N I C K E R S O N
R O S S I
D A N C E
NON - PROFIT 501(C)3
Nickerson-Rossi Dance (NRD) began as an internationally touring professional contemporary/modern dance company.
Since its non-profit incorporation in 2016, NRD has continued to provide educational, therapeutic, and community engagement dance programming on a larger scale to make a greater impact.
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Programs include, but are not limited to:
The “uNdeRstanD” outreach program ( est.2012) provides all communities of diverse backgrounds from race, age, gender, sexual orientation, cultural, health status, and cultural background an opportunity to experience dance on various levels. NRD has partnered with Palm Springs Unified School District, Riverside County Office of Education, the LBGTQ Center in Long Beach, the Flourish Foundation, and Project Home. These programs use dance as therapy and as a tool to express one’s emotions when words cannot be found. These programs included no-cost master dance classes to inner-city high schools and rural communities, educational forums with past scholarships in dance, no-cost auditions for college scholarships in dance, and free admission to a professional performance featuring the NRD Company.
The Palm Springs Dance Academy (PSDA) ( est. 2020) is the official school of the NRD. The Academy's mission is to provide comprehensive dance education for pre-professional dancers ages 12-18. PSDA nurtures and stimulates intellectual, artistic, and technical creativity.
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PSDA provides Intro to Dance for ages 5 - 11 and Adult Dance Classes.
Annual Palm Springs International Dance Festival ( est. 2016) blends educational, therapeutic, and outreach programming into a 4-day festival that celebrates the diverse culture within dance. Multiple scholarship opportunities and free public programming are provided for an equitable opportunity to experience the art of dance.
Nickerson-Rossi Dance commits to diversity, equity, and inclusion
within our local community and to the international dance community. We dedicate ourselves to fostering an inspiring, accessible, and equitable environment that embraces and gives voice to individuals of all backgrounds, races, and life experiences. We strive to create a safe space for people of color and marginalized groups in all facets of the work we do and throughout the communities we engage.
Nickerson-Rossi Dance stands in solidarity with those taking action against systemic racism.
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We condemn racism, prejudice, or harassment of any kind towards people of color and marginalized groups. We commit to providing a welcoming environment for all of our students, faculty, staff, and guests. We honor humanity in our art, education, and practices.
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NRD acknowledges that we gather on the traditional lands of Indigenous peoples, namely the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. We give honor to the land itself and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations. NRD gives much gratitude to these traditional stewards of the land we work, play, and live.
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NRD will be taking intentional and actionable steps to address racism, elitism, and exclusion in our organization by striving for the following:
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Cultivate authentic relationships and engagement with under-invited communities throughout the organization’s many programs with emphasis through our established Understand Outreach Program.
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Construct and foster the creation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee by seeking individuals, activists, and organizations in the community who are successfully leading efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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Commit to educating ourselves and community partners through the National Equity Project about structural racism and inequity via dedicated and accessible training, workshops, and programming.