neighborhoods through the Moving Field Guide program—where learning from nature means moving, touching, walking, and listening.

• Local storytellers, scientists, and artists guide the Takoma Arts Exchange and our recent Climate Walk, transforming the outdoors into a sanctuary as participants learn from local  trees, neighborhood stories, and shared practices of climate resilience.

• Older adults experience renewal and belonging through Dance On Creative Aging classes—spaces that celebrate lived experiences through movement and story, cultivating strength, joy, and connection across generations.

• Toddlers, retirees, immigrants, and lifelong residents discover sanctuary in collaborative dances at Takoma Park MOVES. Each shared movement dissolves the distances between us.

This sanctuary space of movement, education, connection, and community is made possible through your financial support.  Make your contribution today. Whether it's $5 or $500, every gift matters. 
In each of these programs, movement is essential. It is how we listen, how we learn, and how we return home to ourselves. In dance, we find sanctuary and remember that knowing, healing, and connection all begin in our bodies.
In this moment, we hold fast to what sustains us: dance as embodied joy, dance as collective care, and dance as courage in action.

With gratitude and resolve,

Cassie Meador Silvia Roberts
Executive Artistic Director Executive Managing Director

PS: Your contribution helps keep our programs accessible, supports artists equitably, and ensures that our doors — and our hearts — always remain open. Contribute today. 

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Photos on this page by Vinny Mwano, Ben Carver, and others.