07/27/2026
Some beginnings are quiet.
There were no sold-out theaters.
No hundreds of dancers.
Just a small group of young artists willing to take a chance on something brand new.
Our Founding Cohort.
Over two weeks, they trained. They questioned. They laughed. They explored. They studied the history of the artists who came before them. They walked through the archives at the Jerome Robbins Dance Division. They learned from professionals who continue to shape our industry. And most importantly, they showed up each day with open minds and willing hearts.
To our dancers! Thank you for trusting us.
To our incredible faculty and guest artists , Amar Smalls, Olivia Eaton, Alexis Roberto Curiel, Malcolm Burton, Ellicia Clayton, Ivy Mugler, and Brooke Brookshire thank you for pouring into the next generation with excellence and generosity.
To the Jerome Robbins Dance Division at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts The Library for the Performing Arts , thank you for reminding our dancers that history isn’t something we inherit by chance, it’s something we study, honor, and continue.
And to our families… thank you for believing in a vision before there was a blueprint.
At Elevé, we believe that every child deserves to see themselves reflected in excellence.
To see Black children and children of color moving with confidence, curiosity, discipline, and joy is a beautiful thing. Their stories matter. Their artistry matters. Their place in the legacy of dance matters.
This was never just about two weeks.
It was about planting a seed.
Today, that seed has been planted.
Here’s to the Founding Cohort of the Elevé NYC Summer Intensive.
This is only the beginning.
🩷🖤
