By Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation is pleased to welcome Groove With Me (GWM) to our Grantee Blog. GWM is a youth development organization that provides girls and young women in East Harlem with after-school dance classes at no cost to them or their families. GWM classes foster life skills such as creativity, problem-solving, perseverance, focus, dedication, and accountability to support students’ success in and beyond the studio and classroom.
Courtesy of Groove With Me
Groove With Me (GWM) was founded in 1996 to provide a safe and welcoming space where girls and young women could come after school to explore dance, ignite their creativity, and develop their confidence to take on opportunities in the studio, classroom, and everyday life.
As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we reflect on the meaningful milestones that have shaped our journey and the commitment that drives us forward: our community of students using dance to dream about the future they can grow into.
One of those defining moments came in 2001, when we opened a studio in East Harlem. Within the first 30 minutes, 200 local youth enrolled, underscoring the urgent need for accessible after-school programming for young women and girls in the community. That moment reaffirmed our mission and inspired us to continue creating programs that uplift our dancers, evolve with their needs, and address the barriers they face every day.
Today, we offer 40 weekly dance classes in a variety of disciplines such as ballet, hip hop, Afro-contemporary, hula, and more. Each unique style and class gives our students the chance to explore new cultures and experience the benefits of regular dance practice, including stronger focus, perseverance, and dedication.
“Where I live, not everyone can afford or even have the chance to take dance classes. I am thankful for the opportunities GWM has given me and I will always remember my years here. This program has changed me.”
– GWM Alumni
As long as they maintain consistent and honest attendance, we encourage our students to take as many classes as they’d like, with many joining us every day after school. We also hope to pilot a new transportation program in the near future, which will help provide a safe, reliable way for more girls to get to the studio after school and take part in our programs.
“As a teenager growing up in East Harlem, access to dance classes free of charge meant everything to me. It taught me that through dancing, you can express yourself and be yourself without judgement.”
– GWM Alumni
We would be remiss not to thank our incredible cohort of qualified volunteer teachers. Their commitment to our students goes so far beyond leading our weekly offerings. They also make our performance program possible, which provides an intensive opportunity for students with an additional 2 classes and 2 group rehearsals every week.
GWM is more than a dance school. Our community is built on trust, creativity, and commitment, with a shared belief that dance can help our students uncover their full potential and gain the tools to achieve it.
About Groove With Me
Groove With Me (GWM) is a free dance school for girls in East Harlem. It attracts and engages girls during the idle after-school hours to instill life skills such as creativity, problem-solving, perseverance, focus, dedication, and accountability lead to success both in and out of the classroom. Our organization creates community and builds self-confidence and self-respect necessary to make positive choices.
Learn more about GWM at GrooveWithMe.org