About the communities we work in
Rise Up School of Dance is located in the Fairpark neighborhood and is the only dance studio in the northwest community of Salt Lake City. We were founded on the core values of increasing access to classical ballet training, provided through a sliding-scale tuition model, and to foster an environment where all races, body types, and socioeconomic statuses are celebrated, rather than viewed as barriers to participation and inclusion. Our west-side location provides a neighborhood option for families looking for safe after-school activities, and our programs focus on the physical, mental, and emotional health of each child.
District 1 in Salt Lake City is home to almost 10,000 children and made up of culturally diverse neighborhoods that range from 53.5% - 62.3% BIPOC residents, including Hispanic, Black, and Asian households. These neighborhoods have limited after-school options, and even more limited opportunities for children and adults to engage in the arts. In addition, the socioeconomic status of many families presents a barrier to affording after-school options, including the tuition costs of traditional dance studios, as well as the expensive dancewear often required for ballet classes.
The time that Rise Up School of Dance has spent in these communities has highlighted the need for safe, affordable after-school options for low-income and single parent households. Additionally, RUSD is focused on the community’s needs for long-term mentorship, mental and emotional health education for at-risk youth, a supportive community for individuals and families in the aftermath of COVID-19, access to the fine arts in underserved communities, and access to free food and clothing for underserved families.
